Abstract: When trains of signals, derived from a written template signature, are to be compared directly with trains of signals, derived from a written specimen signature, because no two written signatures are identical, there is a requirement for providing a certain degree of "rubberiness" between the specimen and template signals. Previously, such rubberiness was achieved by breaking up the trains of signals into fixed portions and then conducting translation, stretch and contraction between these fixed portions in the course of the comparison. In this invention, advantage is taken of the existence of prominent landmarks in the trains of signals of the template and specimen signatures. The trains of signals are broken into segments by these landmarks. Segments of the specimen are stretched or contracted and translated to match corresponding segments of the template, to greatly simplify and enhance correlation process.