(Cryptology) Corvin, Otto. The Secret Letter Writer. A Comprehensive and Secure System of Cipher-Writing for General Use. New York: William Radde, 1865 [with a paper label pasted over the publication information on the title page stating: "C. N. Casper Co. / Book Emporium / 454 East Water St. / Milwaukee, Wisconsin"]. FIRST EDITION. 32mo - 4-11/16" x 2-15/16". Drab paper covered boards with blind-stamped border to front and back covers, with minute touches of rubbing to upper and lower spine corners and a split to the paper at the head of spine for what is a lovely copy of the book. Plain endpapers. [i-ii], iii-ix, [blank], 11-57 pp., plus errata slip, 6 pp. publisher's ads and [1] fold-out table.
"In time of revolution and war much anxiety and trouble are caused by letters falling into the hand of persons for whom they were not intended. To be protected against the consequences of accidents of this kind, governments, generals, and leaders of political parties or secret associations have for centuries made use, instead of the common writing, of a cipher-writing, composed, more or less skillfully, of optional characters or tokens, of which the secret is known only to the corresponding parties.
"But not only governments, generals, political chiefs, or conspirators have their secrets, private persons, mercantile houses, and above all, lovers, in short, everybody has secrets, which are just as important for themselves as the secrets of government for the states, and a cipher-writing for general use will therefore be acceptable." -- preface.
Written while Corvin was in the United States covering the Civil War for The Times, he would have been well aware of how essential a good system of cipher-writing was during the War because of the extensive use of telegraphy, and as both sides were intercepting unencrypted communications by means of wire-tapping. Corvin thoughtfully pointed out that his system of cipher-writing had everyday applications as well, e.g., for secret communication between lovers, which was perhaps the most important and practical use of his system that there was. The condition of the book is VERY GOOD +. No copies located on OCLC/WorldCat. EXCEEDINGLY RARE # 001177
"In time of revolution and war much anxiety and trouble are caused by letters falling into the hand of persons for whom they were not intended. To be protected against the consequences of accidents of this kind, governments, generals, and leaders of political parties or secret associations have for centuries made use, instead of the common writing, of a cipher-writing, composed, more or less skillfully, of optional characters or tokens, of which the secret is known only to the corresponding parties.
"But not only governments, generals, political chiefs, or conspirators have their secrets, private persons, mercantile houses, and above all, lovers, in short, everybody has secrets, which are just as important for themselves as the secrets of government for the states, and a cipher-writing for general use will therefore be acceptable." -- preface.
Written while Corvin was in the United States covering the Civil War for The Times, he would have been well aware of how essential a good system of cipher-writing was during the War because of the extensive use of telegraphy, and as both sides were intercepting unencrypted communications by means of wire-tapping. Corvin thoughtfully pointed out that his system of cipher-writing had everyday applications as well, e.g., for secret communication between lovers, which was perhaps the most important and practical use of his system that there was. The condition of the book is VERY GOOD +. No copies located on OCLC/WorldCat. EXCEEDINGLY RARE # 001177