# Are ciphers 1 and 3 genuine enciphered messages? · Beale ciphers > Four answers have been proposed. Ciphers 1 and 3 were made up from the same numbered Declaration to look like ciphers; they encode nothing. leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J04A0CKP/are-ciphers-1-and-3-genuine-enciphered-messages Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:56:55+00:00 --- **0** # Are ciphers 1 and 3 genuine enciphered messages? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: ciphers 1 and 3 were made up from the same numbered Declaration to look like ciphers; they encode nothing** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. Ciphers 1 and 3 were made up from the same numbered Declaration to look like ciphers; they encode nothing. leads, with evidence 3 for, 1 against: supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the two narrower questions under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters Everything turns on this. If the two unread sequences encode English under some key, the pamphlet's story has a core of truth whatever else was embroidered; if they were generated from a numbered Declaration to look like ciphers, the whole thing is a composition of the 1880s⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HPVE5HNT/the-beale-cipher-a-dissenting-opinion)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HRAA08YB/a-reproducible-re-examination-of-beale-ciphers-b1-and-b3). ## Answers 4 [**Ciphers 1 and 3 were made up from the same numbered Declaration to look like ciphers; they encode nothing.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/answers/ANS0CR7J2JE231T/ciphers-1-and-3-were-made-up-from-the-same-numbered) Supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for, 1 against Most likely [**Cipher 1 or 3 is genuine but uses a key text no one has tried, or a lost private document.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/answers/ANS0CR7J3SG2QWK/cipher-1-or-3-is-genuine-but-uses-a-key-text-no-one-has) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**Ciphers 1 and 3 are book ciphers on real key texts and encode English.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/answers/ANS0CR7J1BC7GG3/ciphers-1-and-3-are-book-ciphers-on-real-key-texts-and) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 2 for, 2 against Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/answers/ANS0CR7J49466Q8/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 1885[anonymous puts forward: ciphers 1 and 3 are book ciphers on real key texts and encode English.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HPKM5FDS/the-beale-papers-containing-authentic-statements-regarding) 1. 1885[anonymous: cipher 2 is a real book cipher and decodes cleanly, which shows the author could make one.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HPKM5FDS/the-beale-papers-containing-authentic-statements-regarding)For: Ciphers 1 and 3 are book ciphers on real key texts and encode English. 1. 1885[anonymous: the pamphlet itself says the key to cipher 1 was never found by its narrator.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HPKM5FDS/the-beale-papers-containing-authentic-statements-regarding)For: Cipher 1 or 3 is genuine but uses a key text no one has tried, or a lost private document. 1. 1980[Gillogly puts forward: ciphers 1 and 3 were made up from the same numbered Declaration to look like ciphers; they encode nothing.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HPVE5HNT/the-beale-cipher-a-dissenting-opinion) 1. 1980[Gillogly: applying the Declaration key to cipher 1 yields the run 'abcdefghiijklmmnohpp' and other alphabetical…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HPVE5HNT/the-beale-cipher-a-dissenting-opinion)Against: Ciphers 1 and 3 are book ciphers on real key texts and encode English. 1. 1980[Gillogly: gillogly's alphabetical runs under the Declaration key.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HPVE5HNT/the-beale-cipher-a-dissenting-opinion)For: Ciphers 1 and 3 were made up from the same numbered Declaration to look like ciphers; they encode nothing. 1. 2020[Wase puts forward: cipher 1 or 3 is genuine but uses a key text no one has tried, or a lost private document.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HQTP25C1/benfords-law-in-the-beale-ciphers) 1. 2021[National Security Agency: no key text has turned either cipher into English in 140 years, including searches by NSA staff.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HRSY1FWE/the-beale-papers-declassified-document-release)Against: Ciphers 1 and 3 are book ciphers on real key texts and encode English. 1. 2026[Hsieh: recent statistical tests (Benford's law; book-cipher distributions; composite-cipher searches) have not found…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HRAA08YB/a-reproducible-re-examination-of-beale-ciphers-b1-and-b3)For: Ciphers 1 and 3 were made up from the same numbered Declaration to look like ciphers; they encode nothing. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J04A0CKP/are-ciphers-1-and-3-genuine-enciphered-messages%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J04A0CKP/are-ciphers-1-and-3-genuine-enciphered-messages%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J04A0CKP/are-ciphers-1-and-3-genuine-enciphered-messages%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J04A0CKP/are-ciphers-1-and-3-genuine-enciphered-messages%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J04A0CKP/are-ciphers-1-and-3-genuine-enciphered-messages%23add-source) Where it fits Beale ciphers **Are ciphers 1 and 3 genuine enciphered messages?** Key question · you're here [Was anything buried near Buford's?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J13J2TE5/was-anything-buried-near-bufords)Most likely · nothing was ever buried; the hoard exists only in the pamphlet [Why does the Declaration key need corrections, and what does that show?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J0VR7YDW/why-does-the-declaration-key-need-corrections-and-what-does)Most likely · the corrections are the author's counting errors, carried into both cipher 2 and the fabricated ciphers 1 and… [ Ask a question under this one ]