The book that for more than a century has been the standard reference for reading the hand, now in a completely reformatted edition. Palmistry is one of the ancient arts, practiced in Egypt, India, Greece and Rome and prized as a sacred and peculiar gift. Its practitioners were highly respected philosophers, oracles and priests. Yet by the 17th century, it had become a lost art, kept alive almost solely in gypsy camps. And by the end of the 19th century, it was seen as little more than quackery, a small step up (or down) from fortune telling and alchemy. When it was originally published (as The Laws of Scientific Hand Reading), Benhams book immediately transformed the image of palm reading from a hucksters trick to a practice with a firm scientific basis. It quickly became an essential reference work for anyone serious about palm reading. The Essential Edition brings Benhams original text back in print. It also updates many of the graphics, which have become obscured through numerous printings. Benhams words remain as viable today as they were 100 years ago, as they form the foundation of modern palmistry. William G. Benham continued his study of palmistry throughout his life also authoring How to Choose Vocations From the Hand in 1932. His work has stood the test of time and influenced generations of students and practitioners of palmistry.