Handbook for translators of Spanish historical ... - University Library

PALEOGRAPHY
NumlDer 87, under a 500-watt Mazda flood light. 29
VHiether manuscripts themselves are to be studied or photostatic
enlargements are to "be used, the work will "be greatlyfacilitated
"by the use of certain measuring instruments.
Such instrujnents are especially useful in ascertaining
whether or not a series of manuscripts is in the same handwriting,
a difficult task when attempted without mechanical
aids. Furthermore, the use of these measuring instruments
helps the student to detect certain individiial characteristics
of a writer, which generally aid in the identification
of handwriting wherever it may "be found. *^^
Handwriting experts have studied, developed, and used
precise instruments of this kind. One of the most useful
of these is a four-inch rule on glass divided into 8ths,
16ths, 32nds, and 64ths of an inch. Glass rulers are of
great advantage inasmuch as they can "be placed directly
over the handwriting to be measured. A diagonal line document
measure has slightly divergent fine lines ruled on
glass, measuring from l/lOOO to 120/l000 of an inch. This
instrument is read, with the aid of a hand viewer or a
microscope from the inside of one line of gradation to the
inside of the opposite line. It is useful for the accurate
measurement of pen strokes. A special ruled protractor •
designed for the easy and accurate measuring of the slant
of handwriting consists of a glass plate which reads to
one-half of a degree to right or left of vertical. The
Curve-meter is an instrumental on glass for the measurement
of curves and turns and connections in handwriting.
The test plate on glass for measuring proportions is an
instrument consisting of a series of equi-distant sind parallel
vertical lines, with horizontal lines in the spaces
"between, of varying distances apart; it is graduated from
4/28 to 24/128 of an inch. It is used to show the proportions
of letters and parts of letters. Various other instruments
are availa"ble which may be used in reading manuscripts
accurately. 32
^^ Ibid. . pp. 790-794.
1929; C. Ainsworth
Mitchell, Documents and the ir Scientific Examination,
1935; R. B. Haselden, Scientific Aids for the
Study of Manuscripts, 1935.
"^'^Albert S. Osborn, (Questioned Documents ,
'^'•Designed by Albert S. Osborn.
'^'^Measuring instruments may be obtained from Mr. Albert S.
Osborn, New York, N. Y., who perfected all those described
here and others. -21-