Polygraphia Nova

Athanasius Kircher (cropped).jpg
Athanasius Kircher

Polygraphia nova et universalis ex combinatoria arte directa is a 1663 work by the Jesuit scholar Athanasius Kircher. It was one of Kircher's most highly regarded works[1]: 187  and his only complete work on the subject of cryptography, although he made passing references to the topic elsewhere.[2]: 121  The book was distributed as a private gift to selected European rulers, some of who also received an arca steganographica, a presentation chest containing wooden tallies used to encrypt and decrypt codes.[3]: 271 [2]: 120 

  1. ^ Muchembled, Robert; Bethencourt, Francisco; Monter, William; Egmond, Florike (March 2007). Cultural Exchange in Early Modern Europe. Cambridge University Press. pp. 187–. ISBN 978-0-521-84548-9.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Lang was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Paula Findlen (2004). Athanasius Kircher: The Last Man who Knew Everything. Psychology Press. ISBN 978-0-415-94015-3.