PRESS COPIES. The identity of the handwriting as shown on the impression is not destroyed, nor rendered unrecognizable by persons acquainted with its characteris tics. A person having accurate knowledge can testify to the genuineness with as much accuracy as if tlae original sheets were be fore him. Such copies are the same as other writings partially obliterated by damp and exposure, which are admissible as evidence, if duly identified by testimony. They are not however satisfactory as standards of comparison of handwriting. Enough origi nality is left to be identified by a witness when its own originality is in question; Com. v. Eastman, 1 Cush. (Mass.) 217, 48 Am. Dec. 596 ; to prove the contents of a lost letter, or where a party refused to give up the original; Dennis v. Barber, 6 S. & R. (Pa.) 420; Cameron v. Peck, 37 Conn. 555. The necessity of producing the original, or laying the foundation in the usual way for secondary evidence, is not obviated by the fact that a party keeps letter press copies ; Foot v. Bentley, 44 N. Y. 171, 4 Am. Rep.
652 ; Marsh v. Hand, 35 Md.• 123. A copy, sworn to be correctly made from a press copy of a letter, is admissible as secondary evidence, to prove its contents, without pro ducing the press copy; Goodrich v. Weston, 102 Mass. 362, 3 Am. Rep. 469. Press copies are admissible against a party when they appear to be in his handwriting and the orig inals cannot be produced; Corn. v. Jefferies, 7 Allen (Mass.) 561, 83 Am. Dec. 712. Strict ly speaking, a letter-press copy is secondary to the document from which it is taken, and cannot be treated as an original; 3 Camp. 228; Marsh v. Hand, 35 Md. 123; Merritt v. Wright, 19 La. Ann. 91; Anglo-American Packing P. Co. v. Cannon, 31 Fed. 313.
Press copies, duly proved and attached to a deposition, are admissible where timely no tice was given defendant to produce origi nals at the trial, and they were not produc ed ; notice need not be given when deposi tions are taken ; Illinois Car & E. Co. v. Wagon Co., 112 Fed. 737, 50 C. C. A. 504.