What was the significance of the Hooghly Letter?

The Hooghly Letter is significant because it played a crucial role in articulating the uniqueness of friction ridge skin. This document emphasized how the skin patterns found on fingertips—composed of ridges and valleys—are unique to each individual, thus laying the foundation for understanding how fingerprints can be used for identification. The discussion of this uniqueness was essential in the development of fingerprinting as a reliable method for personal identification, paving the way for its adoption in forensic science and law enforcement.

While some might consider the topics of classification and permanence also relevant, the core of the Hooghly Letter's significance lies in its focus on the individual uniqueness of fingerprints, which is the fundamental principle behind their use in forensic identification. This understanding underpins all subsequent advancements in fingerprint analysis and the establishment of fingerprinting as a scientific discipline.