Hoboes used signs, codes if you will to communicate with other hoboes arriving after them conveying the conditions of the town,
the people and the availability of work, food and lodging. The only way of passing knowledge of these signs between hoboes was word of mouth.
So many signs were altered just due to the loss of detail in the communication of the signs and symbols.
History of the hobo signs
Cryptic signs have been around forever. Hobo signs have been around since the fourteenth century in European nations and the 1800's in America.
There isn't a lot of information on the early signs used by hoboes and not all hoboes used the same signs as there wasn't an easy way of
communicating these signs across the country. Many of the signs found on the internet today are from books like "Hobo Signs"
By Stan Richards which is a 24 page book currently selling for upwards of $400 on the Internet. The book claims that there are
"thousands of hobo signs for thousands of occasions. We have included fifty-two of them on the following pages."
Those 52 are the most common of signs you see today in the numerous "hobo signs" graphics on the Internet along with a few others.
Below please find some examples of Hobo Signs from times past.
See also: SSoIH's Hobo Signs Database - Over 360 pictorial Hobo Signs.
| 1877 |  |
Signs from Juniata Country Pennsylvania. Mention of the word "fly". Bone, copperhead, gammy and flummixed. Aug 1, 1877 | Source Image |
| 1879 |  |
Tramp Signs. X = ill suited place, || = everything is easy, O = no good, compass points, etc. Brenham, Texas. April 26, 1879 | Source Image |
| 1879 |  |
Tramp Signs and Habits of Tramps. ||| = Money, clothes and food, X = look out for dog. The article also references taking wax impressions of outside door keys. Nov 22, 1879. | Source Image |
| 1889 |  |
The Tramps Signal Code. One of the first references to the good dog bad dog (tail up / tail down). Window open, The symbols are rather elaborate for hobo signs. Great Falls, Montana. Jan 17, 1889. ( CTRL-Mouse Wheel will zoom ) |
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| 1893 |  |
Gate-Post Language. The article discusses several hobo signs however we feel the artwork is a little more detailed than most hobos would have produced. WaKeeney, Kansas. Jan 28, 1893. ( CTRL-Mouse Wheel will zoom ) |
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| 1893 |  |
Signs Used by Tramps. Feather = Soft hearted man unable to refuse solicitation. A Saw Horse = they will make you work here. The good and bad dog symbols are discussed in the article. New Ulm, Minnesota. Aug 2, 1893 | Source Image |
| 1893 |  |
Homeowner pays hobo to sign up his fence so he isn't bothered by other hobos. Laurens, South Carolina. Sept. 19, 1893 | Source Image |
| 1894 |  |
The Meaning of the Chalk Marks. No Good, Sometimes, Talk Religion, Must work for it, Beware of the dog, Look out for Police. Washington D.C. Sept. 29, 1894 ( CTRL-Mouse Wheel will zoom ) |
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| 1896 |  |
Pencil markings on door castings and dwellings. Good for a cup of coffee. San Francisco, California. Nov 23, 1896 | Source Image |
| 1897 |  |
Ran Away With A Hobo - Kid runs away with a hobo. Two rocks on a fence post meant there's a dog in the house and it's not good. A biscuit on a wire fence meant no graft there. Two sticks making a cross means you can get things to eat here. Eastcoast - The Sun - June 30, 1897 | Source Image |
| 1902 |  |
Hobo Signs on Gate Posts. X = cross dog, XX means two cross dogs. Guthrie, Oklahoma. Feb 25, 1902 | Source Image |
| 1902 |  |
A story of a hobo who was tricked by a false sign placed by another hobo. Rosebud Country, Montana. April 17, 1902 | Source Image |
| 1902 |  |
Tramp's Gatepost Signs. This article talks about an X which stood for a cross saw and two, XX stood for considerable wood cutting. This was from Good Housekeeping. July 12, 1902. | Source Image |
| 1902 |  |
Secret Code of Tramps. Diamond = good cheer for the hobo, O = zero, nothing. X = work and XX = very hard work. Other symbols are discussed. Philadelphia Times. Aug 17, 1902 ( CTRL-Mouse Wheel will zoom ) |
Source Image | 1902 |  |
Tramps Have Signs. Another article of the times discussing hobo signs. Coalville, Utah. Aug 29, 1902 ( CTRL-Mouse Wheel will zoom ) |
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| 1902 |  |
Secret Code of Tramps. How a Pennsylvania man, with a knowledge of it, has been amusing himself. Diamond = abundance, O = nothing, X = they will put you to work. XX = Very hard work. This is the origin of double crossing someone. ( CTRL-Mouse Wheel will zoom ) |
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| 1904 |  |
Story of a hobo who started at age 12. | = dead house nothing to be secured, G = clothes left out at night. Canton, Ohio. Feb. 26, 1904 ( CTRL-Mouse Wheel will zoom ) |
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| 1905 |  |
A Business man disguised as a tramp leans the Hobo Code of symbols. D = Dog or Danger, OX = At the sign of the OX is a good place to stop, and other signs. Torrington, Connecticut. Nov 26, 1905 ( CTRL-Mouse Wheel will zoom ) |
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| 1906 |  |
The Wall Street's Double Cross. Nov 8, 1906 ( CTRL-Mouse Wheel will zoom ) |
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| 1907 |  |
Hobos arrested and farmed out for work. Law symbols. Colfax, Washington Aug 31, 1907. | Source Image |
| 1908 |  |
How they chalk upon fences advice to their fellow hobos. Food is given here, get away quickly, Dog in the garden, poor people in this house. Boston, Mass. March 13, 1908. | Source Image |
| 1908 |  |
Chalk marks on your fence. Dog in the garden, traveling money paid, poor people and other signs. Havre, Montana. ( CTRL-Mouse Wheel will zoom ) |
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| 1909 |  |
Hieroglyphics Used by Tramps and Hobos. You can get food, no use, work here, dog in garden and others. Perrysburg, Ohio. April 30, 1909 ( CTRL-Mouse Wheel will zoom ) |
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| 1909 |  |
Signal Code of Trampdom. Several codes discussed such as work here, park a yarn; women in the house, dog in garden, etc. Montreal Star. June 4, 1909. ( CTRL-Mouse Wheel will zoom ) |
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| 1911 |  |
Signs of the Hobo. Get out of town, kind lady, jail, etc. Tacoma, Washington. Mar 8,1911 | Source Image |
| 1911 |  |
Signs of Spring. Some different signs mostly based on circles. Pie in sight, lawn to clean, vicious dog. Shreveport, Louisiana. April 23, 1911 | Source Image |
| 1911 |  See all sources to the right. |
Boy Scouts of America get involved. Scout leader is teaching Scouts to identify hobo signs so they can spot danger and rub them off and alert the police. B.S.A. 1911 Please see all sources to the right ( CTRL-Mouse Wheel will zoom ) |
Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4 |
| 1912 |  |
Code of the French Tramps - Paris Sep 29,1912 ( CTRL-Mouse Wheel will zoom ) |
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| 1913 |  |
Hobo King Jeff Davis makes a plea to Seattle City Council and wins appropriation for unemployed. - Dec 30,1913 ( CTRL-Mouse Wheel will zoom ) |
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| 1914 |  |
Hobo Sign Language Is Changed and Secret Marks Become Public Property. New York. Aug 10, 1914 | Source Image |
| 1916 |  |
An advertisement for The Pensacola Journal showing hobo signs. The article hasn't been located. Jan 13, 1916 | Source Image |
| 1917 |  |
Her Gentle Heart - Talks about X O I symbols. | Source Image |
| 1917 |  |
Story about several levels of Tramps coming to Kauia, Hawaii to swindle what they can. Kauia, Hawaii. June 5, 1917 | Source Image |
| 1921 |  |
A crumpled piece of paper found in the pocket of a French beggar turned out to be the "Rosetta Stone" of a mysterious hieroglyphic language. France via the New York Tribune. Sept 18, 1921 ( CTRL-Mouse Wheel will zoom ) |
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| 1922 |  |
Jeff Davis, Hobo King, Explains Secret Code | Source Image |
| 1974 |  |
Book: Hobo Signs by Stanford Harvey Rickards published in 1974. This is a 28 page book showcasing 52 hobo signs. You'll find these in most of the examples on the Internet today. | Source Image |
| 1985 |  |
Book: Hobo Signs: A Compilation of Signs for Those who May One Day Find Them Useful by Terry Fox published in 1985. Illustrating 52 hobo signs. | Source Image |
| Unkn |  |
At some point in time, some New York Maggie hobo signs showed up on the Internet. | Source Image |
| NSA |  |
NSA Cryptographic Museum - PDF document of Hobo Signs | Source Image |
| Internet examples |  |
There are many examples on the Internet of hobo signs. | Google Hobo Signs |
