HANDWRITING ANALYSIS AND ITS HISTORY
As early as the 11th century a Chinese
philosopher and painter by the name
of Jo-Aju declared that handwriting infallibly shows vulgarity or noble-mindedness.
The first book written on the subject of handwriting
analysis was “The Means
of Knowing the Habits and Qualities of a Writer From His Letters” published in
1662 by Camillo Baldo, the accredited father of handwriting analysis. Baldo was
an Italian author and professor of medicine and psychology at the University of
Bologna in Italy.
In 99 A.D. Roman historian, Suetonius, made a study of
Emperor Augustus’
personality from his handwriting. To quote Suetonius concerning Augustus,”he
does not separate his words, nor carry over to the next line any excess letters.
This is the writing of a man whose mind is rules by his heart.”
After 30 years of study and work, two French priests, Abbe
Flandrin and
his student, Abbe Jean-Hyppolyte Michon, established some basic rules for
determining specific characteristics. They published two books. The first
published in 1872 was entitled ”The Mysteries of Handwriting”. The second
was published later was entitled “A System of Graphology.” They coined the
phrase “graphology” which is the art of knowing men by their handwriting.
Among the many people studying handwriting analysis
through the nineteenth
century were Walter Scott, Edgar Allen Poe, Robert Browning and his wife,
Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote a paper entitled,
“Black Words on White Paper Bare the Soul”.
Benjamin Franklin changed his handwriting to resemble the
handwriting traits
of people he revered.
Swiss psychiatrist, Dr. Max Pulver, introduced the
importance of unconscious
drives in handwriting. His book “The Symbolism of Handwriting” was published
in 1931 and has passed into the graphological canon as one of the pioneering
works of graphology.
In 1915 M.N. Bunker began his studies in handwriting and
formed the American
Graphoanalysis Society.
In 1980, the Library of Congress recognized handwriting
analysis as a science.
(www.loc.gov) Prior to 1980, graphology was classified as a branch of the occult.
Since1980, graphology has three classifications listed: Documentary Evidence
Selection of Personnel by Management, Personnel Selection and Diagnostic
Graphology.*
*Sheila Lowe, “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Handwriting Analysis”.
For inquiries or comments, please contact me at: penmaster@thewrittentruth.com or call (972) 998-4529
Handwriting Analysis is a scientific and reliable tool to assist in building success in personal and professional life.
The Written Truth
