Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to fight; thus reader and writer, a fighter.

1857		‘Ducange Anglicus’ Vulgar Tongue.
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.
1910		Eve. Teleg. (Dundee) 3 Aug. 4/1: Two men in the four-ale bar commence 'reading and writing' and he helps the landlord to bundle them through the rory [...] 'Rory O'More' (door).
1935		A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks n.p.: Reader and writer, a prize fighter.
1944		Maurer & Baker ‘“Aus.” Rhyming Argot’ in AS XIX:3 194/2: Reader and Writer. A fighter.
1960		J. Franklyn Dict. of Rhy. Sl.
2001		M. Coles Bible in Cockney 39: ‘Find some fella to read with me.’ [...] Who on earth could they find to read-and-write with this bloomin’ massive geezer?
2002		M. Coles More Bible in Cockney 67: You could end up finding yourselves read-and-writing against God, innit?