1. The method of character recognition comprising: (a) receiving an image of a test character in an imager; (b) transmitting data representative of said test character to a first memory; (c) determining a series of contour numbers representing the direction of curvature of the periphery of the contour of the test character by reading data representative of the periphery of the test character in a sequence that circumnavigates the test character data, wherein the series of contour numbers are grouped in pairs, the first number of each pair representing the distances between changes in curvature and the second number representing the change in the amount of curvature as between adjacent curvatures; (d) providing a contour number to said series of contour numbers only if the direction of curvature of a portion of the character exceeds the previous direction of curvature for a predetermined distance as the character is circumnavigated; (e) comparing the contour numbers of the test character to corresponding contour numbers of a reference character; and (f) outputting the reference character which corresponds to said test character.