Archive Proximity

[DG97EEB]

If you are wondering how to recognise what is a cipher and what is not then I have a very large archive of ciphers on my OneDrive that you can consult.

My best discovery is the 1424 Milanese enciphered letters which were intercepted by the Republic of Florence and can be found in the Archivio di Stato di Firenze. Although, I was also pleased to see the 1397 intercepted Milanese enciphered letter in the Chronicles of Lucca by Giovanni Sercambi. Finding out about the Albertoni cipher ledger in the Cremona State Library with ciphers dating from 1444 was interesting as was the 1421 enciphered letter of Archbishop of Genoa, Pileo de Marini and the Milanese enciphered letters in the Library of Paris amongst other finds.

More information to follow...

A couple years ago, I read about a historian, Ioanna Iordanou, who did research on the Venetian Secret Service: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. 
Quite interesting: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.

I'm trying to get hold of this but can't seem to buy the pdf

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Look at what it covers... But it confirms only 2 ciphers survive.. the 1411 Steno and a later Cifra Costantinopoli  from 1484

There are possibly other examples of Venetian ciphers that survive. In the Cipher Ledger of Paolo Guinigi, Lord of Lucca, which is in the Lucca State Archives, there is a cipher key which was used in communication with Venetian Republic envoys which I suspect may have been designed by the Venetian envoys. I also recall a cipher key in the Tranchedino Cipher Ledger which I suspect may have been Venetian in origin. If you want more information on these you can ask.

Thank you Mark. I have been mining your archive and not yet seen it, so any pointers greatly appreciated.