[split] Those Scribbles

[-JKP-]

...Was a signature a thing back then?

Yes, people had to sign legal documents (deeds of property, inheritance, trade deals, etc.). They also signed letters.

Since only a percentage of the population was literate, some people signed with an X. But if they were literate and had money, a scribe would write the letter and the person dictating it would usually sign it (although I think there were exceptions to this). In Spain an interesting monogram was usually also included on legal papers, each person with a distinction drawing. Other places had monograms, but in Spain they were especially popular.