Journal of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners Volume 1, Number 1 ABSTRACTS 1. Foreword Janis M. Winchester, Editor This inaugural edition of the Journal of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners represents a new step in the field of Forensic Science. We are pleased to provide a peer reviewed compilation of papers presented at forensic science meetings, original research and technical notes concerning the field of Forensic Document Examination. Many individuals have contributed to the accomplishments of this first edition. Pulling together a new Journal requires a considerable amount of coordination. We appreciate the authors whose works are represented in this issue, and look forward to presenting the other scientific papers that are still in progress in future editions. 2. Editorial: A Brief History of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners James V. P. Conroy The American Society of Questioned Document Examiners (ASQDE), formally established on September 2, 1942, is the oldest and most prestigious organization of questioned document examiners in the United States. The first president and primary organizer of the ASQDE was Albert S. Osborn. Mr. Osborn is considered by many to be the father of the scientific examination of questioned documents in the United States. His Questioned Documents, first edition 1910, and The Problem of Proof, first edition 1922, were widely acclaimed by the legal profession, and public and private agencies concerned with promoting justice in matters involving questions about documents. 3. The Uniqueness of Handwriting Thomas Vastrick Forensic document examiners have recently witnessed three events that have raised questions, either directly or indirectly, about the basis for handwriting identification, specifically in the areas of the statistical and scientific basis for the uniqueness of handwriting. These events consist of the publication of an article titled Exorcism of Ignorance as a Proxy for Rational Knowledge: The Lessons of Handwriting Identification Expertise, by D. Michael Risinger, Mark P. Denbeaux and Michael Saks (137 U.Pa. L.Rev. 731, 1989), the recent Supreme Court decision of Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 113S. Ct. 2786 (1993) (along with the subsequent affect on federal and state rules of evidence), and the results of the "Daubert" hearing preceding the hearing of United States of America v. Robert and Eileen Starzecpyzel 93 Cr. 553. 4. The Identification of Colour Photocopiers: A Case Study C. K. Li and S. C. Leung This paper reports the discovery of dotted patterns on photocopies of Hong Kong $500 banknotes seized in a clandestine workshop and the utilization of the matrix of dots for the identification the Rank Xerox colour photocopying machine used for counterfeiting the banknotes. A survey on various models of colour photocopies of the Canon and Ricoh brands resulted in the observation of dotted motifs on photocopies from the high-ended models of the Canon copiers. These dotted motifs are probably also identification marks.