The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 26, June 25, 2006, Article 4

THE LUTHER B. TUTHILL NUMISMATIC SPELLING BEE

Neil Shafer writes: "Just wanted to inform you of a small paper
money price list I located at the recently-completed Memphis paper
show.  Its title is "Price List/No. 27/Antiquated Paper Money";
then in smaller type on the cover, "Strong in Confederates and
some interesting Miscelanea."  At the top in quotes, "We all have
our hobbies", with the same wording in a circular rendition of a
witch on broomstick at center.  Issuer is Luther B. Tuthill, South
Creek, Beaufort County N.C. 1916.  Its dimensions are 90 x 151mm,
with 30 pages.

There are no illustrations, only the listings.  But the most
startling characteristic of at least this particular price list
is the totally abominable and frequent misspellings!  It's positively
amazing to see so many, some really flagrant.  For example: the cover
word as quoted above; then on p. 7, "Massamore's Catalog is now twenty
seven years old and a revizd List has been needed...; Mr. Bradbeer's
has come to the rescu"; also on p. 7, "Finding the bunch of $100. and
$50. Richmonds is mor or less a mistery but the fact is they wer placed
on the market and prices hav dropt...when the 'find' is absorded, prices
wil again strengthen...prices are pretty wel standardized and there is
little dout but prices wil stedily advance."  The book is replete with
such!  And does anyone know who Massamore was?

Tuthill offered Confederate Treasury Notes, Southern States Bills,
Broken Bank Bills, Shinplasters, U.S. Fractional Currency, Colonial
Currency, Continental Currency, Bills in Whole Sheets and Miscellanea
(this included groups, world notes, coupons, Civil War envelopes,
tickets, newspapers, a couple of large-size U.S. notes (these being
the Educational $1 1896 Unc. for $1.60 and a $2 US Greenback, first
issue Unc. for $2.75), and some books.  Quite a list!  Does anyone
have information on Tuthill?  I have heard of him somewhere along
the line but couldn't tell you where. Just thought it was interesting
and unusual enough to share."

[I have some of Tuthill's publications in my ephemera files, and do
recall some questionable spellings.  Does anyone else have a collection
of these?  It would be interesting to know if his spelling improved over
time.  As for Massamore, see the next item for more information. -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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