Italian Hobnail Floor Safe with Lion Head

Ten-Rotor T52 "Geheimschreiber" Cipher Machine Dated 1944 This extraordinary Ten-Rotor T52 Cipher Machine, also known as the Geheimschreiber, represents the pinnacle of German wartime cryptography and stands as one of the rarest encryption devices from World War II. Manufactured in 1944 during the final phase of the conflict, this sophisticated cipher machine—codenamed "Sturgeon" by Allied intelligence—was exclusively deployed in high-level German command centers for their most sensitive communications. Its exceptional historical significance and extreme rarity make it arguably the most important cryptographic artifact available to private collectors today. The T52 presents a commanding physical presence that reflects its technological sophistication. Substantially larger and more complex than standard three or four-rotor Enigma machines, this teleprinter-based device features an imposing mechanical construction with ten precisely engineered rotating pinwheels arranged in intricate patterns. Its comprehensive keyboard system and internal mechanical components demonstrate the extraordinary engineering achievements of wartime German cryptographers. The machine's robust metal casing, designed for operational durability in high-command environments, remains in remarkable condition, preserving its historical integrity. The T52 series, manufactured by Siemens & Halske in Berlin, represented a family of cipher machines that evolved through several increasingly complex models. Unlike the simpler Enigma machines which required manual operation, the T52 functioned as an online teleprinter encryption system capable of automatically processing high volumes of communications at 50 baud (approximately 66 words per minute). This automation allowed for real-time secure communication between German high command centers, with messages encrypted and decrypted without the need for time-consuming manual transcription—a revolutionary advancement in wartime communication security. Developed for exclusive use by the Luftwaffe and German Navy high command, the T52 represented such a formidable cryptographic challenge that Bletchley Park...

A triumph of ingenuity and craftsmanship, this Swiss cipher machine is a fabulous example of mechanical precision. Cipher machines are used to encrypt a...

This Swiss-engineered cipher machine is a fascinating piece of 20th-century military and engineering history, and this particular example is one of the ...

An invaluable addition to the 19th century home, this domestic medicine chest contained nearly everything needed to nurse a member of the house...

Lion head table lighter in silvered metal, Italy, 1960s.

Antique safe from the restoration period with internal walnut structure and iron cladding decorated with studs, from Italy, second quarter of the 19th century. Front with door decora...

This is a beautiful, original advertisement poster for Lions Head Pictures. The poster dates to circa 1911. The poster was designed by an unknown artist. The poster depicts Britanni...

Austro-Hungarian period safe F. WERTHEIM & C. with key, 1800s Style Vintage Periodo del design Before 1890s Production Period Before 1890s Year Manufactured 1800 Maker Wertheim & C. ...