The two // in Enid Blyton's Signature

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Re: The two // in Enid Blyton's Signature

Post by Poppy »

I can imagine her signing her name like that quite well actually.
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Re: The two // in Enid Blyton's Signature

Post by honesty »

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. I think it come with the flow of the signature, really. I think she paused then wrote the dashes after she had written 'Enid Blyton'.
And it's definitely NOT a logo, a signature that I think was very 'Blytonish'. Another reason as Anita said 'it could have just slipped and there was an idea for her signature Daadah!!!
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Re: The two // in Enid Blyton's Signature

Post by Pippa-Stef »

Now, this might sound odd, but I may have hit upon a reason for the double dash under Enid's name and it's all to do with Pitman Short hand.

Now if you use this translator and play around with different phrases and names, you'll see the double dash/ underscore appear.

If you put "Enid Blyton" into the translator the scoring doesn't appear, but as we know she did go under the name of Mary Pollock, and if you put THAT name into the translator you come out with this:

Image

Now I don't know if Enid ever learnt/used shorthand, but as a teacher- surely she must have done?

Its just a thought that if she knew of the double dash- which is used for emphasis- she may have used it to emphasis her name and set it apart which would make it more distinct.

I'm not saying that this is a fool proof theory in the slightest, just an idea I hit upon when I was discussing pitman shorthand with a very good family friend of mine.

As I've said, its just an idea, and thought I would share for scrutiney. :oops:
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Re: The two // in Enid Blyton's Signature

Post by Katharine »

That's an interesting theory Stef. I'm trying to remember, but I think a double underline is used to denote a capital letter in the Teeline shorthand system. I don't know if it was around in Enid's day, and so I doubt she'd have used that version, but it would seem that a short double underline is quite widely used as an emphasis.
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Re: The two // in Enid Blyton's Signature

Post by Daisy »

It's an interesting theory Stef. However I see no reason why a teacher should learn shorthand - it wasn't on the syllabus at my college and I haven't heard of it being used by anyone in that profession. It was more the province of a secretary. My mother learnt shorthand when she left school and she continued to use it when she wrote out her Christmas present list each year. So frustrating not to be able to read it! :(
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Re: The two // in Enid Blyton's Signature

Post by Katharine »

I don't know how a secretary's skills would be viewed by someone like Enid back then. I've a feeling that such jobs were looked down up by Enid's middle class characters, although I may be thinking of something else I've read. Certainly in my own experience of work, I've heard the phrase 'only a secretary' used, so it hasn't been seen as a very important job.

Daisy, I've used my shorthand to make present lists as well - serves nosey children right for trying to peek. :D Thankfully, ulike trying to spell out words I didn't want the children to hear, they never learned how to read shorthand, so I was able to keep somethings private!
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Re: The two // in Enid Blyton's Signature

Post by honesty »

Very interesting theory Stef. But could be true-

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Re: The two // in Enid Blyton's Signature

Post by honesty »

Hi Everyone,

If you go to this website, the images that are shown have EB's signature but where's the dashes?

http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2013/03/31/jun04.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm guessing she didn't have the two ,, when they were published...
“If you can't look after something in your care, you have no right to keep it.”-Enid Blyton
“I think people make their own faces, as they grow.”-Enid Blyton
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Re: The two // in Enid Blyton's Signature

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Those books appear to be later reprints, Honesty. Some publishers don't print the two dashes beneath the signature, perhaps for reasons of space or simply because they prefer a plainer, less cluttered look.
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Re: The two // in Enid Blyton's Signature

Post by honesty »

Thanks Anita!!!
“If you can't look after something in your care, you have no right to keep it.”-Enid Blyton
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Re: The two // in Enid Blyton's Signature

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

Good theory Stef. Who knows could be fact, could be that some people like to put a line under their signature, and Enid chose 2. :D

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Re: The two // in Enid Blyton's Signature

Post by Moonraker »

I think it's time to go outside and bang my head against a brick wall. :roll:
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Re: The two // in Enid Blyton's Signature

Post by Pippa-Stef »

It was only an idea Nigel! Please don't bang your head against a brick wall cause of me! :wink:
"You're so sharp you'll cut yourself one day!" Hunchy said going to the door
"So my Mother told me that when I was two years old!" said Julian and the others giggled.

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Re: The two // in Enid Blyton's Signature

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

Don't worry, Stef. There's nothing inside Nigel's head to damage! :lol:

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Re: The two // in Enid Blyton's Signature

Post by Wolfgang »

But what about the brick wall???
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