Cipher Collection

Alan Turing, British mathematician
Alan Turing. Caricature of the British mathematician Alan Turing (1912-54). In 1937 Turing described a theoretical computer (a Turing machine) in rigorous mathematical terms

Princess Elizabeth as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, 1942
Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards. Her first formal engagement was on her 16th birthday, inspecting the Grenadier Guards as Colonel of this regiment

Sir Charles Wheatstone, 1802 - 1875
3083208 Sir Charles Wheatstone, 1802 - 1875.; Private Collection; (add.info.: English scientist and inventor. From The Century Edition of Cassell's History of England, published c. 1900).

Prussian Fusilier Cap about 1740
3056363 Prussian Fusilier Cap about 1740; Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Vienna, Austria; (add.info.: Prussian Fusilier cap of the Regiment Jung Scherin Nr)

Prussian Grenadier Cap of the 40th Regiment , c. 1786
3056355 Prussian Grenadier Cap of the 40th Regiment , c. 1786; Private Collection; (add.info.: Prussian Grenadier Cap of Infantry Regiment Nr.40 "Fusilier Regiment" from the reign of)

Prussian Fusilier Cap of the 33rd Regiment c. 1786
3056361 Prussian Fusilier Cap of the 33rd Regiment c. 1786; Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Vienna, Austria; (add.info.: Prussian Fusilier Cap Infantry Regiment Nr.33 "Fusilier Regiment")

Prussian Grenadier Cap of the 27th Regiment c. 1786
3056357 Prussian Grenadier Cap of the 27th Regiment c. 1786; Private Collection; (add.info.: Prussian Grenadier Cap of Infantry Regiment Nr.27 " Regiment of Foot" from the reign of)

Prussian Grenadier Cap of the 42nd Regiment c. 1786
3056362 Prussian Grenadier Cap of the 42nd Regiment c. 1786; Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Vienna, Austria; (add.info.: Prussian Grenadier Cap of Infantry Regiment Nr.42 "Fusilier Regiment")

Plaque from a Prussian drum , Frederick the Great's Army
3056360 Plaque from a Prussian drum , Frederick the Great's Army; Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Vienna, Austria; (add.info.: Brass plaque from a drum of Frederick the Great's Prussian Army)

Inlaid and carved open armchair encoded with a patchwork of various phrases
CH438393 Inlaid and carved open armchair encoded with a patchwork of various phrases, early 19th century (bog oak & bog yew with base metal) by Scottish School

Inlaid and carved open armchair encoded with a patchwork of various phrases
CH438392 Inlaid and carved open armchair encoded with a patchwork of various phrases, early 19th century (bog oak & bog yew with base metal) by Scottish School

Poet and Doctor Colonel John McCrae Memorial
McCrae, who served in the Boer War, is popularly remembered as the author of what is probably the best-known poem of the First World War -In Flanders Fields

Kenny Meadows: The Country Schoolmaster (engraving)
5989561 Kenny Meadows: The Country Schoolmaster (engraving) by Meadows, Joseph Kenny (1770-1874) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Country Schoolmaster)

U. S. troops learn cryptography, Tarawa, Papua New Guinea, June 1943 (sepia photo)
696846 U.S. troops learn cryptography, Tarawa, Papua New Guinea, June 1943 (sepia photo) by American Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Illustration from Book 9 of Cryptomenysis and Cryptography
XJF115139 Illustration from Book 9 of Cryptomenysis and Cryptography by Gustavus Selenus (Augustus, Duke of Brunswick), 1624 (engraving) (b&w photo) by German School

Carved Oak Armoire, Bearing the Cipher of Lambert Suavius of Liege. Carved Oak Table
LLM461198 Carved Oak Armoire, Bearing the Cipher of Lambert Suavius of Liege. Carved Oak Table by Foley, Edwin John (1859-1912); Private Collection; (add.info.: Carved Oak Armoire)

Charles Wheatstone (engraving)
815884 Charles Wheatstone (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sir Charles Wheatstone (1802-1875)

The Reinterment of Christopher Columbus at Seville (engraving)
1598436 The Reinterment of Christopher Columbus at Seville (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Reinterment of Christopher Columbus at Seville)

Cipher looking at Pauls Drawing (engraving)
2786925 Cipher looking at Pauls Drawing (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Cipher looking at Pauls Drawing. Illustration for Chatterbox (1882)

Crown and Royal Monogram
The crown and monogram of Queen Elizabeth II on a 20th century post box

16th century codes - the Babington cipher
The forged postscript to the letter of Mary Queen of Scots to Anthony Babington. Thomas Phelippes added the postscript, which was to incriminate Mary Queen of Scots

Alan Turing, British mathematician
Alan Turing (1912-54), British mathematician. Turing was educated at Cambridge and Princeton. In 1937 he described a theoretical computer (a Turing machine) in rigorous mathematical terms

Bairnsfatherware squared vase If you knows
Grimwades squared vase with transfer If you knows. and Royal Cipher on reverse. Inscribed on reverse Made by the girls of Staffordshire. Bairnsfather Ware

Vase - Tommy plus flags
Vase - Transfer shows a patriotic image of a Tommy plus flags consisting of the Royal Cipher, Union Jack and the Royal Navy. Union Flag on reverse. Commemorative Ware

Diagram, The Riddle of the Ranks, WW1
Diagram, The Riddle of the Ranks, showing how a message can be deciphered during the First World War. Date: 1914

Illustration of cipher disc

Emotion (Ergriffenheit), 1900
XAM72456 Emotion (Ergriffenheit), 1900 by Hodler, Ferdinand (1853-1918); 115x70 cm; Osterreichische Galerie Belvedere, Vienna, Austria; Swiss, out of copyright

ZIMMERMANN TELEGRAM, 1917. Page 2 of the British decode of the Zimmermann telegram in the copy made by Edward Bell of the American Embassy in London and forwarded to the U.S

ZIMMERMANN TELEGRAM, 1917. Page 4 of the British decode of the Zimmermann telegram in the copy made by Edward Bell of the American Embassy in London and forwarded to the U.S

ZIMMERMANN TELEGRAM, 1917. Page 3 of the British decode of the Zimmermann telegram in the copy made by Edward Bell of the American Embassy in London and forwarded to the U.S

The cipher machine SIGABA, developed in the late 1930s and used by the American government for the encryption
CRYPTOGRAPHY: SIGABA. The cipher machine SIGABA, developed in the late 1930s and used by the American government for the encryption

Letter of James Madison from the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia to Thomas Jefferson at Paris
MADISON TO JEFFERSON, 1787. Letter of James Madison from the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia to Thomas Jefferson at Paris, 6 September 1787

16th century codes
Anthony Babingtons acknowledgement of ciphers used with Mary Queen of Scots, September 1586 Date: 1586

Royal cipher of Elizabeth II at Carlsberg Breweries in Denma
The royal cipher in an unusual setting at the Carlsberg Breweries of Denmark. Nearly 5000 gold-topped bottles arranged to form the royal cipher E.R.I.I

Leon Battista Alberti, Italian polymath
Leon Battista Alberti (1404-1472), Florentine artist and polymath. Alberti was born at Genoa and educated at Padua. In 1418 he went to Bologna to study law

Zero - concept and symbol
Zero, symbolised by the numeric character 0, is both a number and a numerical digit that acts as a placeholder in place-number value systems

Johannes Trithemius, German polymath
Johannes Trithemius (1462-1516), German abbot and polymath. Born as Johann Heidenberg at Trittenheim, he studied at Heidelberg

VIETE (1540 - 1603)
FRANCOIS VIETE French mathematician and cipher expert, introduced methods of algebra & trigonometry

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Cipher: Unlocking the Secrets of Communication Step into the world of cipher, where hidden messages and encrypted codes intertwine with history and innovation. This captivating concept has fascinated minds for centuries, from the brilliant British mathematician Alan Turing to unexpected figures like Princess Elizabeth as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards in 1942. The crown and royal monogram symbolize power and secrecy, reminding us that even those in high positions have relied on ciphers to protect their sensitive information. Travel back further in time, and you'll encounter intriguing 16th-century codes such as the Babington cipher, which played a significant role during tumultuous times. Imagine an inlaid and carved open armchair encoded with a patchwork of various phrases—a tangible representation of how they can be seamlessly integrated into everyday objects. Such craftsmanship speaks volumes about the creativity employed to safeguard secrets throughout history. As we explore further, we stumble upon memorials like that dedicated to poet and doctor Colonel John McCrae—a reminder that cryptography not only impacts military strategy but also serves as a tribute to those who fought valiantly for their countries. In Kenny Meadows' engraving titled "The Country Schoolmaster, " we witness knowledge being passed down through generations—an essential aspect when it comes to understanding complex cryptographic techniques. From U. S. Troops learning cryptography in Papua New Guinea during World War II to illustrations found within books like Cryptomenysis and Cryptography—each image tells a story of dedication towards mastering this intricate art form. Delve deeper into historical artifacts adorned with ciphers—the carved oak armoire bearing Lambert Suavius's cipher or the intricately designed oak table—both showcasing how individuals left their mark by embedding secret symbols within functional pieces. Finally, let's not forget Charles Wheatstone—an engraving capturing his contribution as one of history's foremost cryptographers. His brilliance paved the way for modern encryption methods still used today. Cipher: A testament to human ingenuity, secrecy, and the unending quest for knowledge.