From this page you can read some online historical reference books related to forensic document examination. 

---

These books are provided as references and in some cases for purely historical interest.  Most of these books are very dated.  The presence of a book on this list should not necessarily be considered an endorsement of the book's contents by the ASQDE. 

Most of the digital book files below, located on the Google Books website, have passed into the public domain as they were written before 1923.

---

If you are located in the United States and cannot see the Google books, be sure you are using an updated browser (e.g. Google Chrome or Firefox). 

A bibliography appears in the 1929 second edition of Questioned Documents where the author, Albert S. Osborn, critiques a large number of books related to questioned document examination or handwriting in general.

Read these books online or download a copy

---

• Questioned Documents (1910), Albert S. Osborn
  • This is the original edition of the classic text. The book was revised and expanded in the second edition published in 1929.
• The Problem of Proof (1922), Albert S. Osborn
  • This is the original edition of the book.  A second edition was published in 1926.  In the second edition, the material was rearranged and another chapter entitled, "A Case Book on Thought and Reasoning," was added.
• Ames on Forgery (1901), Daniel T. Ames
  • In his bibliography, Mr. Osborn described Daniel Ames as "for many years the best qualified student of disputed handwriting in America." Mr. Osborn said that the book contains many valuable ideas, is one of the best books on the subject, but is not as complete as it could have been.

• Disputed Handwriting (1894), William E. Hagan
  • Mr. Osborn states that William Hagan "was a reliable and cultured gentleman but his experience as an examiner of disputed documents was not very extended." Mr. Osborn complains about Mr. Hagan's writing style, but states that "the book is worthy of the difficult study necessary to extract from it the valuable ideas it contains."
• Classification & Identification of Handwriting (1922), C.D. Lee, R.A. Abbey
  • This book was not reviewed in Mr. Osborn's bibliography.
• The Early History of the Typewriter (1918), Charles Edward Weller
  • This book was not reviewed in Mr. Osborn's bibliography.

---

• Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward (2009)
  • Recommendations of the Committee on Identifying the Needs of the Forensic Sciences Community, National Research Council.