# parameter version to use when encrypting; note that this has no effect
     # on decryption since the required settings are determined from the headers
+    crypto_version      = DELTATAR_HEADER_VERSION
     crypto_paramversion = None
 
     # when encrypting or decrypting, these hold crypto handlers; created before
     def __init__(self, excluded_files=[], included_files=[],
                  filter_func=None, mode="", password=None,
                  crypto_key=None, nacl=None,
+                 crypto_version=DELTATAR_HEADER_VERSION,
                  crypto_paramversion=DELTATAR_PARAMETER_VERSION,
                  logger=None, index_mode=None, index_name_func=None,
                  volume_name_func=None):
         - password: used to encrypt and decrypt backups. Encryption will be
           enabled automatically if a password is supplied.
 
+        - crypto_version: version of the format, determining the kind of PDT
+          object header.
+
         - crypto_paramversion: optionally request encryption conforming to
           a specific parameter version. Defaults to the standard PDT value
           which as of 2017 is the only one available.
         if password is not None:
             self.password = password
 
+        if crypto_version is not None:
+            self.crypto_version = crypto_version
+
         if crypto_paramversion is not None:
             self.crypto_paramversion = crypto_paramversion
 
             return crypto.Encrypt (password=password,
                                    key=key,
                                    nacl=nacl,
-                                   version=DELTATAR_HEADER_VERSION,
+                                   version=self.crypto_version,
                                    paramversion=self.crypto_paramversion)
         if mode == CRYPTO_MODE_DECRYPT:
             return crypto.Decrypt (password=password, key=key)