A little more on the late James Curto. I usually do not bother saving old correspondence but after I started collecting U.S. Obsolete Banknotes in 1969 I realized I was about to compile a wealth of information just from these writings so I went out and bought a file cabinet for the anticipated influx.

Now, looking back into that file I have found the original folder I assigned to the Curto correspondence. It all started on 6-28-73 when he contacted me about selling notes from his collection of obsoletes. I was barely a newborn to this collecting life and how he located me, I am still not sure. With his first correspondence he even included two proof notes with an asking price. With that first purchase and for the next year and a half through 30+ mailings I was able to form the beginnings of my collection.

Reading through his correspondence today I am reminded that Jim was nothing but a polite, accommodating, extremely fair and often apologetic gentleman, at least to me. We bargained on many notes the asking price of which today would be a mere fraction of their true value. Reading about him recently in this column brings a warm glow to my face.