GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
EXTREMELY RARE WWII GERMAN AVIATOR SCHOOL SECRET ENIGMA CIPHER MACHINE CODE BOOK COVER.SN: 1905. This is one of the more significant items of German military equipment to survive WWII. Originally it would have contained the complex and secret settings of the Enigma machine for each day of the month. Each month a new set of inserts with new codes for that month would be placed inside this cover. This book is orig in bi-fold configuration (3 panels) that are 8-3/4" x about 6", made of red oil cloth-type material with pinned aluminum framing. The cover is marked in German with a yellow Swiss Cross on the cover, possibly to deceive someone into thinking that it may have had something to do with first-aid should it be captured. Top of the front cover is also marked "Geheim" (secret). Bottom front of the cover is marked with the Nazi Eagle and the general staff of the Navy and dated "Berlin 1940". Inside the front cover are 4 accordion-like ribs, each with 3 eyelets where the pink sheets of code book pages were attached. Apparently this book was issued to and used in the flight training school in Parow, Germany. The school was established in 1935 and disbanded in early 1945, apparently upon the arrival of the Red Army. While Enigma machines are extremely rare, the only associated thing more rare is a code book. SIZE: CONDITION: Fair. All 3 sections are present with the interior mostly complete, obviously missing the code pages. The printed sheets are moderately soiled and yellowed with some damage to the edge in the left panel from the eyelets. The folds show some separation in the oil cloth. The front cover is complete with light soil and fading and the red leather binding on the spine shows soil and wear with some weakness on the hinge. Backs of the center and right panels are missing their red oil cloth covering. A most rare and unusual WWII Nazi artifact. 48940-1 JR (6,000-10,000)