An American man has left British historians and cryptographers astounded after he cracked a fiendish 200-word cipher from a 200-year-old letter in a matter of minutes.
The mysterious note, housed in the prestigious Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford, had baffled experts for years. Its contents, a jumble of seemingly random symbols, were believed to be an uncrackable secret.
The Digital Challenge That Sparked a Breakthrough
The centuries-old puzzle was finally presented to the world when the BBC's digital platform, BBC Future, launched an online appeal for help. They shared images of the cryptic text, challenging the public to become modern-day Bletchley Park codebreakers.
Enter Wayne Chan, a computer researcher from the University of Manitoba. From his home in North America, he took on the challenge that had stumped scholars closer to the source.
Not Espionage, But Commerce
Mr. Chan's investigation revealed the truth was far more mundane than a plot against the Crown. The cipher was not a matter of national security but of commercial enterprise.
"After a bit of research, I was able to figure it out pretty quickly," Chan humbly stated. His research pointed him towards a popular mid-19th century codebook used by companies to send cheap, coded telegrams.
The two-word message was finally revealed to read: "Counterfeit if." While its exact meaning remains slightly unclear, it is believed to be a fragment of a larger commercial transaction, possibly a verification code used by a trading house to confirm a telegraphic money order.
A Global Mind Solves a Local Mystery
This story highlights the power of global collaboration in solving historical puzzles. An American researcher, leveraging digital resources and a sharp mind, was able to decipher a piece of British history from thousands of miles away.
The breakthrough provides a fascinating glimpse into the daily use of cryptography in the Victorian era, not for spycraft, but for the brisk and secure business of trade and finance.
