Communication Theory of Secrecy Systems [Bell Monograph]
by Shannon, C. E. [Claude Elwood]
- Used
- near fine
- first
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Seller
-
Topsfield, Massachusetts, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Offered here is the first separate edition, as issued in the Bell Telephone System Monograph series (#1727: April 1950). We are unaware of any separately issued Bell System Technical Journal offprint for this paper.
"Shannon's insight, his great contribution to cryptology, lay in pointing out that [language] redundancy furnishes the ground for cryptanalysis. 'In ... the majority of ciphers,' he wrote, 'it is only the existence of redundancy in the original messages that makes a solution possible.' This is the very basis of codebreaking." (Kahn 1996, p 748)
"The discoverer of information theory examines cryptology in terms of that theory: redundancy, entropy, equivocation. Shannon develops formulas that enable the cryptanalyst to tell when a solution in a particular cipher system is valid. He discusses perfect secrecy (the absolutely unbreakable cipher) and ideal secrecy (practically unbreakable ciphers) and work characteristics needed to solve different kinds of ciphers. (Kahn 1969, pp 324-5)
"[Communication theory of secrecy systems] has provided, for the first time, a well-organized theory of cryptography and cryptanalysis, and it is highly regarded by the expert cryptanalysts." (Pierce, p 271)
PROVENANCE: none.
REFERENCES: (all referring to "Communication Theory of Secrecy Systems")
Sloane and Wyner, "Claude Elwood Shannon Collected Papers," #24 and #25
Shulman, David, "Theoretical and mathematical aspects of ciphers" in "An Annotated Bibliography of Cryptography" (Garland: 1976), p 122.
Kahn, David 1969, "Secret Writings: Selected Works on Modern Cryptography" in Bulletin of the New York Public Library, May 1969.
Kahn, David 1996, "The Code Breakers: A Comprehensive History of the Secret Communication from Ancient Times to the Internet" (Scribners, 1996, revised edition)
Pierce, John R., "An Introduction to Information Theory" (Dover: 1980)
COLLECTORS NOTE: The Bell Telephone System Monograph series offered a way to obtain individual articles by Bell scientists regardless of where their work was first published. Many Monographs significantly postdate the original article publication. Because of this, they rarely constitute the coveted (and traditional) article offprint. If the journal of record issued no offprint, the Monograph might be the first separate publication - the closest the collector can come to a traditional offprint. We have done our best to place each Monograph properly in the article's publishing history and welcome any corrections or additional information, especially regarding issues unknown to us.
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Kuenzig Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 29188
- Title
- Communication Theory of Secrecy Systems [Bell Monograph]
- Author
- Shannon, C. E. [Claude Elwood]
- Format/Binding
- Wraps
- Book Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First Separate Edition
- Publisher
- Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
- Place of Publication
- New York, NY
- Date Published
- 1950
Terms of Sale
Kuenzig Books
Reserved items are held for 7 days pending receipt of payment. Reservations may be made by phone or email. Please identify the author, title, and stock number of the item. We accept wire transfers, checks and money orders drawn on U.S. banks in U.S. dollars. We also accept Paypal and American Express, Mastercard, VISA and Discover cards. Our Guarantee: All purchases are returnable within 30 days IF NOT AS DESCRIBED, presuming they are received in the same condition as sent. Please insure return shipments, and contact us in advance in order to make appropriate arrangements.
About the Seller
Kuenzig Books
About Kuenzig Books
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Wrappers
- The paper covering on the outside of a paperback. Also see the entry for pictorial wraps, color illustrated coverings for...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Offprint
- A copy of an article or reference material that once appeared in a larger publication.