The Origin Of Fingerprinting (1916)

The Origin of Fingerprinting, written by William James Herschel and originally published in 1916, is a historical account of the development of fingerprinting as a method of identification. Herschel, a British colonial administrator who worked in India during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was one of the first people to recognize the potential of fingerprints as a means of identifying criminals and other individuals. In this book, he describes his early experiments with fingerprinting and his efforts to convince others of its value.The book begins with a brief history of the use of fingerprints for identification, including the work of earlier researchers such as Francis Galton. Herschel then describes his own experiences with fingerprinting, which began when he was working as a magistrate in Bengal in the 1860s. He recounts how he first began using fingerprints to sign documents and how he gradually came to realize their potential for identifying criminals.Herschel also describes some of the challenges he faced in convincing others of the value of fingerprinting, including skepticism from other officials and resistance from the public. He discusses the development of fingerprinting techniques and the establishment of fingerprint bureaus in India and other countries.Overall, The Origin of Fingerprinting provides a fascinating glimpse into the early days of forensic science and the development of one of its most important tools. Herschel's account is both informative and engaging, and it offers valuable insights into the history of criminal investigation and the role of science in solving crimes.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.