Message written in cipher describing signals to be exchanged between British ships of war

Manuscript on paper. Text on recto and verso

• 18--?

1 sheet ; 23 x 39 cm

text

Text in cipher, employing the so-called Pigpen or Tic-Tac- Toe substitution system, with key

The deciphered text reads: "Most secret. Explanation of the scheme for private signals to be made between his majesty's ships on their meeting with each other.The columns number one and four are to be used by the ship that first makes the private signal. She is to shew at the main and fore topmast or top gallant mastheads the flags expressive of the signal [?] or central numbers of the five figures in each square, the other figures being only means to deceive in case of the signal scheme falling into the hands of the enemy."

Title from vendor

• Great Britain

• Specimens

• Ciphers
• Signals and signaling

• text

• English

[Place of production not identified],

Public domain (US)

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Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego, La Jolla, 92093-0175 (https://lib.ucsd.edu/sca)

2020-10-28