Author: Klaus Schmeh, Eviden Digital Identity
This column is dedicated to unraveling unsolved encryption puzzles. Each month, we will present a different encrypted message that has thus far resisted all attempts at decryption. Today, we introduce : an encrypted newspaper ad published in 1889.
Encrypted Newspaper Ads
In the late 19th century, newspapers weren’t just a booming mass medium—they also became a platform for secret communication. Encrypted newspaper ads were a popular way to send hidden messages, meant only for the eyes of a specific recipient.
Most of these encrypted messages came from lovers, who used the anonymity of newspaper classifieds to exchange romantic notes in plain sight. But it wasn’t just matters of the heart. Businesspeople, detectives, scientists, and travelers also made use of encrypted ads to communicate confidentially across great distances.
To date, around 5,000 encrypted newspaper ads from the 19th century have been cataloged, though researchers believe the real number is much higher. Many of these messages are relatively easy to decipher today with modern tools. Still, hundreds remain unsolved—puzzling cryptographers, historians, and enthusiasts alike.
Despite many attempts over the years, no one has yet succeeded in cracking the code of this newspaper ad.
The mysterious ad from Gun Wa
One of the most puzzling encrypted newspaper ads appeared on July 23, 1889, in the Denver Times, a newspaper based in Denver, Colorado. Unlike many anonymous or coded messages, this ad clearly stated the name and address of its publisher: a company called Gun Wa.
METXHZJTJGHXNYIDKATJG
WEUAVXLDKXVDUEOTTOQ
PFMQJDLTOQVAOEPAKFEILX
HYMPXTOFWEIFJDV
GUN WA. 1629 LARIMER ST.
Gun Wa was a business operated by a group of American entrepreneurs marketing questionable medicinal products under the name of a fictional Chinese doctor—“Dr. Gun Wa.” The company placed numerous (unencrypted) advertisements in newspapers across the United States, promoting these so-called remedies with bold promises and exotic flair.
But the encrypted ad in the Denver Times stands out. As far as we know, it is the only instance in which the company used an enciphered message—raising many questions. Was it a private message disguised as a public notice? A marketing stunt? Or something more clandestine? We don’t know.
The encryption method used in the ad remains unknown. However, it is believed to have been quite sophisticated for its time—otherwise, it would likely have been solved by now.
Can you help?
Despite many attempts over the years, no one has yet succeeded in cracking the code of this advertisement. If you think you can help solve this puzzle, or if you have any thoughts on what might be behind this cryptic message, please get in touch.
