Talk:Velvalee Dickinson

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I wonder where this Velvalee Dickinson is today? Any news would be appreciated.--205.68.101.193 16:46, 9 Feb 2005 (UTC)bobby

While revising the article, I came across an Italian reference that stated she died in 1980, but said nothing else.--Mitsukai 17:37, 3 Jun 2005 (UTC)

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Moved here from article page by --VivaEmilyDavies 03:11, 6 Mar 2005 (UTC) : I believe this was accidentally placed on the article rather than the talk!

Ms. Velvalee Dickinsin [that's how she spelt it on her own letterhead, as shown below] was mentioned on an Antiques Roadshow episode airing on WGTV, channel 8, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, on from 8:00 to 9:00 PM on January 3rd, 2005.

The doll was wearing a blue dress. It was a "Jumeau". The appraiser for AR mistakenly identified Ms. Dickinsin as a Nazi spy. Apparently, as David Kahn explains on page 520 of _The CodeBreakers_, Ms. Dickinsin was a spy during WWII and worked out of her exclusive Madison Ave. doll shop in New York, New York, USA. The doll was accompanied by a letter, on Dickinsin's letterhead.

David Kahn explains that Dickinsin was, in fact, a spy for the Japanese, and goes into detail about what kind of codes she used, and how she was caught [she used the return address of a woman "with whom she had had a spat"]. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $10,000.00; she could easily have faced the death penalty.

The method of passing codes was via letters concerning, ostensibly, dolls. It's quite possible that the letter accompanying this doll represents an instance of "jargon code" passed among Dickinsin and her fellow spies. I imagine that, if this proves to be true, the letter may not only further enhance the value of the doll but also prove to be a valuable artifact in its own right, being, as it may well be, a surviving example of World War II espionage materiel. The doll, its dress, or something else about its presentation might have played a part in the meaning of the code, but it's more likely that the letter itself is an example of code.

The book I mention is David Kahn's _The CodeBreakers_, revised edition, ISBN 0-684-83130-9. See page 520 or refer to "Dickinson" [sic] in the index.

[edit] Motivation ??

Does anyone who is already familiar with this person have any idea as to her motivations? Purely for money? Engr105th 06:36, 24 October 2007 (UTC)