# Why does the Declaration key need corrections, and what does that show? · Beale ciphers > Three answers have been proposed. The corrections are the author's counting errors, carried into both cipher 2 and the fabricated ciphers 1 and… leads… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J0VR7YDW/why-does-the-declaration-key-need-corrections-and-what-does Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:56:55+00:00 --- **0** # Why does the Declaration key need corrections, and what does that show? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [Are ciphers 1 and 3 genuine enciphered messages?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J04A0CKP/are-ciphers-1-and-3-genuine-enciphered-messages)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the corrections are the author's counting errors, carried into both cipher 2 and the fabricated ciphers 1 and…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. The corrections are the author's counting errors, carried into both cipher 2 and the fabricated ciphers 1 and… leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters The pamphlet's decoding of cipher 2 only works if the Declaration is miscounted in specific places. Whether the miscounts come from Beale's copy of the Declaration or from the pamphlet's author tells us who made the ciphers⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HPKM5FDS/the-beale-papers-containing-authentic-statements-regarding)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HPVE5HNT/the-beale-cipher-a-dissenting-opinion). ## Answers 3 [**The corrections are the author's counting errors, carried into both cipher 2 and the fabricated ciphers 1 and…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/answers/ANS0CR7J8XJ0NRN/the-corrections-are-the-authors-counting-errors-carried-into) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**Beale used a printed Declaration with variant wording, and the corrections reflect that edition.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/answers/ANS0CR7J8DY66RY/beale-used-a-printed-declaration-with-variant-wording-and) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/answers/ANS0CR7J9D63R3S/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 1980[Gillogly puts forward: the corrections are the author's counting errors, carried into both cipher 2 and the fabricated ciphers 1 and…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HPVE5HNT/the-beale-cipher-a-dissenting-opinion) 1. 2017[Schmeh: searches for a matching edition have not produced one.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CR7HSHC2KEC/the-top-50-unsolved-encrypted-messages-40-the-beale)Against: Beale used a printed Declaration with variant wording, and the corrections reflect that edition. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J0VR7YDW/why-does-the-declaration-key-need-corrections-and-what-does%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/QST0CR7J0VR7YDW/why-does-the-declaration-key-need-corrections-and-what-does%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/QST0CR7J0VR7YDW/why-does-the-declaration-key-need-corrections-and-what-does%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/QST0CR7J0VR7YDW/why-does-the-declaration-key-need-corrections-and-what-does%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/QST0CR7J0VR7YDW/why-does-the-declaration-key-need-corrections-and-what-does%23add-source) Where it fits Beale ciphers [**Are ciphers 1 and 3 genuine enciphered messages?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/beale-ciphers/questions/QST0CR7J04A0CKP/are-ciphers-1-and-3-genuine-enciphered-messages)Key question · most likely ciphers 1 and 3 were made up from the same numbered Declaration to look like ciphers; they encode nothing [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?** You're here · 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 ]