The Robinson Telegraphic Cipher

This practical handbook, first published in the late 19th century, was created for grain dealers who needed a fast, reliable way to send orders and market updates by telegraph. Its author, a seasoned grain merchant, collected the most trusted cipher words and phrases, arranging them alphabetically so that a simple code could stand for a commodity, a price, a delivery date or a freight route. The revised edition adds fifteen new pages of updated terms, reflecting the latest rail lines, market grades and business methods without disturbing the original layout.

The volume reads like a compact encyclopedia of the grain trade, with separate sections on buying, selling, freight options, market conditions and even insurance. Detailed tables let users translate “Abdicate, Achieve, March” into a precise purchase of mess pork for a March delivery, while the extensive index makes finding the right code quick and effortless. For listeners interested in the history of commerce, the evolution of telegraphic language, or simply the tidy logic of an old‑world trading system, this guide offers a fascinating and usable glimpse into a vanished industry.