Signature of Time

A Signature is a handwritten version of a person's name or a symbol of agreement or approval. It is often used on legal documents, contracts, and correspondence to authenticate identity and signify consent. Signatures can vary widely in style, from simple initials to elaborate designs.

The use of signatures in Europe has a long history; evidence of their existence dates back to 3000 BC. The idea of signatures was first introduced by the Sumerians around 3500 BC through seals, which the Egyptians later expanded upon and used with images and symbols.

The Latin alphabet was developed around 600 BC, following the Greek alphabet. Throughout history, various countries have widely used this alphabet.

The first known alphabet was made by the Phoenicians between 1800 and 1200 BC; it had 22 consonants but no vowels.

The importance of signatures is demonstrated, nevertheless, by the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215.

Signatures became more widespread during the 1600s as they were commonly used on paper documents. In 1677, the Parliament of England mandated that certain contracts must be signed to be legally binding, further cementing the importance of signatures in legal documents.

The signatures of prominent people, including celebrities, artists, and powerful leaders, can be especially fascinating. 

The most valuable copy of the 1789 US Constitution was signed by the first US President, George Washington. The signed constitution went on sale in 2018 for 9.8 million US dollars, which is 82 crore rupees.

It is impossible to say for sure that not having a signature is a serious sin because many people do not have one !

William Shakespeare, the greatest writer of all time in the world of literature, had great trouble with his own signature. We have six of his signatures, which are legally binding documents, as well as other documents he wrote in different formats and in different sequences.

His father, John Shakespeare, who worked as a glove maker, is said to have used a tool to draw his signature in order to identify himself.

George Orwell published his famous novel “1984”, which predicted the times to come, in 1949. He was suffering from tuberculosis and was in the hospital at that time. He died in 1950. He presented the nurses who cared for him in the hospital with a signed copy of the book. A signed copy of the book sold for 24,500 euros, or about 21 lakh rupees, not long ago.

Arthur Saws' 1951 photograph of Albert Einstein, the creator of the theory of relativity, with his tongue outstretched, caught the attention of both the media and the scientist. At an auction in Los Angeles in 2017, one of the scientist's autographed photographs brought $1,11,000, or roughly Rs. 1.50 crore.

In 2006, a baseball autographed by Marilyn Monroe, the former American beauty, brought in a record $1,91,000, or 1.5 crores in Rupees.

A Christmas card signed by Adolf Hitler himself was discovered in 1941. The card was made of heavy cardstock, had a Nazi swastika and eagle imprint in the top left corner, and a hard-to-read signature in the bottom right corner. This demonstrates the historical value of signatures and their capacity to provide historical context.

The use of signatures has been a crucial part of human history, serving various purposes such as business transactions, financial management, education, and daily routines.

The E-Sign Act became effective on October 1, 2000, and granted electronic contracts the same legal status as those executed on paper.

However, with the emergence of advanced technology and new platforms, digital signatures have revolutionized traditional paperwork. Nowadays, e-signatures are essential to business operations and daily activities, thanks, in part, to their convenience and security.

The digital signature market was a niche by the end of the 20th century. The owner's name was not read in the signature.

In the recent US presidential election, Nevada cast its ballot like other states. But when the postal votes were counted there, a big problem was found. The youths working on the computer keyboard lack the skills necessary to write and sign. They lack the knowledge of proper writing technique. Schools do not teach or encourage writing or enjoy its beauty.

That being said, why do so many people not have their own signature? Not having a signature is not a serious offense, to be sure.

The question that emerges with the advent of the digital age is: What is the future of the signature?

From ancient seals to modern e-signatures, the journey highlights the human desire for efficiency, security, enforceability, and progress.

 We should welcome the future, where signatures will continue to change in the rapidly changing digital environment.