The Chinese were the first culture known to have used friction ridge impressions (friction ridge allows people to grip and to hold on to various surfaces) as a means of identification. The earliest example comes from a Chinese document entitled “The Volume of Crime Scene Investigation—Burglary”, from the Qin Dynasty (221 to 206 B.C.).
In 1788, scientist J.C.A. Mayers declared fingerprint patterns seemed unique—that “the arrangement of skin ridges is never duplicated in two persons.”
Fingerprints are the foundation of criminal history confirmation.
Fingerprints are unique to individuals and provide accurate identification. However, they are never absolute scientific evidence any individual committed a crime.
Beginning in September of 1942, “reliable” identification was established with Identification Cards (ID) bearing a photograph and fingerprint. These new cards were issued to all military and civilian personnel in the employ of the Department of National Defence.
The portable fingerprint kit shown above was used at one time by the Counter-Intelligence (CI) section of #5 Intelligence Training Company to fingerprint military personnel as part of enlistment requirements.
Example of ID card 1944, fingerprint shown in red circle.