[OT] 19th century "Unicode"

[Marco Cimarosti]

In Mark Davis' Unicode transcriptions page
(http://www.macchiato.com/unicode/Unicode_transcriptions.html) it is
mentioned a previous meaning of the word Unicode:

        "A telegraphic code in which one word or set of letters represents a
sentence or phrase; a telegram or message in this. (late 19th century, OED)"

Out of curiosity, does anyone have web or book references about this 19th
century Unicode?

Thanks.
_ Marco