The Detection of Forgery A Practical Handbook for the Use of Bankers, Solicitors, Magistrates' Clerks, and All Handling Suspected Documents   By: Douglas Blackburn (1857-1929)

A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK FOR THE USE OF BANKERS, SOLICITORS, MAGISTRATES' CLERKS, AND ALL HANDLING SUSPECTED DOCUMENTS.

BY DOUGLAS BLACKBURN ( Late Expert to the Natal Criminal Investigation Department, and the Transvaal Republic )

AND CAPTAIN WAITHMAN CADDELL.

LONDON: CHARLES & EDWIN LAYTON, FARRINGDON STREET, E.C. 1909.

ERRATUM. ( Page 15. )

Owing to the averages given in the table on page 15 being printed from some incomplete manuscript they are incorrect. It is obvious that the proper averages are

7 1/4 6 1/2 5 3/4 7 1/2 16 1/4 21 20 3/4 20 3/4

Transcriber's Note:

The corrections in the above erratum have been applied. The handwritten pages entitled 'Terminology' and 'Alphabet Variants' have been moved to the beginning of their relevant chapters. Greek text has been transliterated and is shown between {braces}. Hyphenation and punctuation have been standardised.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

INTRODUCTION 5

I. THE PRINCIPLES OF HANDWRITING ANALYSIS 7

II. MEASUREMENT AND ITS APPLIANCES 13

III. TERMINOLOGY 17

IV. CLASSES OF HANDWRITING 19

V. HOW TO EXAMINE A WRITING 21

VI. THE ALPHABET IN DETAIL 24

VII. THE CAPITALS 29

VIII. PUNCTUATION 31

IX. PAPER AND WATERMARKS 34

X. INKS 38

XI. ERASURES 42

XII. PENCILS AND STYLOGRAPHS 45

XIII. ANONYMOUS LETTERS AND DISGUISED HANDS 47

XIV. FORGED LITERARY AUTOGRAPHS 52

XV. FORGED SIGNATURES 60

XVI. THE EXPERT IN THE WITNESS BOX 68

XVII. HANDWRITING AND EXPRESSION 72

XVIII. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF HANDWRITING 78

INTRODUCTION.

The object of this little work is to assist those who may occasionally be called upon to form an opinion as to the genuineness of signatures, alterations in cheques, and the varied doubtful documents that demand the serious consideration of business men by way of a preliminary to "taking further steps."

It is the first attempt published in England to explain the principles upon which the comparison and examination of handwriting are conducted by experts. It is, and can only be, an outline of suggestions how to begin, for no two experts follow precisely the same methods, any more than two painters work on the same lines. Both agree in recognising certain rules and general principles, but each strives for his objective point by the employment of those means which experience, temperament, taste and opportunity suggest. The study of the elementary rules of their art puts them upon the road for perfecting it, after which success can only be attained by rightly reading the signs that lead to the ultimate goal.