What does the peddler sign himself as in his letter?

In his letter, the peddler signs himself as “Captain von Stahle,” adopting the identity the ironmaster initially mistook him for. This self-designation reflects the peddler’s transformed sense of self-worth and dignity, inspired by Edla’s compassion and trust. By embracing this honorable title, he symbolically sheds his former identity as a petty thief and aspires to live up to the respect he was shown, capturing the story’s themes of redemption and the transformative power of kindness.