On Secret Marks of Letters

TO THE READER.

...were being sought after, and published in such a format that they could have been provided in a much more convenient and less expensive way, I took it upon myself to commit them to my own press once again. After we began this undertaking, five additional things were discovered or occurred to us, about which we thought you, kind reader, should be advised.

For indeed, regarding the utility of these books?, beyond what the author himself handed down on the subject, it seemed that some things should be added: the title had to be changed; errors had to be corrected; the more unwary readers needed to be warned about certain examples; and finally, certain observations made in passing by a man most devoted to fine letters while reading through the text, as well as tables original: "tabulæ," referring to look-up charts used to decipher or encode messages constructed from these books, had to be included.

Regarding the utility, then: Master Porta, unlike others, did not touch upon only one or two methods of this art, but handled approximately 180 of them with such industry and diligence that he not only surpassed others by infinite measures in this matter, but also showed the way and method by which we, following in his footsteps, can devise almost infinite other modes besides. This has been shown to us by one or two examples from the person whose observations and tables we are publishing. Nor can the Polygraphia of Trithemius original: "Trithemiana Polygraphia"; Johannes Trithemius (1462–1516) wrote the first printed work on cryptography, but Porta’s work was considered more advanced and practical be compared with...