Posted by mike stevens on March 20, 2001 at 12:54:50 from 195.92.67.65:
In Coot Club, Joe uses the unusual verb'papered' to describe the publishing of a wanted poster for Tom. I had always found this an odd usage, never having heard it anywhere else. However on reading 'Kidnapped' by RL Stevenson, I see that James the Highland Chief uses it when he tells Alan Breck that in order to cover himself with the English, he will have to 'paper' him. RLS himself remarks on the unusual use of the word, so I wondered if this usage is common in Norfolk or is it Ransome being influenced by RLS. Also, was it normal practice in the 1930's to privately publish wanted posters. My father (born 1912) cannot recall such a practice.