Handshakes in Late 19th Century America

Around the time of the American Civil War, there were several different handshakes and each signified something different. When two men made a contract, such as buying property, they would each spit into their palm and then shake. As a greeting, they would shakes hands the same way that we do now.

Women had options when shaking hands with men; they could shake normally or present their hand to be kissed. If a woman presented her hand, she would hold her hand out about waist level with her palm down and wrist limp. The man would lightly hold her fingers, bend the wrist so the downward angle was more pronounced, bring her hand up while bowing to meet it, and give the lightest kiss to the back of her hand. If a man initiated the shake, the woman would place her hand into his to be kissed. If the woman wanted to be informal or as a slight to the man, she could change the kiss into a shake by how she positioned her hand.

If they wanted to flirt, the kiss could be more than a light brush. A more discrete way was either could give a squeeze while he as kissing her hand and no one watching would be any the wiser.

Of course, none of this would happen if either one was bare handed. Gloves must be worn by each before they could touch or it was highly improper.

If a man brushed a finger across the other man's palm while they were shaking, it meant he was propositioning him.