Extraordinary cryptology collection

Cryptologia, Apr 2003 by Winkel, Brian J

ABSTRACT: In which we describe a wonderful collection of cryptologic materials, carefully and lovingly brought together through a life-long fascination with cryptology.

KEYWORDS: Louis Kruh, cryptology collection, sale.

HUGE CRYPTOLOGY COLLECTION FOR SALE1

Lou Kruh purchased his first book on cryptology in 1943. It was the 1943 hardback edition of Elementary Cryptography by Helen F. Gaines and was his textbook for the course in cryptography taught by Rosario Candella at Hunter College, New York City. Since then Lou has amassed more than 3,200 cryptographic items including: books from 1563 to 2003, magazines, brochures, scrapbooks, etc.; more than 25 American and foreign cipher machines, cipher devices and related items; more than 100 technical manuals, brochures, catalogs, and other descriptive literature on cipher equipment; over a dozen video/audio tapes of crypto oriented films, TV programs, conferences, including the 1935 movie, Rendezvous, based on a Herbert O. Yardley novel, and a 1942 15-chapter serial, The Secret Code; more than 20 miscellaneous and unusual cryptographic related items including a letter dated June 14, 1796 from William Coleman, friend of Alexander Hamilton, and publisher of the New York Post, with a message concealed in an old shorthand system, plus other unique items; more than 70 non-military, amateur and juvenile codes, ciphers, cipher disks, crypto devices, many Captain Midnight and Orphan Annie decoders, etc.; and 16 cryptologic games and toys.

In addition to antiquarian books, items of cryptologic significance include: Friedman's 1923 Elements of Cryptanalysis and Friedman's Military Cryptanalysis, a four-volume expansion that trained thousands in WW II. But his greatest feat was his writing of eight Riverbank publications from 1918 to 1922. Except for one reprint, the originals are in Lou's collection. In the mid-1970s, NSA planned a new hardbound series, Military Cryptanalytics Part I by Friedman and L. D. Callimahos was issued in 1956, 443 pp., Part II, by Callimahos and Friedman was issued in 1959, 634 pp. These were classified and are likely one of the very few original hardbound copies in private hands. Another unusual item is Cipher, the U. S. Government's first manual on cryptography, circa 1869, the only known copy in private hands.

Among machines in this collection are the difficult to find M-94 (one sold on Ebay for $7,250), the M-325, invented by William Friedman, based on the Enigma, possibly the only one in private hands, Army, and Navy strip ciphers, Swiss NEMA, Hagelin BC-543, an electrically powered machine with carrying case and service manual.

This collection provided essential material for Lou Kruh's research and writings and his many contributions to this journal. Indeed, much of his library was gathered in support of his scholarship and writing efforts, all done with a passion for the discipline of cryptology. It is Lou's intent that his collection, so diligently assembled, be kept intact and that it be passed over to hands who appreciate his sense of history, his values, and his life-long affair with cryptology.

The collection is suitable for a museum, library, or private collector.

See detailed list of the collection at www.loukruh.com. For further information contact Louis Kruh at louk17@optonline.net or call (516) 378-0263 or write to Louis Kruh, 17 Alfred Road West, Merrick NY 11566 USA.

1 This collection is for sale as a collection.

Brian J. Winkel

ADDRESS: Department of Mathematics, United States Military Academy, West Point NY 10996 USA. Brian-Winkel@usma.edu.