Expert: Chris Brown - 3/6/2009

Question
I recently purchased a first edition John Steinbeck novel, East of Eden. Inside while reading I found a code. It is a small piece of paper that was tucked in between page 84 and 85, interesting bookmark. It has really puzzled and teased me it reads "Supermen of America" bunch of coded numbers and then "use mercury code No. 1"  best I can figure out is Supermen of America circa 1938? featured a  story about Superman.
The following I managed to find while googling, I am not sure it is correct.

"Synopsis:
The Editor's [thru Superman] discusses the idea of "Hitting the Line Hard!" A code message in the Mercury Code No. 1 is given, and a coupon is provided for readers wanting to join the Supermen of America."

That is what I know. Here is what I hope you can help me with, I really want to know what that code says. I am hoping with your expertise you may recall or know of someone who has the mercury code. I cannot explain my fascination with this random piece of paper, other than it teases me.

Thank you, David.

Answer
Hi David

This sounds like a fun item.  As your googling indicates, it seems to relate to a Superman fan club organized by the publishers of Superman soon after the character first appeared.  It may be something cut out of a comic, or alternately something mailed to fan-club members.  Your description makes it hard for me to tell, but then, that isn't what you were asking anyway.

Unfortunately, I cannot tell you what the code is.  However, while many adults read comics at that time, the primary audience was still children around 6 to 15 years old.  As such, I would not expect the code to be that complicated.  You might try something as simple as A=1, B=2, etc.  Or the opposite: A=26, B=25, ....

Good luck!

Chris