Manu propria is a Latin phrase in the ablative case meaning "(signed) with one's own hand". In its abbreviated form (m.p.), it is sometimes used at the end of typewritten or printed documents or official notices right after the name of the person(s) who "signed" the document exactly in those cases when there is no handwritten signature there. Richly decorated manu propria was frequently used by medieval dignitaries and literates to verify authenticity of hand written documents. Later, official documents were routinely accompanied with this abbreviation, for example declaration of war on Serbia by Emperor Franz Joseph from 1914 ends with m.p.. In Czechoslovakia and now the Czech Republic this abbreviation (translated to vlastní rukou, v.r.) is still widely used in official documents and has the same legal force as hand written signature [1]. Text of every approved law ends with v.r. after name of prime minister, president or chairman of the parliament (example). The same partly applies to Hungary, where it is called s. k. or saját kezűleg.
