RE: The origin of the rúbrica

Christopher Jones comments on my piece about the origin of the Spanish rúbrica: "This is a very interesting and artistic if non explored subject.  The "rúbrica" is also alive and well and living in France and Italy, but nowhere is it so venerated as in all the Spains!  In fact, a signature without a rúbrica is probably still invalid, whereas a rúbrica without a signature is passed off as a signature.  Do not forget that a legal document in France must be signed "lu et approuvé" plus your signature, while in Italy a "carta di impegno" is practically a declaration of semi-slavery.  I have seen some very elaborate if completely illegible "rúbricas" that are still used to this day.  I hesitate to return to Salvador Dalí but his former secretary, the erudite and charming British army Captain John Peter Moore once published a book called, Les 678 très riches signatures de Salvador Dalí, marqués de Dalí de Pubol, which shows what happens when imagination hits a fan called the "rúbrica." PS: Yes, I sign with one too for over 30 years: I'm 47".