The first dictionaries of gestures—Chirologia & Chironomia—were compiled by John Bulwer, a 17th century physician and scholar who was perhaps best known for his later work, Anthropometamorphosis: Man Transform’d, or the Artificial Changeling. Historically presented, in the mad and cruel Gallantry, foolish Bravery, ridiculous Beauty, filthy Fineness, and loathesome Loveliness of most Nations, fashioning & altering their Bodies from the Mould intended by Nature. With a Vindication of the Regular Beauty and Honesty of Nature, and an Appendix of the Pedigree of the English Gallant

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bulwer#Manuscripts_and_ot...