The Key to the Family Deed Chest: How to Decipher and Study Old Documents / Being a Guide to the Reading of Ancient Manuscripts

HOW TO DECIPHER AND STUDY OLD DOCUMENTS.
THE KEY TO THE FAMILY DEED CHEST
BEING A GUIDE TO THE READING OF ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS
E. E. THOYTS
(MRS. JOHN HAUTENVILLE COPE)
WITH AN INTRODUCTION
C. TRICE MARTIN
ASSISTANT KEEPER OF H.M. RECORDS
SECOND EDITION
LONDON ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW 1903
Just ten years ago this little volume made its first appearance. Although many books on similar subjects have been written in that time, none have exactly given the same information, and this second edition has been decided upon. Additions and corrections to bring the book up to date have been made, but much still remains, and must remain, imperfect in so small a work on so large a subject, and the present pages only profess to help beginners over some of the initial difficulties they will meet with.
It has been urged that handwriting and its characteristics have nothing to do with old deeds, but careful study of every line and letter is useful, especially with regard to private letters, or when any question arises as to whether the manuscripts are genuine or forgeries. That is why the second chapter, on handwriting and descriptions of old ink, paper, and paper marks and seals, was written, for all such items are of great importance.