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← USA Hand
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Giddings Field Message Book
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Message Pad with US Army Cipher Disk
The Giddings Field Message Book was a small pocket book with a multi-page
note pad and a built-in US Army Cipher Disk with a
Vigenère Cipher.
It was intended for use in the
field by soldiers who needed to issue secure messages during the
Spanish-American War in 1898 [2].
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The image on the right shows the Message Book in use.
Message were encrypted using the hard-paper cipher disc that was mounted
inside the flap. This US Army Cipher Disk was similar to the
Confederate Cipher Disc.
Once sent, the encyphered messages were stored in a pocket of the flap.
Copies of the message were created using a piece of carbon paper that was
stored at the back of the book.
The book itself had a green leather cover. When closed, the two halves
were held together with a pencil that was inserted at the front.
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The book was designed by Major Howard A. Giddings of the Brigadier Signal
Officer Office of the Connecticut National Guard. It was published by
Hudson-Kimberly Publishing Co. in Kansas City (Missouri, USA) and was first
mentioned in the Privates' Handbook of 1898 [1].
At the time, a soldier would pay USD 1.00 for it.
Full instruction are at the back of the book.
Although the Spanish-American war of 1898 was a conflict between Spain
and the United States about Cuba, it involved the Caribbean and the
Pacific, including the Philippines [2].
When found, the Field Message-Book shown here, contained a Cablegram
message inside its pocket. The message was sent in 1901 and was received
by the Headquarters Division of the Philippines.
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Friday 03 September 2010. Last changed: Sunday, 25 February 2018 - 14:54 CET.
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