from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
COMPARISON OF HANDWRITING, evidence. It is a general rule that comparison of
hands is not admissible; but to this there are some exceptions. In some
instances, when the antiquity of the writing makes it impossible for any
living witness to swear that he ever saw the party write, comparison of
handwriting, with documents known to be in his handwriting, has been
admitted. For the general principle, see Skin. 579, 639; 6 Mod. 167; 1 Lord
Ray. 39, 40; Holt. 291; 4 T. R. 497; 1 Esp. N. P. C. 14, 351; Peake's Evid.
69; 7 East, R. 282; B. N. P. 236; Anthon's N. P. 98, n.; 8 Price, 653; 11
Mass. R. 309 2 Greenl. R. 33 2 Johns. Cas. 211 1 Esp. 351; 1 Root, 307;
Swift's Ev. 29; 1 Whart. Dig 245; 5 Binn. R. 349; Addison's R. 33; 2 M'Cord,
518; 1 Tyler, R. 4 6 Whart. R. 284; 3 Bouv. Inst. n. 3129-30. Vide Diploma.