FOUR ORDINARY SIGNATURES WITH DESCRIPTIONS

[Ill.u.s.tration: A mechanical or artificial hand in copy-book style, lightly and delicately traced.

Characteristic signature, connected and rapidly traced letters expressing great animation and mental activity.

A natural hand, letters vary in size, written with great spontaneity and expression.

A restrained hand, letters slowly and deliberately traced, indicating a slow intelligence and perception.]

STUDENTS' HANDWRITING--CRIMINALS' HANDWRITING

[Ill.u.s.tration: The above is a comparison of the students' and criminals' handwriting, the selections being made from the records of each cla.s.s.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: The tremor of feebleness is shown in this signature.

This was written by a gentleman ninety-two years of age. Writing of one who is ill or feeble is usually characterized by a light stroke.

The simulated tremor of a skilful penman is rarely successful in deceiving a trained eye.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: This signature represents the tremor due to illiteracy.

The tremors and angular features shown are by no means indicative of lack of power, but the power is misdirected.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: The signature of Ivan Wilson, herewith given, will serve as an ill.u.s.tration of the tremor almost inseparable from forgery. The tremors of a simulating hand are never so numerous nor so fine as real tremors.]

GENUINE--FORGED TRACING--FORGED FREE-HAND

[Ill.u.s.tration: The first signature is the original. The second is a bungling traced forgery and the third is a forged freehand. Taken apart from one another they are clever enough to deceive, but studied together here the fraud and deception is readily apparent.]

ORIGINAL SIZE--GENUINE--FORGED TRACING--FORGED FREE HAND.

[Ill.u.s.tration: We give above a genuine signature with a forged tracing and a forged free-hand. You can readily detect the forgeries when these signatures are placed together and explained. It gives one points on how to study forged and disputed signatures.]

SOME THUMB AND FINGER-PRINT SUGGESTIONS

[Ill.u.s.tration: We show herewith two enlarged finger-prints. These are taken from the index finger and are used in many cases instead of thumb-prints.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: The above ill.u.s.trations are fac-simile impressions of the dermal furrows of the right and left thumbs of four different persons. The left thumbs are in the top row, the right thumb being below. These are enlarged to bring out the distinctive points. You will note that no two are alike and it is absolutely impossible to forge or duplicate the thumb-print of any person. "Thumb-prints Never Forged" on page 115.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Promiscuous thumb-prints taken at random, easily distinguishable in the original impression but not enlarged as in above ill.u.s.tration. A photographic reproduction showing the lines without enlargement almost impossible.]

INTERESTING AUTOGRAPH SIGNATURES

[Ill.u.s.tration: Kaiser's signature published in book sanctioned by him is the writing of an extremely erratic and nervous man.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: This is a facsimile of Capt. Myles Standish's handwriting found on the fly-leaf of one of his books. Capt. Myles Standish, known as the human sword blade, whose valor saved the Pilgrims at Plymouth from utter destruction at the hands of hostile Indians went back to England in 1625 on business for the colony.

Before his return, in 1626, he bought this book and carried it back to America with him.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: In this signature of the great Liberator of Italy, we have indications of energy in the angular form of the letters, and in the hasty and irregular dot to the small letter "i," and originality in the curious angularly waved line below the signature. It denotes tenacity of purpose.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: In this signature of Napoleon Bonaparte, which appears on a letter written by him when only a captain in the French army, we have the "vaulting ambition" which made him all _but_ master of Europe. There is the dominant will in the strongly marked "t," and in the hard, thick line which terminates the flourish; his egotism and self-a.s.sertion are evidenced in this flourish, his originality in the peculiar form of the capital letter "B;" but ambition is here "still the lord of all."]

GREELEY'S LAST LETTER.

[Ill.u.s.tration: This was the last letter ever written by Horace Greeley, America's famous editor and horrible penman.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: The signatures of this group are by well-known men, all leaders in a special line of activity. These autographs are original and typical of the men writing them. The general character, temperament and make-up of these gentlemen are well-known to all, and a study of these signatures will be found interesting.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Reduced copy of the signatures and seals of the English and American commissioners who signed the treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States in 1783.]

CHARACTERISTIC WRITING OF SOME OF THE BEST KNOWN MEN IN THE BANKING WORLD OF THE UNITED STATES

[Ill.u.s.tration: President American Bankers' a.s.sociation and President of the Continental National Bank, Chicago.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Mr. Vanderlip, President of the National City Bank, New York.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Lewis E. Pierson, First Vice-president American Bankers' a.s.sociation and President Irving National Exchange Bank, New York City.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: F.O. Watts, Chairman Executive Council American Bankers' a.s.sociation and President First National Bank, Nashville, Tenn.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Treasurer American Bankers' a.s.sociation and Second Vice-president Fidelity Trust Co., Tacoma, Wash.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fred. E. Farnsworth, Secretary American Bankers'

a.s.sociation, New York.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: W.G. Fitzwilson, a.s.sistant Secretary American Bankers'

a.s.sociation, New York City.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: a.s.sistant Cashier of the National City Bank, Chicago, and formerly President of the American Inst.i.tute of Banking.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: This gentleman is one of the best-known bankers in America. He has also been Secretary of the Treasury.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: A rather complicated, though not altogether unreadable signature of John K. Ottley, vice-president of the Fourth National Bank, Atlanta, Ga.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: J. Furth, President of the Puget Sound National Bank, Seattle, Wash.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: There is no better known gentleman in the country than John Farson, the millionaire banker of Chicago. He dresses attractively, loves legitimate notoriety, is absolutely democratic in his daily life, is charitable and pleasant and believes in making everybody happy, and is a great lover of flowers and children. His signature indicates his character thoroughly.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: This is a fair specimen of the writing of a j.a.panese banker and business man. This was written with great haste, also.]

CURIOUS AND FREAKISH SIGNATURES OF WELL-KNOWN BANKERS AND BUSINESS MEN