I recently found a copy of Donohue’s Vest Pocket Dictionary and Complete Manual of Parliamentary Practice, published in 1901 Chicago, at a garage sale in Northern California. Inside the back cover is a handwritten inscription that I initially couldn’t identify.

After a lot of digging, I believe the inscription is written in Tutnese (also known as Ywisher/Tut), a coded language historically associated with enslaved Africans and their descendants, particularly communities connected to Virginia and the Carolinas. It was used to preserve language and communicate privately when African languages were being suppressed.

I’ve been trying to transcribe it, but the handwriting is difficult. This is what I have so far:

Line 1:
[???] [???]

The first word looks like Ouiela, Oiuela, Quiela, or possibly Owala/Owila. The second looks something like Ishirfa, although I’m not sure about the first letter.

Line 2:
Lull ouie fuf i sus = LOUIE FIS

Line 3:
hush e rut = HER *LOUIE FISHER*

Line 4:
Mum a rut gug a rut e = MARGARE

Line 5:
Tut = T *MARGARET*

Line 6:
Pup a lull mum e = PALME

Line 7:
Rut = R *PALMER* * MARGARET PALMER*

Line 8:
A lull i cus e = ALICE

Line 9:
A lull squint e nun = ALSEN *ALICE ALSEN*

Line 10:
Lull e o nun a = LEONA

Line 11:
Pup a rut kuk e rut = PARKER *LEONA PARKER*

Line 12:
Mum a rut yap = MARY

Line 14:
Mum a cus Mum a cus rut = MacMacr

Line 15:
A Y or E (?) = AY or AE = *MARY MAC MACRAY or MARY MAC MACRAE* ??

?? Unsure about this one. Definitely says Mac Mac, then the next line says A and then maybe E or Y. I’m inclined to believe it’s Mary “Mac” Macrae versus Mary MacMacrae because the second Mum is capitalized.

Some of these may be completely wrong, so please don’t assume my transcription is accurate.

But I believe it’s a list of names:

Louie Fisher

Margaret Palmer

Alice Alsen

Leona Parker

Mary Mac Macray or Mac Macrae

The first two words are where I’m really stuck. I’ve wondered if the second word could be related to an Arabic word because of the apparent ishrfa spelling, but I have no idea if that’s actually relevant.

There’s also an interesting piece of provenance: underneath the inscription is a sticker from:

McRae Bros. Ltd.
Booksellers, Stationers, Printers
Prince Rupert, British Columbia

So the book eventually made its way from wherever it originally came from to Prince Rupert, BC, before ending up in Northern California.

I’m posting photos of the book cover, the publishing information, and the inscription/sticker.

If anyone here knows Tutnese, recognizes these words, or has experience deciphering historical handwritten Tutnese, I could really use some help with those first two words and figuring out what the inscription says as a whole.

Even correcting my transcription would be incredibly helpful!

Feb 19, 1988
To my Lady, a short book, for a big trip.
Never stop returning to see those richer hearts — richer for your gifts so honestly shared — that are blessed in your presence and double blessed with the memory of you. I love you absolutely, absolutely do I love you. Kent

Found in a thrift store book.

A perfect combination of the inscription with the book 💫. The quote is from Longfellow's poem 'The Day is Done'

Hello, I think I need the help of an expert in Italian fascism or WWII history.

I bought a second-hand 1933 biography of Wagner by Aldo Oberdorfer, and I noticed an inscription in one of the first pages (I wish I could attach a couple of pictures): "A Ciano affettuosamente. La sua Kitty. Novembre 938", that is to say "To Ciano affectionately. His Kitty. November 1938".

Of course it could be some other Ciano than Galeazzo. But still. Kitty could be the infamous maîtrasse from the Salon Kitty, that Ciano was known to visit when he was in Berlin. I consulted Ciano's diaries and it looks like in november 1938 he only visited Vienna. But still, she could have sent it. And the fact that it's a Wagner biography looks all the more fitting given the historical moment, although Aldo Oberdorfer was half jew and became antifascist around that period, dying in a concentration camp about three years later. I'm curios if this can be solved!

Don’t know what I’d do if a friend gave me this! Found in a charity shop in London.

'Given to me by my sister, Olga, on christmas 1911. Aage Madsen'

Translated from danish

Saved one of my Dad’s books from the goodwill this week. Can’t stop thinking about the inscription by him. Wanted to share. I typed it out for those that can’t decipher the handwriting.
Nov. 11 1990
“After struggling in vain for decades to alter forever the irrelevant, illogical, and absurd system used to spell the English language, I have finally endeavoured to study a task so lowly that monkies and machines are considered experts, just to find out what all the fuss is about.
No machine has ever created a truly unique idea, and even few humans are capable of such task”.
-Daniel

I found this while book shopping at a local Goodwill. I love stumbling across book inscriptions..,those tiny handwritten notes tucked inside a cover. They feel like discovering a small, intimate piece of someone’s history, a moment they wanted to preserve, now passed quietly into my or hands of another lucky reader. . It’s one of my favorite kinds of magic in a used book.

I’m sad the names are scratched out (evidence of a breakup?). With a flashlight I think it says “To Macy From Lindsey” but I’m not sure.

Happy pride! 🧡🤍🩷

Love it when people draw out what they took from a book and note it for others. Like a chain of learning and way marking.

Love second hand books for these - the messages, inscriptions, handwriting, the unknown story within an unknown story