T.I.P. acronym--1895

[Sam Clements]

At the Straight Dope, someone asked recently about the tip=T.I.P. (to insure promptness) origin.  We took care of that one easily.  But, as an aside, I found 

10 September 1895 _Los Angeles Times_ pg 6

>>A recently-published article on the derivation of the word "fad" speaks of it as being of Welsh origin, giving "ffedd" as the root word.  A correspondent of the New York Tribune writes on the subject:  The word 'fad' is a manufactured word, not given by Worcester.  It has been in use only a short time, comparatively, and, while it may be derived from the Welsh, it is more probable that it is made from the initial letters of the words 'for a day.'  The word 'tip' orginated, it is said, in that way.  The story goes that in an old-time English tavern a receptacle for small coin was placed in a conspicuous place over which appeared the legend, 'to insure promptness.'  Whatever was placed in the box was given to the servants.  Other taverns followed the example, and soon the three words were written, "T.I.P.," everybody knowing what they indicated.  Then the punctuation marks were dropped, and the word 'tip' was born.  'Fad' and 'tip' are of the same class and kind."<<

Are there earlier print evidences of false acronymic origins?