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WILLIAM G. BENHAM — THE LAWS OF SCIENTIFIC HAND READINGA Practical Treatise on the Art Commonly Called PalmistryNew York & London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons / The Knickerbocker Press, 1900Early Tenth Printing • Original Cloth • Top Edge Gilt • 800 Illustrations
A substantial early printing of William G. Benham’s classic treatise on palmistry, one of the most comprehensive English-language manuals of hand reading produced around the turn of the twentieth century.
Originally published in 1900, The Laws of Scientific Hand Reading presents palmistry as a systematic discipline based upon the observation and classification of the hand rather than merely as fortune-telling.
This copy is identified as the tenth printing, issued in the original burgundy publisher’s cloth with gilt spine lettering and top edge gilt.
The book contains approximately 800 illustrations from life, making it an unusually extensive visual reference to the forms, lines, markings, and classifications used in traditional palmistry. Published editions of the work run to xxiv, 635 pages and advertise “800 illustrations from life.”
AN ENCYCLOPEDIC GUIDE TO PALMISTRY
Benham’s book attempts to organize the traditional art of palm reading into a detailed system of observation.
Subjects include:
• Shapes and classifications of hands
• Fingers and fingertips
• The thumb
• Nails
• Mounts of the palm
• The Line of Life
• The Line of Head
• The Line of Heart
• Lines of influence and affection
• Character and temperament
• Comparative hand studies
• Individual markings and formations
• Practical examples drawn from observed hands
The extraordinary number of illustrations allows the reader to compare specific formations directly with Benham’s descriptions.
800 ILLUSTRATIONS FROM LIFE
One of the defining features of the book is its extensive visual documentation.
The title page advertises:
“With 800 Illustrations from Life.”
These include:
• Detailed line drawings of palms
• Photographic or reproduced hand studies
• Finger formations
• Hand classifications
• Mount diagrams
• Comparative examples
• Anatomical and interpretive details
The illustrated plates visible in this copy include striking full-page studies of actual hands alongside schematic palmistry diagrams.
This abundance of imagery made the book much more useful as a working manual than the smaller fortune-telling handbooks commonly issued during the same period.
PALMISTRY AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY
The book appeared during a period of intense popular interest in:
palmistry
chiromancy
physiognomy
character analysis
occult sciences
metaphysical literature
Benham attempted to give hand reading a methodical framework, repeatedly relating physical features of the hand to temperament, character, and behavior.
The result is an important document of the period’s effort to present traditional divinatory and character-reading practices in quasi-scientific language.
Today the book remains of interest both to practicing palmists and to collectors studying the history of occult and esoteric literature.
ORIGINAL PUBLISHER’S BINDING
Bound in the original burgundy cloth.
Features include:
• Original publisher’s cloth
• Gilt spine lettering
• Top edge gilt
• Deckled / untrimmed fore and lower edges
• Thick octavo format
• Profusely illustrated text
The top edge gilt remains especially attractive.
CONDITION
Good overall.
The original burgundy cloth shows moderate shelf and handling wear.
Condition points include:
• Rubbing at spine ends and corners
• Light scuffing and surface wear to the cloth
• Some fading and handling marks
• Gilt spine lettering remains clear and attractive
The front inner hinge is cracked, with the underlying mull visible.
Importantly, the front board remains attached and the volume remains usable and structurally coherent.
The top edge gilt remains bright.
The untrimmed fore and lower edges show expected roughness and occasional small edge chips associated with deckled paper.
Internally the volume is generally clean and well preserved.
The numerous illustrations remain crisp and attractive, with no significant foxing noted.
Please examine all photographs carefully, particularly the front hinge and binding extremities.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS
Author: William G. Benham
Title: The Laws of Scientific Hand Reading: A Practical Treatise on the Art Commonly Called Palmistry
Publisher: G. P. Putnam’s Sons / The Knickerbocker Press
Place: New York & London
Date: 1900
Printing: Tenth Printing
Pagination: xxiv, 635 pages
Illustrations: Approximately 800 illustrations from life
Binding: Original burgundy cloth
Edges: Top edge gilt; fore and lower edges untrimmed
Language: English
Subjects: Palmistry; Chiromancy; Occultism; Esoterica; Divination; Physiognomy; Character Analysis; Metaphysical Literature
A handsome early printing of one of the most extensive classic manuals of palmistry and chiromancy, retaining its original publisher’s binding and profusely illustrated throughout.
