P1: A Fingerprinting History

PrehistoricThe evidence proving mankind's interest in fingerprints can be dated back to the prehistoric period. Discovered in Nova Scotia was pictures of a hand with ridge patterns. To farther prove the interest in fingerprinting thumb prints from the ancient Chinese on clay seals. Furthermore in ancient Babylon, fingerprints were used on clay tablets for business transactions.

Early Discoveries

Marcello Malpighi found that there are ridges, spirals and loops in fingerprints. There was no referencing to using this tool as an personal identification tool. A layer of skin that is approximately 1.8mm thick was named after him called the "Malpighi". Later in the 1800's John Evangelist Purkinji published his thesis discussing 9 fingerprint patterns but still there was no concern of using the findings as an implement for idenification let alone a way to help in a criminal investigation.

Modern

In 1901, Henry was appointed Assistant Commissioner of Police at New Scotland Yard and began to introduce his fingerprint system into that institution. By the end of that year, the Fingerprint Office at New Scotland Yard was fully functional, the first British court conviction by fingerprints being obtained in 1902. Henry's book and classification system was being used by police forces and prison authorities throughout the English-speaking world.

http://www.aladdinusa.com/documentationservices/fingerhistory.htm

http://www.onin.com/fp/fphistory.html
http://www.policensw.com/info/fingerprints/finger02.html