Editing Bibliography of cryptography (section)

==Early history==
An early example of a book about cryptography was a Roman work,{{Which|date=October 2012}} now lost and known only by references. Many early cryptographic works were esoteric, mystical, and/or reputation-promoting; cryptography being mysterious, there was much opportunity for such things. At least one work by [[Trithemius]] was banned by the Catholic Church and put on the [[Index Librorum Prohibitorum]] as being about black magic or witchcraft. Many writers claimed to have invented unbreakable [[cipher]]s. None were, though it sometimes took a long while to establish this.

In the 19th century, the general standard improved somewhat (e.g., works by [[Auguste Kerckhoffs]], [[Friedrich Kasiski]], and [[Étienne Bazeries]]). Colonel [[Parker Hitt]] and [[William F. Friedman|William Friedman]] in the early 20th century also wrote books on cryptography. These authors, and others, mostly abandoned any mystical or magical tone.