Signes Caractéristiques des Professions Manuelles

Large photograph album titled "Signes Caractéristiques des Professions Manuelles / Photographies et observations recueillies sous la direction de M Alphonse Bertillon / Par M Felix Geoffray, attaché au Service d'Identification de la Préfecture de Police / Premiere Série publiée par ordre de M Loze, Préfet de Police / Paris 1891".

Contains black and white photographs of people who did manual work or skilled work with their hands. There is one page or double-page spread for each profession or trade, arranged aplhabetically. The names of the people who were photographed are not given. Each entry usually includes a photograph of a person who did a particular job showing them at work and several detailed photographs of their hands. Includes notes on the distinguishing features of the subject's hands, particularly callouses or skin conditions caused by the use of certain tools.

1891

1 volume Originally bound but the cover has been removed and stored separately due to its poor condition. Photographs are mounted on card and generally in good condition. Must be handled with care.

See also GALTON/2/9/6/13/6 for a letter that discusses these photographs, or a similar collection compiled by Bertillon.

The papers are available at UCL Special Collections and Archives subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

A digitised copy is held by the Wellcome Library as part of Codebreakers: Makers of Modern Genetics.

The custodial history of this book is unknown and it was not included in the original Galton collection handlist. However, given the subject of the book and the working relationship between Galton and the book's producer, Alphonse Bertillon, it is highly likely that it was owned and used by Galton. A letter from Bertillon to Galton dated 15 June 1891 makes reference to this book. See GALTON/3/3/2/12.

The original material is held at UCL Special Collections. This catalogue is held by the Wellcome Library as part of Codebreakers: Makers of Modern Genetics.