PRELIM – FORS • Documents questioned as to their authenticities

because their alleged age

Questioned Documents
• Documents that are disputed because of
WHAT IS DOCUMENT
materials used in their production
- Document defined: Document refers to any
• Documents are questioned as to their
material, which contains marks, symbols, or signs
typewriting
either visible or partially visible, which furnish
information or ultimately convey meaning to • Documents or writings investigated because it is
another person. Document is in the form of alleged that they identify some person through
pencil, ink writing or printing on paper. handwriting

Questioned defined: Refers to any material, which some • Genuine document erroneously or fraudulently
issue has been raised or which is under scrutiny. attack

Questioned Document defined: A document is

questioned because its origin, its contents, or the
Instruments, Apparatus, Materials Used in Questioned
circumstances and story regarding its production arouse
Documents
suspicion as to its genuineness or ay adversely scrutinized
simply because it displeases someone. Scientific Instruments

Microscope- As it is well known, microscope is the

instrument, which makes it possible to see physical
Kinds of Documents
evidence directly that otherwise might be impossible but
a. PUBLIC DOCUMENT its application to the investigation of document is not so
well understood.
- It is any instrument notarized by a notary public
or competent public official with solemnities
required by the law.
Kinds of Microscope
b. OFFICIAL DOCUMENT
Stereoscopic microscope provides a three-dimensional
- It is any instrument issued by the government or enlargement which is important when searching for
its agents or its officers having the authority to do identifying characteristics in typewriting samples, crossed
so and the offices . strokes, erasures, alterations, and other problems that
require magnification.
c. PRIVATE DOCUMENT
Comparison microscope allows side by side simultaneous
- It refers to every deed or instrument executed by
comparison of questioned and known samples under
a private person without an intervention of a
study. This feature eliminates the reliance on memory to
notary public.
recall the identifying characteristics when examining
d. COMMERCIAL DOCUMENT questioned and known material.

- It is any instrument executed in accordance with Infrared image conversion microscope provides instant
the code of Commerce or any Mercantile Law. comparison of inks and their ability to absorb to reflect
infrared light and is a valuable tool for the detection of
alterations and comparison of inks.
Classes of Questioned Documents Camera- A good quality copy camera will suffice for many
• Documents with questioned signatures document problems. This camera should be capable of
photographing documents from 1 to 1 to 10 to 1
• Documents containing alleged fraudulent magnification and be able to photograph an entire
• Holographic Documents questioned or disputed document or any portion thereof.
Typewriting Protractor is designed to show the exact Materials Used in the Production of Document
abnormal slant of certain letters in typewriting.
• Paper- The majority of documents are written,
• Uniformed Ruled Squared on Glass, Lettered and typed or printed on paper. It is said that paper,
Numbered- This is a glass with uniform squares was invented by the Chinese more than two
that can be placed over an alleged forgery and a thousand years ago, but knowledge of its
model from, which it is traced or over two alleged manufacture was slow to spread unto Europe.
tracings from the same original, to show
suspicious identities that may exist, or, in the
small size, may be used to compare two enlarged Kinds of Paper
typewritten letters.
1. Papyrus- From about 2400 or earlier, the people
Typewriting Test Plate on Glass for Alignment and Line of Egypt, Palestine, Syria, and southern Europe
Spacing Test- Another useful instrument for typewriting used the pith of the sedge Cyperus papyrus to
examinations, which consists of a glass carrying accurately make a writing material known as papyrus.
graduated fine line squares, ten to the inch, the spacing
of ordinary typewriting.

Angle Measure is an instrument devised for the purpose 2. Parchment- A writing material made from the
of measuring angles in handwriting and typewriting. skins primarily of sheep, calves, or goats,
parchment was probably developed in the Middle
East more or less contemporaneously with
papyrus.
Typewriter- A typewriter is a machine that can reproduce
printed characters on paper. It has a keyboard containing
the letter of the alphabet, numbers, common punctuation
marks, and various controls.

Transmitted Light Table- A “flood of light” is sometimes

all at once thrown on a problem when investigated in this
Ink- The earliest kind of ink was India ink. It was made
way and every document that is suspected should be
from soot or carbon mixed with water. This ink does not
“seen through” in this manner
penetrate the paper and can be scraped off with a knife.
Computers- A computer is an apparatus built to perform
Another kind of ink called logwood was used many years
routine calculations with speed, reliability, and ease. In
ago but is not now common.
addition to this basic function, the advance of technology
has enabled computers to provide numerous services for The first invisible ink is URINE.
an ever-increasing number of people.

Writing Instruments
Cheque-Writing Machines- It is a device, which is
The ballpoint pen is the newest and most popular type of
intended to prevent either erasure or alteration of entries
ink writing instrument. A very few were made in Europe
on cheque is the cheque-writer
before 1935.
Electrostatic Detection- The modern well-equipped
• A practical ballpoint pen was first used in
forensic laboratory employs electrostatic detection to
Argentina in 1943.
recover indented writing.
• Before 1951, most ballpoint inks were made with
an oil base.

After 1951 there were improved inks using a different

chemical compound, which did not smear as oil did.
Kinds: System of Handwriting

Quill Pens were made from the wing feathers of the The combination of the basic design of letters and
goose and saw, primarily, although feathers from other writing movement is taught in school.
birds were also used.

Systems of Early American Handwriting

Steel Nibs. Metal pen points, or nibs, had been used
• Old English round hand
occasionally in Europe, but no efficient manufacturing
method was devised to produce a uniform, reliable, and • Modified round hand- 1840-1860.
inexpensive point until the 1830s.
• Spencerian- 1860-1890.

• Modern vertical writing

Fountain Pens. The fountain pen, incorporating its own
link reservoir, is an 1884 invention of an American, Lewis
E. Waterman. Old English round hand

Ballpoint Pens. The first patent of a ballpoint writing tip

was issued in 1888 to an American, John H. Loud. Loud’s
pen was designed to write on rough surfaces; his concept,
coupled with advances in ball grinding and measuring
technology.

Round hand
Pencil is a hand-held device for writing, marking or
drawing; it consists of a core of solid marking substance
contained in a holder. Graphite is the marking substance
used in “lead” pencils.

WEEK - Development of Handwriting

Handwriting is the result of a very complicated series of

acts being as a whole, a combination of certain forms of
visible, mental and muscular habits acquired by long Modified round hand
painstaking efforts.

Development of Writing:

• Children learn writing by following the school

copy or model.

• After acquiring some degree of skill, the children

no longer follow the school needed.

• As speed increases, conscious design and

regularity begin to break down. Early and Unsystematic Spencerian
• In the course of trial and error, modifications are
made simplifications and elaboration, additions
and omissions occur.
 many foreign hands which have been brought into
American during the same time have necessarily affected
writing in this country to a considerable extent.

Angular Hand

Final Spencerian PDS Form

Final Spencerian Small Letters The identification of Handwriting

Handwriting Defined

Handwriting is a neuromuscular process that originates in

the brain. Some researchers have called it brain writing.

Handwriting Identification Defined

In the legal sense, as it applies to civil and criminal

litigation, handwriting identification seeks to establish the
identity or non-identity of a writer.

Vertical System Principle of Identification

The identification of handwriting is based on the

proposition that “people are all alike; people are all
different”.

Characteristics of Handwritings

The recognition, correct interpretation, and complete

comparison of elements, characteristics and all qualities,
are the essential phases of a scientific handwriting
examination. Every element or quality in handwriting has
same value as a means of identifying it, but these
qualities vary greatly in significance.
Other Systems of Handwriting

The arm movement writing- The prevalent present-day

style, taught in a majority of the schools of this country 2 Categories of Handwriting Characteristics
for about twenty years, is a modification or adaptation of • Class characteristics- these are properties or
the “business writing” developed in American commercial marks of handwriting that are common to a
schools. number of writers
The angular style of writing - taught to and written by • Individual characteristics- these are properties or
many women during all of the last century is entirely marks of handwritings which are highly personal
distinct from these four systems just described; and the or peculiar
 • Form – This is probably the most basic of they may be in the form of a beginning or ending
individual characteristics. It is the pictorial embellishment or a continuation from one letter to the
representation of a letter or writing movement. next. Entry and exit strokes can be habitual movements
and therefore identifying characteristics.
• Skill Level- Skill level can be best described as an
appreciation of beauty as applied to handwriting. Retracing- Retracing is the process wherein the pen re-
An individual with a high skill level produces inks a written portion of the line,.
writing that is fluid, rhythmic, perhaps artistically
embellished and, in short, aesthetically pleasing
to the eye. Spelling/Spacing- The simple act of misspelling words can
of themselves be individual, in combination, to a specific
• Rhythm is defined as a harmonious recurrence of
individual. Take for example the case of a Lithuanian
stress or impulse or motion.
seaman who in the body of one questioned document
• Alignment- is the relation of parts or the whole spelled: “because”-“b-cause”, “shoes”-“schoes”, “tennis”-
line of questioned writing or line of individual “tennis”, “sweater”-“sweather”, and “pajamas”-
letters in words to the base line. “pygemas”.

Movement- This is the manner in which the pen moves in Format- The format of a disputed document may
order to form a letter. additionally be an identifying characteristic. Using a
personal check as an example, one individual may use the
Kinds of Movement
term “no cents”, another may use “00/xxx” or perhaps
• Finger movement “00/100.” Ampersands, if used, also tend to be unique.

• Hand movement writing Slant or Inclination- refers to the angle of inclination of

writing or a letter of writing from the base line of what
• Forearm, or muscular movement writing.
• Whole-arm movement Proportions- generally refer to the symmetry of
Height Ratios- are a comparison or correlation of the individual letter. Using the letter “B” as an example, is the
height of one letter or letter segment to another letter, top “bulb” the same size as the bottom “bulb?”
usually with the same word or signature.

Pen Lifts- Pen-lift if distinguished from hiatus in that there Kinds of Writing
is an obvious appearance of a gap in the writing.
• Cursive/Conventional- most part are joined
Hiatus- Hiatus is a gap between strokes. Speed of writing, together.
defective writing instruments may have an influence on
the number and position of hiatuses. • Script- disconnected style.

Speed- Pen speed is often an essential element of the • Block Style- capitalized/printed
examination process. As will be discussed elsewhere fast,
fluid pen movement is difficult to duplicate by a forger.

Hesitation- The irregular thickening of the ink line when

the writing slows down or stops.

Embellishments- They usually take the form of an added Cursive/Conventional

movement that decorates the writing, such as swirls,
added loops, concentric circles, flourishes, etc.

Entry/Exit Strokes- The entry and exit strokes of a letter

may repeat themselves in similar letter formations such
as “U’s” and “V’s” or perhaps “M’s” and “N’s”. However,
 individual’s handwriting will undergo moderate to radical
changes throughout a lifetime.

Some factors:

• Age and infirmity

• Medication

• Changing eyesight, or
Block Style • even a Change in occupation can be a catalyst

Tremors- are rhythmic movement of part of the body

caused by involuntary rhythmic muscle contractions.

Tremor of Fraud. The characteristics of tremor of fraud

are inequality in movement at any place in any stroke or
line, with strokes too strong and vigorous combined with
The Natural Variation of Handwriting weak, hesitating strokes, also frequent interruptions in
movement, unequal distribution of ink on upward as well
Every person has a range of handwriting variation as downward strokes, and especially the varying pen
determined by his or her physical writing ability, training pressure, due to change in speed and interruptions in
in “penmanship”, and other factors. movement, which may occur in the middle of direct
Handwriting is a free-form activity, and there are an curves, or even in what should be straight lines.
infinite number of ways to write even the simplest letter Tremor of age, or of extreme weakness. Characteristics
combination. It is highly unlikely that any person will of tremor of age, or of extreme weakness usually show
write his or her own name exactly the same way twice in unusual and erratic departures of the line from its
an entire lifetime. intended course, abrupt recovery, and a general
Variation in Genuine Writing indication of muscular weakness and of movements
beyond the control of the writer, particularly in the
Variations in genuine writings are ordinarily in superficial downward strokes.
parts, and in size, proportions, and the degree of care
given to the act. Writing as a whole process is very much In tremor of illiteracy the changes of direction are not apt
more fixed than is generally thought to be, and is in fact to be a numerous as in tremor of age or of weakness, and
one of the most permanent and unconscious of human in this writing omission of parts of letters or strokes are
habits. not common.

INDIVIDUAL VARIATION IN HAND WRITING Illiterate tremor is characterized by a general irregularity

that is not due to weakness but to lack of skill and a
It has been said that any two objects larger than mental uncertainty as to the form and to a general
molecular size contain variation. And so it is with muscular clumsiness resulting from unfamiliarity with the
handwriting. We never write anything exactly the same. whole writing process.
Every time we write, we write slightly different.

EXTERNAL VARIATION IN HANDWRITING

Disguised Handwriting- is one in which the person has
Some individual’s handwriting will display little difference made a deliberate attempt to remove or modify all or
in individual characteristics from the time that their some of his normal writing habits.
handwriting had matured (usually in the late teens or
early 20’s), until the time they go to the grave. Most
 Document

Any material that contains a mark symbol or sign,

either visible, partially visible or invisible that may presently or
ultimately convey a meaning or a message to someone.

It is any written statement by which a right is

established or an obligation extinguished. (People vs. Moreno,
C.A., 38 O.G. 119)

Two Categories of Document

Indented Writing- or second page writing is the 1. Questioned Document – Document to which an issue has
impression from the writing instrument captured only been raised or which is under scrutiny. The focal point of the
examination and to which the document examiner relies as to
sheets of paper below the one that contains the original
the extent of the problem. (also referred to as disputed
writing. This most often manifests itself when pads of document).
paper are used.
2. Standard Document – Document in which the origin is
Guided-Handwriting or Assisted Signatures and known can be proven and can legally be used as sample to
Sequence of Cross Stroke. A signature actually produced compare with other things is questioned.
by the cooperation of two hands and two minds will Types of Standards
usually show evidence of unnaturalness in the signature
itself that is inconsistent with forgery. a. Collected/Procured Std. – Standard specimen executed in
the regular course of man’s activity or that which are executed
on the day to day writing activity.

b. Requested/Dictated (Post litel motam std.) – a Standard

document which are executed upon request, they are prepare at
one time.

Contemporary document = documents which are not more

than five (5) years before or after.

Legal Classification of Documents:

1. Public Document = a document created, executed or

issued by a public official in response to the exigencies
of the public service, or in the execution of which a
public official intervened.

= is any instrument authorized by a notary public or a competent

public official, with the solemnities required by law ( Cacnio ,
et.al. vs. Baens, 5 Phil. 724).

2. Official Document = a document which is issued by a

public official in the exercise of the functions of his
office. Am official document is also a public document
as a larger classification.

3. Private Document = A deed or instrument executed by

a private person without the intervention of a notary
public or other person legally authorized, by which
documents, some disposition or agreement is proved,
evidenced or set forth. (US Vs. Orera, 11 Phil 596) e.g.
Theater Ticket.

QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS
 4. Commercial Document = any document defined and Baseline = an imaginary or straight line in which the writing
regulated by the Code of Commerce ( People Vs. Co rest.
Beng, C.A. 40 OG 1913) or any other commercial law.
Types of Handwritings

Classes of Questioned Documents: 1. Cursive – Writing in which the letters are for the most part
joined together.
1. Document with questioned Signature (most common).
2. Hand lettering – refers to writing characterized by a
2. Document containing fraudulent alteration (Any form of disconnected style.
changes either an addition or deletion to the contents of a
document). 3. Natural Writing – a specimen of writing that is executed
normally and without any attempt of altering its usual writing
3. Holograph Document – a document that is completely written habits.
and signed by one person
4. Disguised – a specimen of writing executed deliberately with
4. Document questioned as to the material used in their an attempt of changing its usual writing habits in the hope of
production. hiding one’s identity.

5. Documents questioned as to their age or date. 5. Guided/assisted – a specimen of writing executed while the
writer’s hand is at steadied. Usually employed by beginners in
6. Documents involving typewriting writing.
7. Document which may identify a person through handwriting Signature – a name of person signed by himself on a document
8. Genuine documents erroneously or fraudulently attacked or as a sign of acknowledgement.
disputed. Model signature – genuine signature which has been used in
9. Documents containing printing or type prints. preparing a simulated or traced forgery.

Evidential Signature – specimen signature which was executed

in particular date, particular time and place, under a particular
Writings and Signature: writer’s condition and for a particular purpose.
System of Writing – is the combination of the basic shape and
designs of letter and the writing movement which was taught in
school. Classes of Signature

Copy book form – is an illustration of the basic designs of 1. Formal or complete – used in signing very important
letters that is fundamental to the writing system. document

Writing movement – refers to factors relative to the motion of 2. Informal or cursory – used for routine document
the pen such as, pressure, rhythm, pen lifting, etc. 3. Careless scribble – used for not so important document such
Writing – is the visible result of a very complicated series of as delivery of mail or receipt of purchase equipment etc.
acts, being as a whole or a combination of certain forms which Forgery – is an act of falsifying or counterfeiting any treasure
are the very visible result of mental and muscular habits or bank notes, paper bills or any documents which are payable
acquired by long continued painstaking effort. to the bearer.
Handwriting – is a visible effect of bodily movement which is - is an act of simulating or tracing somebody’s signature without
an almost unconscious expressions of fixed muscular habits, the latter’s consent for profit.
reacting from fixed mental impression of certain ideas
associated with script form.

Writing Habits – refers to any repeated elements of once Major types of Forgery
handwriting which serves as an identifying characteristics.
1. Simple forgery – a forges signature where no attempt has
Significant Writing Habits – elements of one’s writing that are been made to make a copy or facsimile of the genuine writing of
sufficiently unique and well fixed to serve as a strong basis of a person purported to sign the document. Also known as
individuality. spurious signature

Slant = refers to the relative degree of writing inclination 2. Simulated or Copied forgery – a forged signature which
relative to the baseline. resembles the genuine signature written in free-hand.
Considered as the most skillful type of forgery.
3. Traced Forgery – forged signature which closely resembles 11. Knob – is a tiny pool of an ink at the beginning or ending
the genuine made by some tracing process or outline form. strokes.

Methods of tracing 12. Loop – is an oblong strokes

a. Carbon outline process – used of carbon paper. 13. Stem/shank/staff – is considered as the backbone of the
letter characterized by a long downward strokes
b. Indention process- used of considerable pressure, Canal-like
process. 14. Initial/terminal Spur – a long running initial or terminal
strokes.
c. Projection or transmitted light process- used of light from
the back or bottom. 15. Through – refers to any garland form of a letter strokes

d. Laser method – used of hologram. 16. Whirl – is the long upward strokes usually found opposite
the stem

CHARACTERISTICS IN WRITING:
Embellishments – added strokes that serves as an ornamental
Characteristics – refers to any property, marks or elements or flourish to the design of the letters. They considered
which distinguishes. Also referred to as identifying details. unnecessary to the legibility of the writing.

Diacritics = strokes added to complete certain letters. They are

Types of characteristics: necessary to the legibility of the letters.

1. Class Characteristics – characteristics or properties which Writing Movement – refers to all factors relative to the motion
are common or which can be found in the specimen writing of of the pen.
other person. Gross characteristics. Line Quality – is the visible records in the written strokes of the
2. Individual Characteristics – characteristics which are highly basic movements and manner of holding instrument. It is
personal or peculiar. That which is unlikely to occur in other’s derived from a combination of factors, including writing skill,
handwriting. speed, rhythm, freedom of movement, shading and pen
emphasis.
Elements of Forms in Writing:

1. Arc – the rounded inner part of an upper curve, bend or

crook, Types of movement:

2. Beard – is an introductory up and down strokes found in 1. Finger (used by beginners)

some capital letters. Also called as double hitch. 2. Hand (wrist serves as the point of pivotal & of limited
3. Blunt – is a part of a stroke characterized by a abrupt freedom)
beginning or end at which the pen does not creates a 3. Forearm (most skillful type of movement)
diminishing strokes.
4. Whole arm (used for ornamental or large writings)
4. Buckle Knot is a horizontal or loop strokes used to complete
letters A, H, F and D.

5. Central Part – is the body of the letter. Characterized by a Elements of Writing Movement
small rounded or circular strokes.
1. Pen pressure – is the average or usual pressure applied in the
6. Ductus-link, Ductus-broken- refers to the connection writing.
between letters, either joined or disconnected.
2. Pen Emphasis – is the act of intermittently forcing the pen
7. Eyelet/ eyeloop – refers to small oblong strokes. against the paper surface with an increase in speed.

8. Hitch – an introductory backward strokes found in most 3. Rhythm – is the harmonious or balance recurrence of strokes
capital letters and in some small letters. or impulses.

9. Hiatus = an obvious gap between letters. 4. Skills – refers to the degree of writer’s proficiency in writing

10. Humps – is the outer portion of an upper curve bend or 5. Speed – cannot be measured precisely from the finished
crook, (see arc) handwriting but it can be interpreted in broad term as to either
fast, slow or moderate.
6. Pen-lift – an interruption is strokes caused by sudden removal 2. Decipherment of Erased Writings
of the writing instrument from the paper surface.
Erasure – refers to removal of a writings or any part of a
7. Shading – refers to the more obvious increase in the width of document either by mechanical or chemical process.
the letter strokes.
Mechanical Erasure – done by means of abrasive method
8. Pen Position – is the relative location of the pen in relation to through rubbing or scrapping.
the paper surface.
Chemical Erasure – done with the aid or use of bleaching agent
9. Pen scope – represents the reach of the hand with the wrist at called ink eradicator.
rest.
Usually examined with the aid or fuming, transmitted
10. Retracing or retraced – is the strokes which goes back over light, oblique light and ultra-violet light examination.
another writing strokes that is slightly to occur in other’s
writing.

11. Retouching or patching – is a stroke, which goes back over a 3. Decipherment of Obliterated writing
defective portion of a writing to repair or correct an error. Obliteration – is the process of smearing over an original
writing to make it undecipherable or illegible. Done with the
used of superimposing inks. Usually examined with the used of
Factors that affects writing characteristics: Infra-red light.

1. Natural Variations – is the usual or normal deviation found

in a repeated specimen of an individual’s handwriting or in the
product of any typewriter. 4. Examination of Charred Document and water soaked
document
2. Transitory Change – are meant to those changes which only
continue to exist while the basic cause of the deterioration is Charred Document – refers to partly burned or brittle
still affecting the writer, once the such cause has been removed document. Decipherment is usually accomplished with the used
from the writer, the writing will reverts in its normal form. of infra-red light examination.

3. Tremor – is the weakening of the strokes characterized by a

wavering or shaky strokes. 5. Development of Invisible writing
a. Genuine Tremor Invisible writing – writing that has no readily visible
a.1. Weakness of sickness ink strokes. Made by Sympathetic inks such as acids, juice and
others. They are possible of development depending on the ink
a.2 Old age used. Methods of development can be by heat. Water, chemical
fuming or by ultra-violet light process.
a.3. Illiteracy (lack of skills)

b. Tremor of Fraud
6. Decipherment of Contract writing
4. Writing Conditions – refers to all factors affecting the over-
all quality of writing such as the writer’s condition under which Contact writing – refers to partially visible ink strokes
the writing was prepared. cause by sudden contact between a sheet of paper with another
paper containing fresh ink. Can be enhanced through fuming or
5. Writing instrument - a. Ball point pen (John Loud) ultra-violet light process.
consisting of a ball bearing at the point of the pen.

b. Fountain pen (Lewis Watterman) consisting of pen

nib point. EXAMINATION OF TYPEWRITING

c. Fiber pen (originally designed by Hongkong) Definition of Terms:

1. Typeface – is the printing surface of the type block in a

conventional typewriter. In electric typewriter it is the printing
Miscellaneous Document Problem surface of the rotating head sphere.
1. Detection of Alteration 2. Typeface defect – any form of peculiarity of the type printing
Alteration - refers to any form of changes either an addition or caused by actual damage to
a deletion to the original content of the document which is not a
part of its original preparation.
the typeface metal or which maybe an abnormality in its 6. Actual breakage – any peculiarity of typewriting caused by
printing condition. actual damage to the type face metal.

3. Characters – in connection to typewriting, it is used to 7. Clogged type face (dirty) – is a typeface defects
include letters, symbols, numerals or points of punctuation. characterized by dirty prints due to constant used without
cleaning of the type bar or due to use of new carbon. These are
4. Pica typeface – type face impression ordinarily spaced ten common in closed letter outline such as o, a, p, g etc.
(10) characters to the horizontal inch.

5. Elite typeface – type face impression ordinarily spaced

twelve (12) characters to the horizontal inch.

6. Proportional spacing machine – a typewriter with a type

letter spacing similar to the type spacing of conventional printed
in which all letters are allotted horizontal in conformity with
their relative widths.

7. Transitory Defects – is an identifying typewriter

characteristics which can be eliminated by simply cleaning the
machine or replacing the ribbon.

8. Permanent Defects – any identifying typewriting

characteristics of the type face which cannot be corrected by
simply cleaning the machine or replacing the ribbon.

9. Mal alignment or alignment defects – refers to defect in the

printing condition of the type character in which the letters are
printed either at the top or bottom, left or right of inclined from
its proper position.

Principal technique utilized in typewriting identification

1. Measure the type face pitch

2. Verify the type size and design (W-G-T)

3. Look for individual type face defects

Typeface Defects

1. Vertical mal alignment – a character printing above or

below of its proper position.

2. Horizontal mal alignment – an alignment defect in which

the characters are printed to the left or right of its proper
position.

3. Twisted letters – letters and characters are designed to be

printed at a certain angle to the baseline. Once letters leans to
the left or right of its proper position such is called twisted
letters.

4. Off-its-feet – is a condition of the type face printing at which

then character outline is not equally printed, that is the printing
is heavier in one side than the remainder of the outline of the
character.

5. Rebound – typeface defect in which a character prints a

double impression with the lighter one slightly off-set to the
right or left.