I am a proud subscriber to The E-Sylum and would like to thank you for creating such a wonderful publication. I look forward to the next issue every week. I enjoyed the recent “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me” quiz. I am proud to say that I got four correct! I got lucky!

I've seen (and probably even used!) the term "Furioso Plate" for an engraving that is almost panoramic in nature, extending the entire width of a note. Can anyone confirm that this is the correct term and its origin if it, in fact, exists? Thanks!

I happily noted the mention of this gentleman in several recent issues of E-Sylum. The E-Sylum entries spell it Kunz, as does his Wikipedia page, but it’s a not uncommon variant, either way.

You may recall my fascination with the Lusitania medal (heck, I wrote a book on it). During my research I purchased a reply letter dated 1915 written by Counselor Robert Lansing of the US State Department (later that year to become secretary of state under President Wilson) to Kuntz acknowledging a letter Kuntz had written to the state department.

Kuntz had been on board the Lusitania when it departed New York on January 30, 1915, traveling to Liverpool. This particular trip was rather noteworthy and controversial because several passengers (Kuntz and President Wilson’s confidant Colonel House among them) noted that the Lusitania’s Captain Dow hoisted the US flag as the Lusitania drew close to the Irish coast as a deceptive guard against any lurking submarines (the eventual instrument of destruction of the Lusitania later that year). The press had a bit of a field day with the action, and Germany sharply decried the fraud as well.

German medallist Karl Goetz produced one of his many famous satirical medals denouncing the British practice (K-165, Abuse of Neutral Flags), and Wilson protested to the British, though not very vigorously. When he returned home Kuntz wrote his own letter of complaint, receiving this reply from Lansing: “Sir: The Department acknowledges the receipt of your letter of February 18th, and in reply informs you that your remarks relative to the use of the American flag by foreign powers, has received the attention of the Department…”

Kuntz/Kunz was obviously one unafraid to express his opinions, not unlike Karl Goetz. One wonders what either of them today would think of the pending US election .

As always, I greatly appreciate and admire your prodigious devotion to your weekly publication. It’s a treasure in the hobby.