Which of the following was the first person to publish the value of friction ridge skin for individualization?

Henry Faulds is recognized as the first person to publish the value of friction ridge skin for individualization. Faulds conducted significant research into the uniqueness of fingerprints and their use in personal identification. In the late 19th century, he published a paper outlining how fingerprints could serve as a reliable method for distinguishing between individuals, emphasizing their potential in criminal identification. His work laid the foundation for modern fingerprint analysis and forensic science.

While other individuals listed contributed to the field of fingerprinting, such as Sir William James Herschel who used fingerprints for document verification and Dr. Johannes Purkinje who identified ridge patterns, Faulds was particularly pivotal in advocating for the uniqueness and application of fingerprints for individualization in a forensic context. Hermann Welcker's contributions focused more on the classification of prints rather than individualization, which underscores the importance of Faulds' pioneering work.