The Palmistry of Fingerprints by Christopher Jones

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The art of Palmistry has long been shrouded in mystery and mystique passed down through the ages, and for man, came with the belief that this was the hand of God writing the future of the newborn babe onto their hand.

It is considerably more than that, as Christopher Jones’ research into Palmistry discovered as he accessed the contents of the Bodleian Library, the repository of every piece of published literature in England; a treasure trove of anything and everything related to ‘palmistry’, from the mystical to the criminal. His research led to the creation of several books, the first of which is The Palmistry of Fingerprints.

Not for the complete beginner but for the more advanced student who desires to dig below the accepted norms of ‘palm reading’, the work is a fascination as it sets out the rationale of change, growth, understanding and the miniature that makes up the study of Cheirology, to give it the correct name.

‘Fingerprints are the residual impression of consciousness seeking expression through your unique incarnation.’ Johan Hjelmborg (1948–2023)

The above quote is from the Palmistry of Fingerprints, written by Christopher Jones, a man who, in 1991, had the desire to create a unique body of work for a thesis he was undertaking, to explore Cheirology in depth. Johan Hjelmborg was his friend and mentor.

Myth, magic, history and modern-day use are discussed with care and understanding; a fascination with the subject matter comes through clearly and with the desire to be able to share the work, to enjoy a clearer understanding of exactly what the palm holds.

Revised thirty-two years after the original publication, some of the work has been deleted as no longer relevant, and more recent understanding has been added, refreshing what is a go-to book for research and understanding of an art with a long and complex history.

Reviewed By Ian Banks