# Is any published decipherment correct? · Dorabella cipher

> Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible.

Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dorabella-cipher/questions/QST0CRZARVJ7VVV/is-any-published-decipherment-correct  
Publisher: Mysteries Department  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page)  
Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:19+00:00  

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# Is any published decipherment correct?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [What kind of message is the Dorabella note?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dorabella-cipher/questions/QST0CRZARBY7QFA/what-kind-of-message-is-the-dorabella-note)·3 answers·0·0 following

**Partly answered** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it.

 

## Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible.

## Why it matters

Sams (1970), Roberts, Henderson and Packwood each claimed a reading. They share a pattern: free choices that a critic can exploit to read other texts the same way⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRZAGA45BG6/elgars-cipher-letter-to-dorabella)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRZAK7W5CAT/dorabella-cipher)⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRZAJ0T38SC/the-top-50-unsolved-encrypted-messages-26-the-dorabella).

## Answers 3



[**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dorabella-cipher/answers/ANS0CRZAZEG698V/none-of-these)

Not tested enough to call either way

Evidence: none yet

Still possible



[**One of the later claims (Roberts, Henderson, Packwood) is correct.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dorabella-cipher/answers/ANS0CRZAYQ258QY/one-of-the-later-claims-roberts-henderson-packwood-is)

Failed a test; not refuted outright

Evidence: 2 against

Disputed



[**Sams's phonetic-shorthand reading is correct.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dorabella-cipher/answers/ANS0CRZAXZM6F86/samss-phonetic-shorthand-reading-is-correct)

Failed a test; not refuted outright

Evidence: 2 against

Disputed

## History

1. 1970[Sams puts forward: sams's phonetic-shorthand reading is correct.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRZAGA45BG6/elgars-cipher-letter-to-dorabella)
1. 2017[Schmeh: schmeh judges that it does not make much sense.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRZAJ0T38SC/the-top-50-unsolved-encrypted-messages-26-the-dorabella)Against: Sams's phonetic-shorthand reading is correct.
1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site

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Where it fits

Dorabella cipher

[**What kind of message is the Dorabella note?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dorabella-cipher/questions/QST0CRZARBY7QFA/what-kind-of-message-is-the-dorabella-note)Key question · most likely english in Elgar's alphabet with irregularities (phonetic spelling, abbreviations, private words, mirrored…

**Is any published decipherment correct?** You're here · 0 of 3 ruled out

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