Dos discursos de la cifra

Alternate Title:

De zifras

Contributor:

Fernández de Velasco, Juan (dedicatee)

Timespan:

Early works to 1800

Date:

1600

Description:

Two works on ciphers. The first is more theoretical and describes ciphers based on subjects such as arithmetic, non-Roman alphabets (Greek, Hebrew) and writing systems (Egyptian, Chinese, Japanese, the writing of Indians of New Spain), astrology, musical notation, geography, currency, orthography, armorials, emblems, and enigmas. The second is a technical description of 24 different methods of enciphering and deciphering, using numerous tables, volvelles, movable sleeves, and grilles. Most of the entries in the index at the end of the manuscript (p. 165-166), which is in the same hand as the text, refer to subjects in the first work. Written by a cryptographer in the service of Martin de Cordova, viceroy of Navarre (p. 5), and dedicated to Juan Fernandez de Velasco, Condestable de Castilla (p. 3), a Spanish official who held government posts in Italy.

Language:

Spanish; Castilian

Provenance:

Sold by Martayan Lan, cat. 28 (Sept. 2001), no. 189, to Lawrence J. Schoenberg.; Deposit by Lawrence J. Schoenberg and Barbara Brizdle, 2011.; Gift of Barbara Brizdle Schoenberg, 2021.

Relation:

The Lawrence J. Schoenberg and Barbara Brizdle Manuscript Initiative Fund Home Page: http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017.12/366278; Digital facsimile for download (OPenn): https://openn.library.upenn.edu/Data/0001/html/ljs423.html

Subject:

Ciphers -- Early works to 1800; Ciphers; Cryptography -- Early works to 1800; Cryptography

Resource Type:

Text

Form/Genre:

codices (bound manuscripts); treatises; volvelles; tables (documents); Manuscripts, Renaissance; Manuscripts, European; manuscripts (documents)

Physical Description:

82 leaves : paper, color illustrations; 372 x 280 (279 x 180) mm bound to 380 x 290 mm

Rights:

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Notes:

Ms. codex.; Title from caption title for preface (p. 5).; Table of contents: 1. p.5-6: Declaracion general de los dos discursos de la cifra -- 2. p.7-66: Discurso primero: Theorica de la cifra -- 3. p.67-163: Discurso segundo: Estampas, modos, o especies para scrivir en cifra -- 4. p.165-166: Tabla de de loque contienen los dos discursos.; Pagination: Paper, i + 82 + i; [3-4], 5-78, [i], 79, [80-81, i], 82, [83], 84-120 (odd-numbered pages contain full-page illustrations and are not numbered), [121], 124, [125], 126, [127], 128, [129], 130, [131-133], 134, [135-137], 138, [139], 140, [141-142], 143, [144], 145-163, [164], 165, [166]; contemporary pagination in ink, upper outer corners.; Layout: Text pages written in 31 long lines.; Script: Written in cursive script by a single hand.; Decoration: 31 full-page illustrations (numbered Estampa I-Estampa XXXI) of keys to ciphers, in black, red, and green ink, including keys with string pointers (p. 95, 97), a movable sleeve (p. 125), volvelles (p. 129), and grilles (p. 131-133, 135-137). Full-page illustrations as well as small tables and examples inserted in text have simple decorative geometric frames. Rubrics, marginal headings, some initials and words, and pagination in red ink.; Binding: Contemporary Spanish calf; restored spine with fragment of early label (De zifras).; Origin: Written in Spain, possibly Navarre, ca. 1600 (examples dated 1591, p. 120-121; 1600, p. 108, 114).; Lawrence J. Schoenberg & Barbara Brizdle Manuscript Initiative.; Spanish.

Physical Location:

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Manuscripts, Oversize LJS 423

Collection:

Lawrence J. Schoenberg Collection (University of Pennsylvania)