Original Items: One-of-a-kind. A short snorter is a banknote inscribed by people traveling together on an aircraft. The tradition was started by Alaskan bush flyers in the 1920s and spread through the military and commercial aviation. During World War II short snorters were signed by flight crews and conveyed good luck to soldiers crossing the Atlantic. Friends would take the local currency and sign each other's bills creating a "keepsake of your buddy's signatures".

Merriam-Webster defines a short snorter as either "a member of an informal club for which a pilot, crew member, or passenger who has made a transoceanic flight is eligible"; or "a piece of paper money (as a dollar bill) endorsed by short snorters as a membership certificate for a new member." "Snort" is slang for a "mixed drink," and "short" specifies less than a full measure.

According to a November 2002 article in The Numismatist, "About 100 years ago, a “short snort” was a slang expression for less than a full shot of liquor. Pouring short snorts guaranteed barkeepers a little extra profit in each bottle. Also, drinking only a short snort allowed the imbiber to honestly point to his moderation. Years before federal aviation regulations, pilots discovered that alcohol and airplanes do not mix, and fly-boys who drank heavily did not live long. Soon, pilots jokingly were calling each other “short snorter.”

This particular example is on a Chinese Ten Customs Gold Unit Note. The customs gold unit (CGU) was a currency issued by the Central Bank of China between 1930 and 1948. In Chinese, was literally "customs gold yuan" but the English name given on the back of the notes was "customs gold unit". It was divided into 100 cents. As the name suggests, this currency was initially used for customs payments, but in 1942 it was put into general circulation for use by the public at 20 times its face value in terms of the first Chinese yuan.

The note is signed as follows:

FACE SIDE:

REVERSE SIDE:

Harry Dillard IND
CDC Killin Colo
John Bonenko Minot N.M.K
B-29 Johnny T. Kregummer N.Y
John Rogle Ny
Allison
Penny G Mortetty
Clarence C. McDonald TMO
L.T Koem - Texas
Edwards  
Charles Jr. Bromer
Milton Seed N.Y.C
Robert McCoy V.A
N.C James E. Brily
C M Thoma was bond family me
Claude Sudderly
Harvy D lilly
Bill Cummings J.CRobert Stevens N.H
Vernon D Lawt of N.H