QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

EXAMINATION
Personalities in Questioned Documents Examination

Albert Sherman Osborn

Considered as a Father of Scientific
Examination of Questioned Document.

J Newton Baker
A Consultative expert in disputed
document and authored the book,
“Law of Disputed and forged
documents”
Personalities in Questioned Documents Examination

James V. P. Conway

Authored the book,

“Evidential Documents.”

Dr. Wilson R. Harrison

Authored the book, “Suspect
Document Examiners Their
Scientific Examination”.
Personalities in Questioned Documents Examination

Roy A. Huber
Authored the book, “Handwriting
Identification – Facts and Fundamentals”.

Ordway Hilton

Authored the book, “Scientific

Examination of Questioned
Documents”.
Importance of Documents
Document – this any material containing marks, symbols or
signs either visible, partially visible that may present or
ultimately convey a meaning to someone, maybe in the form of
pencil, ink writing, type writing, or printing on paper.

Questioned – any material which some issues has been raised or

which is under scrutiny.

Questioned Document – one in which the facts appearing

therein may not be true, and are contested either in whole or part
with respect to its authenticity, identity, or origin.
Interchangeable with “disputed document”.
Standard document – these are condensed and compact set of
authentic specimens which, if adequate and proper, should
contain a cross section of the material from a known source.
Exemplar – this is a term by some document examiners and
attorneys to characterize known material.
Holographic document – any document completely written and
signed by one person; also known as holograph.
Reference Collection – material compiled and organized by the
document examiner to assist him in answering special questions.
Reference collections of typewriting, check writing specimens,
inks, pens, pencils, and papers are frequently maintained.
 Legal aspects of Documents:
A. Legal Basis of Documents

• Any written document by which a right is established or an

obligation is extinguished. (People vs. Moreno, CA, 338 O.G 119)
• Every deed or instrument executed by person by which some
disposition or agreement is proved, evidenced or set forth. (People
vs. Nillosquin, CA, 48 O.G 4453)
• Any physical embodiment of information or ideas. (Criminal
Jurisprudence, Best Evidence Rule)
 Legal aspects of Documents:
B. Kinds of Document
• Public Document – notarized by a notary public or competent public
official with solemnities required by law.
• Official Document – issued by a government or its agents or its
officers having the authority to do so and the offices, which in
accordance with their creation, they are authorized to issue and be
issued in the performance of their duties.
• Private Document – executed by a private person without the
intervention of a notary public or of any person legally authorized, by
which documents, some disposition or agreement is proved, evidenced
or set forth.
 Legal aspects of Documents:
B. Kinds of Document
• Commercial Document – executed in accordance with the Code of
Commerce or any Mercantile Law, containing disposition of
commercial rights or obligations.
• Electronic Document (E-Document) – exist only in electronic form
such as data stored on a computer, network, back-up, archive or other
storage media. Examples of document subjects to e-discovery are e-
mails, instant message, e-calendars, audio files.
Classes of Questioned Documents

 Documents with questioned signatures.

 Documents alleged to have containing fraudulent alterations.
 Questioned/disputed holographic wills:
• holographic will – will entirely written in the
handwriting of the testator.
• notarial will – signed by the testator acknowledge before
a notary public with 3 witnesses.
Classes of Questioned Documents

 Documents investigated on the question of typewriting.

 Documents on issue of their age or date.
 Documents on issue of materials used in their production.
 Documents / writings investigated because it is alleged that
they identify some persons through handwriting.
Documents and Questioned
Document Examination
 Technical Terms
Addition – any matter made a part of the document after its original
preparation may be referred to as addition.
Conclusion – a scientific conclusion results from relating observed
facts by logical, commonsense reasoning in accordance with
established with established rules or laws.
Erasure – the removal of writings, typewriting or printing
Document examiner - one who studies scientifically the details and
elements of documents in order to identify their source or to discover
other facts concerning them.
 Technical Terms
Examination – it is the act of making a close and critical study of any
material and with questioned documents, it is the process necessary to
discover the facts about them.
Insertion or Interlineation – the term “insertion” and
“interlineation” include the addition of writing and other material
between lines or paragraphs or the addition of whole page to a
document.
Non-Identification (non-identity) – as used in his in this text it means
that the source or authorship of the compared questioned document
and standard specimens if different.
 Technical Terms
Obliteration – the blotting out or shearing over the writing to make
the original invisible to as an addition.

Opinion – in legal language, it refers to the document Examiner’s

conclusion. Actually in Court, he not only expresses an opinion but
demonstrates the reasons for arriving at his opinion.

Qualification – the professional experience, education and ability of

a document examiner. Before he is permitted to testify as an expert
witness, the court must rule that he is qualified in his field.
 Divisions of Questioned Document Examination

 Criminalistics Examination – This involves the detection of

forgery, erasure, alteration or obliteration of documents.

 Handwriting Investigation /Analysis – this is more focused

in determining the author the author of writing. It is more
difficult procedure and requires long study and experiences.
 Aspects of Questioned Document Examination

 Handwriting examination (Graphology/Graphoanalysis)

 Examination of Typewriting and Type prints.
 Examination of Inks
 Examination of erasure, alterations or obliterations, etc.
 Counterfeiting
 Miscellaneous aspect.
 Related Fields of Study
• Questioned Document Examiners – a document examiner
analyzes any questioned document and is capable of more than just
questions of authorship limited only by their access to laboratory.

• Historical Dating – there is work involving the verification of age

and worth of a document or object, sometimes done by a document
examiner.

• Fraud Investigators – this is work that often overlaps with the

document examiner and focuses on the money trail and criminal
intent.
 Related Fields of Study
• Paper & Ink Specialists – these public or private experts who
date, type, source, and/or catalogue various types of paper,
watermarks, ink printing/copy/fox machines, computer cartridges,
etc. using chemical methods.

• Forgery Specialists – these are public or private experts who

analyze altered, obliterated, changed, or doctored documents and
photos using infrared lighting, expensive spectrograph equipment,
or digital enhancement techniques.
 Related Fields of Study
• Handwriting Analysts – these are usually psychology experts who
assess personality traits from handwriting samples, also called
graphologists or graphoanalysts; forensic stylistics refers to the
same purpose but by looking at semantics, spelling, word choice,
syntax and phraseology.
• Typewriting Analysts – these are experts on the origin, make, and
model used in typewritten materials.
• Computer Crime Investigators – this is an emerging group that
relates to QDE through some common investigative and
testimonial procedures.
 Basic Requirement in Questioned Document
• Request

1. Document examination shall be based on written request

form any investigating agency of the government, court order
and / or private requesting party, provided that the letter has
been approved by the director, PNPL.

2. Document previously examined by any competent agencies

of the government shall not be re-examined except there is a
court order.
 Basic Requirement in Questioned Document
• Request

3. If the case in undergoing trial in court, disputed documents

shall be examined only upon order of the court having
jurisdiction of the case.
 Basic Requirement in Questioned Document
• Standard specimen

The specimen to be summitted will be dependent on the

questioned documents under investigation. The original
document is necessary and the standards to be collected or
requested should be sufficient; and observance of similarity of
subject matter is necessary.
 Logical progress of inquiry in documentation examination

FIRST – Ascertain the Facts: to select “Questioned”,

“Denied” or “Admitted”, “Authentic”, and “Doubtful”
documents.

SECOND – Analyze the Details: Synthesize the elements,

date, circumstances, conditions, technical problems and the
like.

THIRD – Qualify the case.

 Scientific Method in Questioned Documentation Examination

 Analysis (Recognition)
 Comparison
 Evaluation
 Verification
Criteria of scientific examination of documents

 Accuracy
 Precision
 Importance of Preliminary Examination of
Questioned Documentation Examination

 Ensure preparedness;
 Avoidance of delay; and
 Ensures success of the case.
Who conducts the preliminary Examination?
Who is a Questioned Document Expert?
Reasons for utilizing a questioned document expert.
 Assurance of preparedness;
 Trial fiscal or judges are infrequently confronted with document
cases; consequently, they do not possess the knowledge of the
documents expert’s ability of the various methods that exist for
determining forgeries.
 Avoidance of an “Off-Hand” opinion.

Conclusions not based on thorough scientific examination.

 Instruments and apparatus used in
Questioned Document Examination
• Magnifying lens
• Shadowgraph
• Stereoscopic binocular microscope
• Measures and test plates (Transparent Glass)
• Table lamps with adjustable shades (Goose Neck Lamps)
• Transmitted light gadget
• Ultra violet lamp
• Infrared viewer
• Comparison microscope
• Video comparator (VSA)
• Electrostatic detection apparatus (ESDA)
 Techniques in the examination of Questioned Documents

• Microscopic Examination – any examination or study which is

made with the microscope in order to discover minute physical
details. Stereoscopic examination with low and high power
objectives is used to detect retouching, patching and unnatural pen-
lift in signature analysis. With proper angle and intensity or
illumination, it aids in the decipherment of erasures, some minute
manipulations not perfectly pictured to the unaided eye and the
sequence of entries done by different writing instruments.
 Techniques in the examination of Questioned Documents

• Transmitted Light Examination – in this examination, the

document is viewed with the source of illumination behind it
and the light passing through the paper. Documents are
subjected to this type of examination to determine the
presence of erasures, matching of serrations and some other
types of alterations.
 Techniques in the examination of Questioned Documents

• Oblique Light Examination – an examination with the illumination

so controlled that grazes or strikes the surface of the document for
one side at a very low angle. Decipherment of faded handwriting,
determination of outlines in traced forgery, embossed impressions,
etc. are subjected to this type of examination.
 Techniques in the examination of Questioned Documents
• Ultra-Violet Examination – ultraviolet radiation is invisible
and occurs in the wave lengths just below the visible blue-violet
end of the spectrum (rainbow). These visible rays react on some
substances so that visible light is reflected, a phenomenon
known as FLOURESCENCE. This type of examination is done
in a darkroom after the lamp has been warmed up in order to
give a maximum output of the ultra-violet light. Exposure to the
ultra-violet lights should be to the minimum duration in order to
avoid fading of some writing ink and typewriter ribbon.
 Techniques in the examination of Questioned Documents

• Photographic Examination – this type of examination is very

essential in every document examination. Actual observations
are recorded in the photographs.
• Infrared Examination – this examination of documents
employs invisible radiation beyond the red portion of the visible
spectrum (rainbow) which is usually recorded on the specially
sensitized photographic emulsion.
 Other Examination

• Erasures
1. Physical inspection: using ultraviolet, observation
with light striking the surface at a sharp angle, and
observation under the microscope maybe considered.

2. Fuming with iodine may cause an almost negligible

stain, but in instances not the slightest semblance of a
stain remains.
 Other Examination

• Indented Writing
1. Physical methods maybe used by passing a strong beam
of nearly parallel light almost horizontally over the
surface of the paper.
2. Fuming the document maybe of values in some cases.
3. Powders of various kinds maybe used witout changing
the document.
 Other Examination

• Burned or Charred Paper

1. Photographic methods, using various types of filters and
different angles of illumination may determine the
writing contained thereon without changing the
appearance of the charred fragments.
2. Chemical methods, such as spraying, painting, or
bathing charred pieces with solutions of different
chemical reagents.
3. Photographic plates maybe utilized by allowing the
charred paper to remain in contact with the emulsion
sides in total darkness form one to two weeks.
 Handling of Documents and Questioned Documents

Do’s

• Take disputed papers to Document Examiner’s Laboratory at

the first opportunity.

• If storage is necessary, keep in dry place away from excessive

heat strong light.

• Maintain in consequential document, unfolded and in

transparent plastic envelope or evidence preserver.
 Handling of Documents and Questioned Documents

Dont’s
• Do not underscore, make careless markings, fold, erase, impress
rubber stamps, sticker, write on, or otherwise alter any
handwriting.
• Do not smear with fingerprints powder or chemicals.
• Do not carry handwriting document carelessly in wallet, notebook
or brief case on grounds of interviews.
• Do not handle disputed papers excessively or carry then in pocket
for a long time.
 Handling of Documents and Questioned Documents

Dont’s

• Do not mutilate or damage by repeated refolding, creasing,

cutting, tearing or punching for filing purposes.

• Do not allow anyone except qualified specialist to make

chemical or other tests; do not treat or dust for latent finger
prints before consulting a document examiner.

• Do not mark disputed documents.

Handwriting Identification
and Examination
 Principles of Identification
• No two writers write exactly alike.
• The physical writing conditions and position of the person
including his writing instrument may affect the handwriting
characteristics but they do not confine all its identity elements.
• A writer cannot exceed his maximum writing ability or skill
without serious effort and training over a period of time.
• The combination of hand writing characteristics including
those derived from form and writing movements are essential
elements of identification.
 Principles of Identification

• Individuality in handwriting characteristics including those

• Similarity does not mean identity.
• Complete identity means forgery.
• Sufficiency of specimen.
 Handwriting - it is the result of a very complicated series of
facts, being used as whole, combination of certain forms of
visible mental and muscular habits acquired by long, continued
painstaking effort. This is sometimes defined as “visible speech”

itings:

onnected writing in which one letter is joined to t

arated or printed writing.
ll CAPITAL LETTERS.
 Basis of Handwriting Identification

• In Wignore’s Principles of judicial proof, handwriting is

defined as a visible effect of bodily movement which is an
unconscious expression of fixed muscular habits, reacting from
fixed mental impression of a certain ides associated with script
form.

• Environment, education and occupation affect individuals so

variously in the formation of these habits that finally the act of
writing becomes an almost automatic succession of acts
stimulated by these habits
 Basis of Handwriting Identification

• The imitation of the style of writing by another person

becomes difficult because the other person cannot by mere will
power reproduce in himself all the muscular combination from
the habit of the first writer.
 Variations in Handwriting

A more or less definite pattern for each is stored away in the

subjective min but the hand does not always produce a stereotyped
duplicate of that pattern. The hand ordinarily is not an instrument of
precision and therefore we may not expect every habitual manual
operation to be absolutely uniform. The greater this skill in the art
of penmanship, the less the variations there will be in the form of
individualize letters as well as in the writing as whole.
 Variations in Handwriting

• Function of some external condition i.e. influence of the available

space.

• Abnormal conditions such as physical injury, toxic effects,

inebriation’s, emotion and deception.

• Position of letter – all the letters are to be found initially,

medially, and finally. The fact of a different position, especially in
combination with another and particular letter, may modify any
of them in some way or other.
 Importance of Variation
• Personal variation encountered under normal writing conditions
is also a highly important element of identification. The qualities
of personal variation include both its nature and its extent. It
becomes necessary to determine the amount, extent and exact
quality of the variations.
• It is improbable that the variety and extent of the variation in
handwriting will be exactly duplicated in two individuals that
such a coincidence becomes practically impossible and this
multitude of possible variations when combined is what
constitute individuality in handwriting.
 Importance of Variation
• With a group of signatures of a particular writer, certain normal
divergence in size, lateral spacing and proportions actually
indicate genuineness. Variation in genuine writing is ordinarily in
superficial parts and in size, proportions, degree of care given to
the act, design, slant, shading, vigor, angularity, roundness and
direction of stroke.
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Form – This refers to the shape or design of the individual letters.
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Slope or Slant – It is an angle or inclination of the axis of letters
relative to the baseline.
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Size – as a writing characteristic is somewhat divergent under
varying condition and may have but little significance when applied
to only one example, or to a small quality of writing like a signature
unless the divergence is very pronounced.
Big Small
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Proportion – Individual characteristics in relative proportion of
letters or proportion of a part of a letter or relative height of one
letter to another letter can be found in different writing. Proportion
of letters is one of the hidden features of writing.
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Ratio – The relation between the tall and short letters is referred to
as the ratio of the writing.
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Connecting Strokes – Refers to the strokes of links that connects a
letter with the one following.
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Terminal Strokes and Initial Stroke – when a letter, word or name
(signature) is completed in a free, natural writing, the pen is usually
raised from paper while in motion with a “flying finish” (or what is
also referred to as “vanishing”, “tapering” or “flourishing” terminal
strokes) and with many writers, the motion of the pen also slightly
precedes the putting of the pen on the paper at the beginning with
“flying start” so that the strokes at the beginning and end of words
gradually diminish or taper to a “vanishing point”.
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Pen Lift – it is an interruption in a stroke caused by removing the
pen from the paper.
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Hiatus – is a gap between strokes due to speed in writing and
defective writing instruments.
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Lateral Spacing – is considered as a common characteristics when
it conforms to the ordinary copy-book-form.
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Shading – it is the widening of the ink strokes with increase on the
paper surface.
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Line Quality – refers to the visible record in the written stroke of
the basic movement and manner of handling the writing instrument.
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Alignment – is the relation of the parts of the whole line of writing
or line of individual letters in words or signature to the baseline.
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Rhythm – it is the balanced quality of movements of the
harmonious recurrence of stress or impulse.

Sample 1 Sample 2
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Pen pressure – it is the average force in which the pen makes
contact with the paper or the usual force involved in writing
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Tremor – means “deviation from uniform strokes due to lack of
smoothness perfectly apparent even without magnification”.
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Natural Variation – variation is due to lack of machine-like
precision of the human hand, it is also caused by external factors,
such as the writing instrument and the writing position, influenced
by physical and mental condition such as fatigue, intoxication,
illness, nervousness and the age of the writer, due to the quality of
the writing prepared in the writing prepared in the course of time,
variation in genuine signature appears in superficial parts and does
not apply to the
 Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Rubric or Embellishment – This refers to additional unnecessary
strokes not necessary to legibility of letterforms or writing for
decorative or ornamental purpose.
 Common Terms and Description of Letters
Arch or Arc – any arcade form in the body of the letter.

Beard – rudimentary curved initial strokes.

 Common Terms and Description of Letters
Blunt Ending or Beginning – blunt ending and initial strokes are
results of the drawing process in forgery.

Buckle Knot – the horizontal and looped strokes that are often used
to complete such letters.
 Common Terms and Description of Letters
Central Part of the Body – the part of a letter ordinary formed by a
small circle that usually lies on the line of writing.

Eye loop or Eyelet – the small loop formed by strokes that extend
in divergent direction.
 Common Terms and Description of Letters
Foot of the letter or oval – the lower portion of any down stroke
which terminates on the baseline.

Diacritic – an element added to complete certain letters.

 Common Terms and Description of Letters
Hitch – the introductory backward stroke.

Hook or Trough – the bend, crook or curved on the inner side of

the bottom loop or curve of small letter.
 Common Terms and Description of Letters
Hump – the rounded outside of the bend, crook, or curve in small
letters.

Spur – short, horizontal beginning strokes.

 Common Terms and Description of Letters
Knob – rounded appearance at the beginning or ending strokes.

Main strokes o r Shank Stem – downward strokes of any letters

 Common Terms and Description of Letters
Whirl – the upward strokes usually on letters that have long loops.

Space-Filler or Terminal Spur – an upward horizontal or

downward final stroke usually seen in small letters.
 Common Terms and Description of Letters
Retrace or retracing – a stroke that goes back over another writing
stroke.

Retouching Patching – stroke that goes back to repair a defective

portion or writing.
 Common Terms and Description of Letters
Staff – backspace of a letter.

Baseline – rules of imaginary line where the writing rest.

 Common Terms and Description of Letters
Copybook Form – design of letters, which is fundamental to
writing system.

Pen Emphasis – is the periodic increase in pressure of

intermittently forcing the pen against the paper surface with
increased pressure.
 Movement in in Hand Writing
Kinds of Movement
 Finger Movement – the thumb, the first, second and slightly the
third fingers are in actual motion. Most usually employed by
children and illiterates.
 Hand Movement – produced by the movement or action of the
whole hand with the wrist as the center of attraction.
 Forearm Movement – the movement of the shoulder, hand and
arm with the support of the table.
 Whole Forearm Movement – action of the entire arm without
resting.
 Movement in in Hand Writing
Quality of Movement

 Clumsy, illiterate and halting

 Hesitating and painful due to weakness and illness
 Strong, heavy and forceful
 Nervous and irregular
 Smooth, flowing and rapid
Speed – slow and drawn; deliberate; average; and rapid.
 Movement in in Hand Writing
General classes of Questioned Writing
 Forged or simulated writing – in which the attempt is made to
discard one’s own writing and assume the exact writing
personality of another person.

 Disguised – are those writings that are disguised and in which the
writer seeks to hide his own personality without adapting that of
another.
 Movement in in Hand Writing
Types of handwriting according to muscular control
 Loose writing – this is characterized by too much freedom of
movement and lack of regulation. This is noticed especially in tall
letters forms.
 Restrained writing – there is lack of freedom and inhibited
movements. It gives you the impression that every stroke was
made with great difficulty. This writing is small. There is
distortion of letter forms which may lead to illegibility.
Standards of Exemplars
Types of Handwriting “STANDARDS”
 Collected Standards are KNOWN (genuine) handwriting of an
individual such as signature and endorsement on cancelled
checks, legal papers letter, commercial, official, public and
private document and other handwriting such as letters,
memoranda, etc. written in the course of daily life, both business
and socials.
 Request Standards are signature or other handwritings (or hand
printings) written by an individual upon request for the purpose
of comparison with others handwriting or for specimen purposes.
Types of Handwriting “STANDARDS”
 Post Litem Motam Exemplars are writings produced by the
subject after evidential writings have come into dispute and
solely for the purpose of establishing his contentions.

Examples of Sources of Signatures:

Bank Cards
Application forms
School records
ID cards
Licensee application forms
Standard Writing admissible for comparison purposes:
 Standard writings witnessed
 Standard writings admitted
 Record maintained in regular course of business as standard
writings
 Government document as standard writings
 Ancient writings
 Other writings standards – signature on spelling motion or other
instruments, such as appearance bond.
 Familiarity sometimes establishes standards writings.
Investigation and Detailed
Examination of Signatures
 SIGNATURE

It is the name of a person written by him/her in a document as

a sign of acknowledgement. It is a name or a mark that a person puts
at the end of a document to attest that he is its author or that he
ratifies its contents.

Types of Signatures
 Formal (a.k.a Conventional or copybook)
 Informal (cursory) – personalized and/or Semi-personalized
 Careless Scribbles
 Significant Terms
 Cross mark (X) – used when a person illiterate or is unable to write.
If this is properly witnessed, it can legally stand for a signature.
 Evidential Signature – it is a signature, signed at a particular time
and place, under particular conditions, while the signer was at
particular age, in a particular physical and mental condition, using
particular implements, and with a particular reason and purpose for
recording his name.
 Fraudulent Signature – a forged signature.
 Freehand Signature – a fraudulent signature that was executed
purely by simulation rather than by tracing the outline of a genuine
signature.
 Significant Terms
 Guided Signature – a signature that is executed while the writer’s
hand and arm is steadied in any way.
 Model Signature – a genuine signature that has been used to prepare
an imitated or traced forgery.
 Theory of Comparison – the act of setting two or more signature in
an inverted position to weight their identifying significance, the
reason being that those we fail to see under normal comparison may
readily be seen under this theory.
 Classes of Forged Signatures
 Simulated or Freehand Imitation Forgery
Executed purely by simulation rather than by tracing the outline of
a genuine signature can be referred as freehand imitation or
simulated forgery.
• Simulated with the model before the forger
 Direct
 Indirect
• Simulated free hand (technique)
 Classes of Forged Signatures
 Traced Forgery (Traced Signature)
• Direct Tracing – done by transmitted light
• Indirect Tracing – forger use carbon paper and place document
on which he will trace the forged signature under the document
bearing the model signature with a carbon paper between the
two.
 Spurious Signature (Simple Forgery)
Forger does not try to copy a model but writes something
resembling what we ordinarily call a signature.
Write a Death Threat/Love Letter/Excuse Letter
(English/Tagalog/Bisaya)

(Signature of author)
No Name
(Name & Signature
of examiner)
MIDTERM
Money Counterfeiting
Examination
Money is defined as any medium of
exchange that is widely accepted in
payment for goods and services and in
settlement of debts. Money also serves as a
standard of value for measuring the relative
worth of different goods and services.
 Characteristics of Genuine Paper Note/Bill

• The fingers will readily feel the main print on the

front & back on fairly new notes.
Main Print • This is due to the measurable thickness of the ink
deposited on the paper which gives the prints an
embossed effect.

• This is a special thread placed vertically on the

paper during manufacture.
Metallic Thread
• On the surface of the paper where this thread is
located are patterns of short vertical lines.
 Characteristics of Genuine Paper Note/Bill

• These fibers are scattered on the surface of the

Colored Fibers / paper (front & back) at random and can be readily
Security Fibers picked off by means of any pointed instruments
• The color of these fibers are red and blue.

• The geometric pattern which looks like a delicate

lacework along the border n both surfaces,
Lacework Design embellishing the portraits, value panel & vignettes
are multicolored & composed of sharp lines which
are, continuous and traceable even at the joints.
 Characteristics of Genuine Paper Note/Bill
• The lines and dots composing the vignettes are fine, distinct
and sharp
Vignette
• The varying color tone gives a bold look to the picture that
makes it stands out of the paper.
• The registry of the different printed features are perfect.
Clearness
The lines are very clear and sharp. There are no Burrs
of Print
clinging to the sides.
• The prefix letter/s numbers (Six of them except on
replacement note) are clearly printed.
Serial
• They have peculiar style and are uniform in size and
Numbers
thickness.
• Spacing of the numbers is uniform and alignments is even.
 Characteristics of Genuine Paper Note/Bill

• Appears life-like
• The eyes sparkle.
• The tiny dots and lines (Vignette) forming the details of
the face, hair, etc. are clear, sharp and well defined.
• Each portrait stands out distinctly from background. This
is noticeable along the shoulders.
Portrait
• The background is composed of multi-colored fine pattern
of lines in varying tones and shades interlacing with each
other. These shading or toning are intricately printed in
such a way that the contrast or shifting of colors creates
the impression of life and colors creates the impression of
life and vividness to the notes.
Characteristics of Genuine Paper Note/Bill
 Characteristics of Genuine and Counterfeited Coins
 Genuine coins show an eve flow  Counterfeit coins feel greasy and
of metallic grains. The details of appear slimy. The beading
the profile, the seal of the composed of tiny round dots
Republic of the Philippines, surrounding the genuine coin
lettering and numerals are of high appear irregular and elongated
relief, so that it can be readily felt depressions and are not sharp and
distinctly by running the fingers prominent as in the genuine. The
on these features. The beading are letterings and numerals are low
regular and the readings are deep and worn out due to the lack of
and even. sharpness of details. The reading
are uneven and show signs of
filing.
Characteristics of Genuine and Counterfeited Coins

Genuine 5 – peso coins

Counterfeited 5 – peso coins

The letters are slightly larger
than the genuine ones.
The eye is not as defined as the
genuine coins
 Counterfeit Passport

Passports are rarely counterfeit because they are quite

complicated in design and manufacture. The most usual method of
forgery is to steal a genuine passport and make change in it. Many
safety features are incorporated in passport and are easily detected
by close inspection. Ultraviolet light is very useful in this type of
examination.
 Philippine Passports
Diplomatic (Blue)
A diplomatic passport is issued to members of the
Philippine diplomatic service, members of
the Cabinet, service attachés of other government
agencies assigned to Philippine diplomatic posts
abroad and Philippine delegates to international
and regional organizations. It is the first of two
passports issued to the President of the
Philippines and the Presidential family. This
passport has a dark blue cover and extends the
privilege of diplomatic immunity to the bearer.
 Philippine Passports

Official (Red)
An official passport is issued to members of the
Philippine government for use on official
business, as well as employees of Philippine
diplomatic posts abroad who are not members of
the diplomatic service. It is the second of two
passports issued to the President and the
Presidential family.
 Philippine Passports

Regular (Maroon)
A regular passport is issued to any citizen of
the Philippines applying for a Philippine
passport. It is the most common type of
passport issued and is used for all travel by
Philippine citizens and non-official travel by
Philippine government officials.
Philippine Passports
 Fundamentals of Writing Materials

 Anachronism – it refers to something wrong in time and in place.

This means that the forger has trouble matching the paper, ink, or
writing materials to the exact date it was supposed to have been
written.
 Paper – these are sheets of interlaced fibers – usually cellulose
fibers from plants, but sometimes from cloth rags or other fibrous
material, that is formed by pulping the fibers and causing to felt
or mat, to form a solid surface.
 Fundamentals of Writing Materials

 Watermark – certain papers are marked with a translucent design,

a watermarks impressed in them during the course of their
manufacture.
 Writing Materials – any material used primarily for writing or
recording such as papers, cardboard, board papers, Morocco
paper etc.

* Writing materials in questioned documents – the common

questioned on paper is its age, whether the actual age of the paper
corresponds with the alleged date of the preparation of the
questioned document.
 Historical Development

 Papyrus – a material prepared in ancient Egypt from the pithy

stem of a water plant Cyperus Papyrus, used in sheets throughout
the ancient Mediterranean world for writing or painting on and
also for making rope, sandals, and boats.
 Parchment – this is a writing material made form the skin of
animals primarily of sheep, calves or goats. It was probably
developed in the Middle East more or less contemporaneously
with papyrus.
 Historical Development

 Vellum – this is a writing materials from fine skins from young

calves or kids and the term was often used for all kind of
parchment manuscripts, it became the most important writing
material for bookmaking, while parchment continued for special
manuscripts.
 Historical Development
 It is widely claimed that invention of paper is generally
attributed to a Chinese court official Cai Lun. He is the first to
succeed in making paper from vegetable fibers, tree barks
(mulberry tree), rags old fish nets.
 The first paper mill was established in 1495 in England.
 The first paper mill in America was in 1690.
 The first practical machine was made in 1798 by the French
inventor Nicholas Louis Robert,
 Chlorine was introduced for bleaching and colored linen could
already be manufactured for paper.
 Historical Development
 Esparto – this is a grass grown in Libya, also in Spain and North
America was introduce in England in1861.
 Sulfite – This is a paper from wood was not attempted until
1869 and paper called sulphite (modern type) was first used
between.
 Straw – this was used to make paper in 1800
 Oldest Manuscript – Letters dated AD 874 have been found in
Egypt and the oldest manuscript in England on cotton paper date
AD 1890.
 Tracing the Age of the Paper (Document)
Discoloration
One way of tracing the age of the paper is through the
observance of the changes in its physical characteristics particularly
discoloration. Naturally, a paper will discolor after a passage of
time due to numerous environmental factors such as moisture,
temperature, dust, etc.. In case papers out of wood pulp, they start
to discolor at edges from 2 to 3 years. While rug-ship quality
papers, they are very old before discoloration starts.
 Fundamentals of Writing Instruments

 Reed Pens/Swamp Reed – it was the first writing tool that had the
writing end slightly frayed life a brush.

 Quill Pen – a wing feather hardened by heating or letting it dry

out gradually. The hardened quill is then cut to a broad edge with
a special pen knife. It can be made from the outer wing of any
bird, but those of goose, swan, crow and later turkey were
preferred.
 Fundamentals of Writing Instruments

 Steel Point Pens (Brazen Pens) – the first patented steel pen
point was made by the English Engineer Bryan Donkin in 1803.

 Fountain Pens – Lewis Waterman (1884) was an insurance agent

in New York who patented the first practical fountain pen
containing its won ink reservoir.

 Ball Point Pen – John Loud (1888) patented the first ball point
writing tool. The ball is set into a tiny socket. In the center of the
socket is a hole that feeds ink to the socket from a long tube
(reservoir) inside the pen.
 Fundamentals of Writing Instruments

 Fiber Tip Pens – the first practical fiber tip pen was invented by
Yukio Horie of Japan in 1962. It was ideally suited to the strokes
of Japanese writing, which is traditionally done with a pointed
ink brush.
 Felt-Tip Markers – are made of dense natural or artificial fibers
impregnated with a dye. These markers can be cut to a variety of
shapes and sizes, some up to a n inch in width.
 Composition and Characteristics of Inks

 Indian inks – the oldest form of Indian ink consisted of

suspension of carbon black (soot) in water to which glue or a
vegetable gum was added. Inks of these composition are still on
the market in a shape of stick or cakes.
 Log wood inks – these inks which were used extensively about a
century ago, now it is obsolete and are no longer manufactured.
They were made from an aqueous extract of log wood chips and
potassium chromate.
 Composition and Characteristics of Inks

 Iron Gall Inks – the ink has been used as writing for over a
thousand years. Formerly was made of a fermented infusion of
gall nuts to which iron salt were added. The ink was composed of
suspension of the black, almost insoluble ferric tannate.

 Fountain Pen Inks – this inks are regarded as special pen inks
and consisting of ordinary iron gallotanate inks with a lower iron
content in most cases but with a higher dyestuff content than
normal inks.
 Composition and Characteristics of Inks

 Dyestuff Inks – this inks are composed of aqueous solutions of

synthetic dyestuffs, to which a preservative and a flux are added.
 Water Resistant Writing and Drawing Inks – these inks are
special group of dyestuff inks. They consist of a pigment paste
and a solution of shellac made soluble in water by means of
borax, liquid ammonia or ammonium bicarbonate.
 Alkaline Writing Inks – these are quick drying inks which
possess a ph of from 9 to about 11. they penetrate quickly through
the size of the paper allowing the ink to penetrate quickly into the
paper.
 Composition and Characteristics of Inks

 Stamp Pad Inks – they are made with acid of substances such as
glycerol, glycol, acetin or benzyl alcohol and water.

 Hectograph Inks – these inks very much resemble stamp pad

inks and are exclusively made with basic dyes. To the dyestuff
solution, several other substances are added such as glycerol,
acetic acid and acetone.
 Typewriter Ribbon Inks – these inks are usually composed of a
blend of aniline dyes, carbon black and oil such as olien or castor
oil.
 Composition and Characteristics of Inks
 Printing Inks – often consist of a mixture of colored pigments,
carbon black and a “base” which may consist oil, resins or a
mixture of these.
 Methods of Printing

 Relief Printing (Letterpress) – this is the oldest of all printing

procedures. It prints with cleaner and sharper letters. In this
method of printing, the image characters are raised above the
level of the non-printing areas.
 Methods of Printing

 Intaglio (Gravure Printing) – there are four types of printing

which employ the intaglio principle of placing ink in an area,
which has been cut out or etched.

• Gravure
• Engraving
• Planographic
• Stencil
 Methods of Printing

 Planographic (Lithographic Printing) – the image characters are

in the same general plane as the non-printing areas. The ink is
applied to a dead level plate which has been chemically treated
such as lithograph and offset.
 Methods of Printing

 Stencil – it is a process where the letters or image are holes cut

in a sheet, or a sheet is made more porous in the area of the letters
and ink is applied to paper through the holes or porous area such
as mimeograph.
 Methods of Printing

 Halftone Block Printing – this is offset-related and is used for

the reproduction of pictures and illustrations in little covers. To
prepare a halftone block, the model is photograph and its image is
transferred to a metal surface by photo-printing.