1. Unhappiness / It is the order of
    Unhappy / Our own order
    Unhinge / Our own special order

    Telegraphic Codex in Port Charges and Requirements, 1879
    in situ             notes
    25 May 2012
     


  2. Savoyard / Unless he does
    Sawfish / Unless he don’t
    ...
    Scarlet / In store.

    Telegraphic Codex in Port Charges and Requirements, 1879
    in situ             notes
    24 May 2012
     


  3. Sawdust / Can’t you circumvent this?
    Savagery / Had we not better?

    Telegraphic Codex in Port Charges and Requirements, 1879
    in situ             notes
    24 May 2012
     


  4. 6751 / Send word
    6752 / In a few words
    ...
    7065 / Fragments of wreck

    The Universal Code of Signals (Marryat, Richardson), 1864
    in situ             notes
    18 May 2012
     


  5. yedic / bottom of drift
    yedod / face of drift
    yeduf / lower drift
    yedyg / main drift

    Mining Supplement to Bentley’s Complete Phrase Code, 1907
    in situ             notes
    8 Mar 2012
     


  6. 35437 Emblemata / Harvest is fair
    35438 Emblematic / Harvest is good
    35439 Embleme / Harvest is poor

    Western Union Telegraphic Code (Universal Edition), 1900
    in situ             notes
    28 Feb 2012
     


  7. 0134 Acclivity / Adequate to the occasion

    Private Telegraphic Code with James Adam, Son & Co., 1881
    in situ             notes
    28 Feb 2012
     


  8. 122 / Along shore
    123 / Along with
    124 / Along with this
    ...
    127 / Alphabet
    128 / Already prepared

    John Macdonald, A Naval, Military and Political Telegraphic Dictionary, 1817
    in situ             notes
    21 Jan 2012
     


  9. royka / About this
    ...
    rucre / While this
    rucsi / Why this
    ructo / With this
    rucus / Without this

    W. M. Saunders, Everybody’s Pocket Code, 1911
    in situ             notes
    13 Jan 2012
     

  10.  
    Capable, Cannibal, Carousal
    (wheat, red, spring) /
    Visible stocks exhausted, but think farmers hold

    Private Telegraphic Code of Heath & Finnemore, 1879
    in situ             notes
    6 Jan 2012
     

  11.  
    Unaware / Will undertake
    Undertake / Nothing to be gained

    W. H. Bernau, Milicode Military Telegraphic Code, London, n.d. (1902)
    2 Jan 2012
     

  12.  
    Cohesion / Do not act
    ...
    Colation / Do not believe
    ...
    Colorless / Do not do it
    ...
    Combat / Do not fail.

    The Adams Cable Codex, 1896
    in situ             notes
    2 Jan 2012
     

  13.  
    Not time enough / Bianca
    Nothing / Bias
    Nothing doing in / Bible
    Nothing new to report / Bicket

    Bloomer’s Commercial Cryptograph, 1886
    in situ             notes
    18 Dec 2011
     

  14.  
    AFR 848 / Arbitrary signal
    ...
    Arduous undertaking,
    Are all,
    Are all gone

    The Telegraph Dictionary, and Seamen’s Signal Book, 1845
    in situ             notes
    18 Dec 2011
     

  15.  
    04390 Poetry / Reported put into ——, no news of cause

    The ABC universal commercial electric telegraphic code, 1874
    in situ             notes
    11 Dec 2011
     

  16.  
    Frevy / Or words to that effect

    (Edmund) Peycke’s new ekonomik telegraphic cipher code for the fruit and produce trade, 1918
    in situ             notes
    11 Dec 2011
     

  17.  
    Rhrwe / Or words to that effect

    Private telegraphic code for land line telegrams... used by the United States Steel Corporation and its subsidiary companies, 1911
    in situ             notes
    7 Dec 2011
     

  18.  
    Not by, Not certain;
    Not in, Not much;
    Not the, Not time;
    Not water

    John R. Parker, The new semaphoric signal book: in three parts, 1836
    in situ             notes
    4 Dec 2011
     

  19.  
    storied / had you relied upon
    ...
    story / had you to accept

    H. R. Meyer, Cotton Telegraph Code, 1878
    in situ             notes
    4 Dec 2011
     

  20.  
    06474 Philosophy / You are making very poor progress with

    The ABC universal commercial electric telegraphic code, 1874
    in situ             notes
    3 Dec 2011
     

  21.  
    Solidity / Considered unsafe

    J. R. Foster’s Private Telegraphic Code, 1879
    in situ             notes
    26 Nov 2011
     

  22.  
    His hallucinations point to English politics and to a cipher for telegraphic messages which he has invented.

    New York Times, 31 January 1887
    in situ
    20 Nov 2011
     

  23.  
    Ftulu / Will make temporary arrangements

    (under unclassifiable phrases and connecting sentences)
    (Edmund) Peycke’s new ekonomik telegraphic cipher code for the fruit and produce trade, 1918
    in situ             notes
    19 Nov 2011
     

  24.  
    89285 hekuzula / nicht philosophisch
    89286 hekvakip / sehr philosophisch

    Bauers code; der neue deutsche telegramm-schlüssel, 1913
    in situ             notes
    12 Nov 2011
     

  25.  
    28987 / What is the truth?
    28990 / Try in other quarters
    ...
    28998 Try some other method or means

    China Inland Mission private telegraph code (second edition), 1913
    in situ             notes
    10 Nov 2011
     

  26.  
    #Aphorism / Has not yet made her appearance

    Private Telegraphic Code with James Adam, Son & Co, 1881
    in situ             notes
    10 Nov 2011
     

  27.  
    #Aphorism / 24 1/4

    Private telegraphic code of Lunham & Moore, 1899
    in situ             notes
    10 Nov 2011
     

  28.  
    #Aphorism / 46/9

    Private Cable Code for the Timber Trade (Price & Pierce), 1899
    in situ             notes

  29.  
    #Aphorism 00912 / Woolen Manufactures

    Ager’s Shipping Telegram Code, 1877
    in situ             notes

  30.  
    #Aphorism 8021 / Is (are) expected to arrive

    Frank Shay and R. V. Dey, Postal Code, 1907
    in situ             notes

  31.  
    #Aphorism / Receiver has been appointed

    The Standard Cipher Code of the American Railway Association, 1906
    in situ             notes

  32.  
    #Aphorism / S.W. by W.

    Scott’s code. The ship owners’ telegraphic code, 1885
    in situ             notes
    10 Nov 2011
     

  33.  
    #Aphorism / We have an important communication for you to be sent by mail...

    Adams Cable Codex, 1896
    in situ             notes
    10 Nov 2011
     

  34.  
    1111 #Aphorism / Arrange best possible with ——
    1112 Aphoristic / If you arrange it

    The ABC universal commercial electric telegraphic code (fourth edition), 1899
    in situ             notes
    10 Nov 2011
     

  35.  
    00509 #aphorism / Everything is arranged

    The ABC universal commercial electric telegraphic code, 1874
    in situ             notes
    10 Nov 2011
     

  36.  
    02756 #Aphorism / So far nothing has been arranged

    McNeill’s (Mining) Code, 1899
    in situ             notes
    8 Nov 2011
     

  37.  
    Penance / Walks brisk
    Pence / Walks slow
    ...
    Penetrate / Has a rolling walk like a sailor

    Barnard’s Universal Cipher Code, 1895
    in situ             notes
    5 Nov 2011
     

  38.  
    Mystery / For all purposes;
    Mystical / We leave you to make the best arrangement as to days.

    Wilson’s Ship Broker’s Telegraph Code, 1881
    in situ             notes
    4 Nov 2011
     

  39.  
    Hargrave Liverpool / This week’s circular of the Liverpool Cotton Brokers’ Association says...

    The Phillips Telegraphic Code, 1879
    in situ             notes
    4 Nov 2011
     

  40.  
    Id / is dead
    ...
    Ik / I know

    The Phillips Telegraphic Code, 1879
    in situ             notes
    3 Nov 2011
     

  41.  
    792 / We had twice such another
    ...
    857 / To twitter
    858 / Twitter

    John Macdonald, A Treatise Explanatory, 1817
    in situ             notes
    3 Nov 2011
     

  42.  
    24438 Whip / Wharf
    ...
    24444 Whipsaws / The whole difficulty
    ...
    24453 Whirlwind / Why

    Anglo-American Telegraphic Code, 1891
    in situ             notes
    3 Nov 2011
     

  43.  
    Silently / There must be some mistake
    Silentness / There must be some mistake in

    H. R. Meyer, The Commercial Telegraph Code, 1880
    in situ             notes
    29 Oct 2011
     

  44.  
    3561 Orignant / Panic
    ...
    3591 Outbalance / Pause
    ...
    3593 Outborn / You should now pause

    Private Telegraphic Code with James Adam, Son & Co., 1881
    in situ             notes
    23 Oct 2011
     

  45.  
    Olive / When am I to have my bonnet? Very provoking to be kept waiting this way.

    The Pocket Telegraphic Code. Containing more than 300 one-word telegrams, London, 1885
    in situ             notes
    22 Oct 2011
     

  46.  
    Zaranza / Dentista, Dentist
    ...
    Zebra / Fábrica de paráguas, Umbrella manufacturers

    Frank Thomas, The shipping clerks’, correspondents’ and travellers’ handbook of Spanish invoicing, insurance, bookkeeping, legal and technical terms, with Spanish powers of attorney, cable inquiry code, 1911
    in situ             notes
    20 Oct 2011
     

  47.  
    yoopd / The wrong place
    yoorz / The wrong ship
    yootv / The wrong side
    yoovr / Was in the wrong

    The Missions Code, 1921
    in situ             notes
    18 Oct 2011
     

  48.  
    Oakum /C
    Oaten / D
    Obtuse / Window Glass

    Telegraphic Cypher of Julius Büttner, 1877
    in situ             notes
    18 Oct 2011
     

  49.  
    Man / Whatever course you pursue will be satisfactory...
    Manful / Have done nothing at all to-day

    Telegraphic Cypher of Julius Büttner, 1877
    in situ             notes
    15 Oct 2011
     

  50.  
    Aetey / The apricots are blooming
    ...
    Qet / But Betty had a mind of her own

    A. Hallner, The Scientific Dial Primer, 1912
    in situ             notes
    15 Oct 2011
     

  51.  
    Sleeping / Outsiders generally long, local trade generally short

    Telegraphic Cipher, W. G. Press and Company, 1885
    in situ             notes
    15 Oct 2011
     

  52.  
    Abscond / New Dehesa Raisins...
    Absurd / Boxes New Loose Muscatel Raisins; 2 Crown, extra.

    Joseph H. Wilson, The United States telegraphic cipher: adapted to the use of dealers in fruit and produce, and merchandise brokers, 1893
    in situ             notes
    15 Oct 2011
     

  53.  
    embedded... / but did,
    but have,
    but had,
    but may,
    but might,
    but must,
    but ought,
    but shall... you?

    William H. Hawke, The Premier Cypher Telegraphic Code, 1897
    in situ             notes
    10 Oct 2011
     

  54.  
    03291 Indecorous / Infected
    04292 Indelible / Declared infected
    ...
    04329 Infective / Inquiry

    The ABC universal commercial electric telegraphic code (second edition), 1874
    in situ             notes
    9 Oct 2011
     

  55.  
    3354 Commodity / Owing to the fog impossible to communicate

    The ABC universal commercial electric telegraphic code, 1880
    in situ             notes
    9 Oct 2011
     

  56.  
    11237 Chaucios / Owing to the fog impossible to communicate

    The ABC universal commercial electric telegraphic code (Fifth Edition), 1901
    in situ             notes
    8 Oct 2011
     

  57.  
    Elysium / Answer in plain language
    ...
    Emblem / Return immediately
    Emblematic / Stay longer

    Law’s Merchantile Cipher Code for forwarding business communications by telegraph, telephone or postal card, with secrecy and economy , 1880
    in situ             notes
    5 Oct 2011
     

  58.  
    149376 Undrooping / ...rise and fall rest, without...
    149387 Undulative / ...rise and fall rest and foot...

    Western Union Telegraphic Code (Universal edition), 1901
    in situ             notes
    4 Oct 2011
     

  59.  
    Rudesby / We cannot erase the words you desire
    ...
    Ruination...
    Runagates / We cannot erase the clause

    Private Telegraph Code of Hamilton, Fraser & Co., 1880
    in situ             notes
    4 Oct 2011
     

  60.  
    Poetry 11547 / Hamburg underwriters...
    Politeness 11568 / Unfit for the purpose

    Ager’s Shipping Telegram Code, 1877
    in situ             notes
    4 Oct 2011
     

  61.  
    Poetry / When was a patent granted to North Borneo for —

    H. & W. Pataky’s Telegraphic Code for use in obtaining and negociating patents, 1894
    in situ             notes
    4 Oct 2011
     

  62.  
    Poetry / In wheat, Is the market steady?

    Robert Slater, Banking Telegraphy, 1876
    in situ             notes
    1 Oct 2011
     

  63.  
    Trothless / Blue leafy.
    Troubadador / With a little sand.
    Trouble / Rather dusty.

    Watts’s Telegraphic Cypher, 1875
    in situ             notes
    30 Sep 2011
     

  64.  
    When practicable / pluperfect
    ...
    Has been / poetical

    H. R. Meyer, The General Telegraph Code, 1874
    in situ             notes
    30 Sep 2011
     

  65.  
    How much have you sold / Operatic
    ...
    had you expected / Opposition

    H. R. Meyer, The General Telegraph Code, 1874
    in situ             notes
    29 Sep 2011
     

  66.  
    Fabric / Strayed from a field in this;
    Feline / Found wandering in this;
    Hapless / A man unknown...

    Police and Prison Cyclopaedia, 1893
    in situ             notes
    27 Sep 2011
     

  67.  
    Prognosis 35659 / To start work
    ...
    Promontory 35709 / Please state more fully what you want

    McNeill’s (Mining) Code, 1899
    in situ             notes
    27 Sep 2011
     

  68.  
    11,909 Rhetoric / To clear out all the rubbish...
    12,852 Sisyphean / Spring

    Charles Algernon Moreing, Telegraphic mining code, 1888
    in situ             notes
    23 Sep 2011
     

  69.  
    litany / seasoned and dry
    ...
    litmus / got ashore...
    livelihood / badly damaged

    H. R. Meyer, The International Mercantile Telegraph Code, 1875
    in situ             notes
    21 Sep 2011
     

  70.  
    Pantherin / So complicated;
    Panthoos / So distinct
    ...
    Pantology / So long as

    T. H. Hartfield, The Atlas universal travellers’ and tourists’ telegraphic cipher code, 1896
    in situ             notes
    20 Sep 2011
     

  71.  
    3140 Mudfish / Never said so;
    3141 Mudwort / It will never do

    Private Telegraphic Code with James Adam, Son & Co., 1881
    in situ             notes
    20 Sep 2011
     

  72.  
    2990 Mimetic / Look on it as a matter of course

    Private Telegraphic Code with James Adam, Son & Co., 1881
    in situ             notes
    19 Sep 2011
     

  73.  
    Rubric / Marvel,
    Ruffian / Miracle
    ...
    Sardonic / Ceresota

    The Heath telegraphic cipher for the use of flouring mills, 1900
    in situ             notes
    17 Sep 2011
     

  74.  
    Waldeck / Do dearer, and arrival steady.
    Waldenbach / Do steady, do dearer...

    Watts’s Telegraphic Cypher, 1872
    in situ             notes
    15 Sep 2011
     

  75.  
    Teleology / Too voluminous to go through.

    Henry Harvey, The A.B.C. domestic code, 1881
    in situ             notes
    15 Sep 2011
     

  76.  
    Baptise / Can you charge electric automobiles?

    Telegraph Code, The Automobile Blue Book, 1901
    in situ             notes
    13 Sep 2011
     

  77.  
    06189 Worry / Worth nothing
    06190 Worship / Not worth while
    06191 Worsted / Worse

    The ABC universal commercial electric telegraphic code, 1873
    in situ             notes
    13 Sep 2011
     

  78.  
    Signify / What is the class of
    ...
    Silica / has no class at all.

    Private cable code for the timber trade (Price and Pierce), 1879
    in situ             notes
    11 Sep 2011
     

  79.  
    Epistles / Some dust, but no sand.

    Private Telegraph Code (R. G. Musgrove & Son), 1871
    in situ             notes
    28 Jul 2011
     

 

collected
@asfaltics
tweets
#codephrase

In summer/fall 2011, I tweeted a few code/phrase pairings with the hashtag #codephrase. These (and a few subsequent finds) are gathered here, together with links to original location (in situ) and to notes (long and short) regarding those respective sources at my (unevenly) annotated directory of scanned codes.

Anyone who invents an artificial language retains control of it only as long as it is not in use. But as soon as it fulfills its purpose and becomes the property of the community, it is no longer under control.

Ferdinand de Saussure, Course in General Linguistics (Harris translation, 1986): 111

codes
home