Dorabella & D'Agapeyeff Ciphers - Solutions

Constructing Cipher Alphabets CV3 and CV4

 

Both cipher alphabets are constructed in the same way. Start with a Keyword, or rather Keyphrase, obtained from the Running Key. For CV3, we use "Naughty E" and for CV4 "Nature's Y". The 2 mixed alphabets are formed from the Keyphrase, followed by the remaining letters in order:

 

CV3     NAUGHTYEBCDFIKLMOPQRSWXZ              and     CV4     NATURESYBCDFGHIKLMOPQWXZ

 

Now we form the Letter-to-Hoop substitution pairs. First, assign the letters of the Keyphrase (in order) to the single-hoop characters. CV3 commences with the single-hoop pointing North-East then North and so on, finishing with the single-hoop pointing East. See diagram below on Left. Then flip over (on North-South axis) so that East is now West etc. and assign the values for CV4 but in reverse order, starting West and finishing North-West. See diagram below on Right. That was the easy bit! Now take the remaining 16 letters and inscribe in a swiss-roll or spiral pattern, using the template shown below (again, CV3 on the Left, CV4 on the Right). The 2-hoop characters are assigned to the non-shaded letters, read out in a boustrophedon (like the ox ploughing the field) or zigzag manner  - by row for CV3, so LtoR, RtoL etc and by column for CV4, so Up-Down-Up. Similarly, the 3-hoop characters are assigned to the shaded letters (those in the T blob or blob T stencil). Again, takeout is by row for CV3, by column for CV4. One final word before leaving these 2 CVs. The 'T blob' stencil can be reversed - ie - 'T blob' for CV4 and 'blob T' for CV3, in which case write-in commences in the top right of the spiral. This will all become clearer in the final stages.

 

CV3 and CV4 in Full