Historic Newspapers: The Old West

DEADWOOD DAILY PIONEER, Black Hills, (South Dakota) May 23, 1889  A rare publication from this famous, "old west" town. This city would arguably be--along with Tombstone & Dodge City--one of the more famous of all the towns from the rough & tumble days of the Old West, and only rarely do such issues come to light. It attracted larger-than-life Old West figures including Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane, and Wild Bill Hickok (who was killed there). "Union List of Newspapers" notes only two

TOMBSTONE PROSPECTOR, Arizona, June 4, 1889

• Very rare wild West publication
• Gunfight at the O.K. Corral fame

We have had a few other newspapers from the iconic Old West town of Tombstone, but this is perhaps the most uncommon. The masthead features a great engraving of a miner on a mule.
The content is much as would be expected from a mining town, including many legal notices concerning mines, etc. A wealth of ads as well.
Four pages, various chipping near the bottom margin of the back leaf,

LOVELAND REPORTER, Colorado, Feb. 19, 1891

• Rare Larimer County publication
• Death f William T. Sherman w/ print

This paper was founded in 1880, only a few years after Loveland itself was established along the Colorado Central Railroad in 1877. As a frontier newspaper, it served a rapidly growing agricultural community in Northern Colorado and chronicled the development of Larimer County during the territorial and early statehood years.
Gregory's "Union List of American Newspapers" notes that only

COMMERCIAL HERALD & MARKET REVIEW, San Francisco, Jan. 29, 1880  The focus of this newspaper seems to be on the mining industry, not surprising given the era. The issue is mostly taken up with advertisements and notices.
Four pages, minimal margin wear, good condition. Folder size noted is for the issue folded in half.

THE CONTRA COSTA GAZETTE, Martinez, California, April 24, 1875  An early newspaper from Northern California, just east of San Francisco on the bay. It published in Pacheco until 1873 when it was removed to Martinez.
this is a quite scarce title, as only a few scattered issues are held by institutions outside of the California State Library. The Bancrsoft Library holdings were deaccessioned many years ago, from which this issue came.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed with wide margins, a news

GUNNISON REVIEW-PRESS, Colorado, March 11, 1884

• Rare Old West publication
• Woodstock, Colorado avalanche
• Gunnison County ghost town

An uncommon title from this boom mining town in the southwestern quadrant of Colorado tucked in a valley amidst the Rocky Mountains. Gunnison boomed in the late 1870's and early 1880's and was once the home of Wyatt Earp and "Texas Jack". Today there are some 5500 residents of Gunnison.
The top of the front page has a one column heading: "ANOTHER AVALANCHE !" with

SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Jan. 3, 1872

• Rare & early from Southern California

Very early from San Diego--a volume 2 issue--when the population was just 2,300, with a nice engraving of the harbor in the masthead.  All four pages have various news tidbits of the day, including local, regional, and national reports. A great wealth of advertisements as well, several of which are illustrated.
Four pages, 11 3/4 by 17 3/4 inches, printed on high-quality newsprint, very nice condition.

NEW YORK TIMES, Rotogravure section only, April 7, 1935

• Adolf Hitler & Hermann Goering
• German - Nazi air force revealed

This rotogravure section has a front page pictorial regarding the newly acquired air force in Germany, with 4 photos of Hitler and 2 of Goering.
The complete ten page rotogravure section only, light toning, minor irregularity at the spine, good condition.

Background: The April 7, 1935, New York Times Rotogravure feature capturing Adolf Hitler and Hermann Goering alongside

DEADWOOD DAILY PIONEER, Black Hills, (South Dakota) July 26, 1889

• Rare publication
• Famous wild West town
• "Wild Bill" Hickok fame

This city would arguably be--along with Tombstone & Dodge City--one of the more famous of all the towns from the rough & tumble days of the Old West, and only rarely do such issues come to light. It attracted larger-than-life Old West figures including Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane, and Wild Bill Hickok (who was killed there). "Union List of Newspapers" notes only two

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Nov. 7, 1879

• Zerelda Samuel interview
• Mother of Jesse & Frank James
• Notorious Missouri outlaws

The top of pg. 2 has column heads: "RIDDLED BY RANGERS" "A Pitched Battle in Which Two Robbers Were Killed" "The Aged Mother of the James Boys Interviews". The interview with Jesse James' mother takes almost a full column.
Eight pages, slightly irregular at the spine, very nice condition.

Background: The November 1879 media campaign by Zerelda Samuel—mother of the notorious

THE SUN, New York, Dec. 21, 1879

• Jesse James Gang w/ Frank

Page 7 contains a wonderful, lengthy, and very detailed article with several column heads: "THE JAMES BOYS OF TEXAS" "A Visit to the Home of the Elder Of the Terrible Brothers" "The Visitor's Grim Reception at the Pistol's Mouth--'Hold Up Your Hand!'--A Desperate Fight with Palacta's Thieves".
It is prefaced with: " 'The Life and Adventures of Frank and Jesse James' is the title of a new work of about 400 pages by the Hon. J. A. Dacus,

THE MONTEREY DEMOCRAT, Salinas City, Monterey County, California, Nov. 27, 1880  An early title from the county seat of Monterey County, just south of San Francisco. Very typical of newspapers from the era with a nice mix of news of the day and advertisements, some illustrated.
Gregory's 'Union List of American Newspapers' notes only 3 institutions have any holdings of this title.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed, news agent's stamp in an upper corner, a few minor margin tears, nice

ARIZONA CITIZEN, Tucson, Pima County, A.T. [Arizona Territory] July 3, 1875

• Very rare old Western publication

Many years ago we had a reasonable inventory of this title, but today this issue is among our last.
A nice assortment of news articles and ads. The back page has a full column: "Letter From Col. Hodge - Description of the Country About San Carlos and on the Way to Camp Apache".
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed, some minor margin tears, good condition.

Background: The Arizona Citizen,

BIKUBEN, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2, 1907

• Danish language publication
• Church of Latter-Day Saints
• Mormons - Mormonism - LDS

Here is a quite unusual and scarce newspaper from Utah, printed entirely in the Danish language. 
There was a large number of Scandinavian emigrants that settled Utah in the last half of the 19th century, and while most were Mormon, many were not, drawn to the employment opportunities in Utah mines, mills, and smelters. 
This publication features and nice, decorative

NEW YORK TIMES, Jan. 17, 1874

• Arkansas stagecoach robbery - holdup
• Jesse James & Younger gang ? - outlaws

The front page includes: "Stage Robbery by Masked Highwaymen" being a brief report from Little Rock, Arkansas. Through research, this particular robbery may have been one of the very first stagecoach holdups by the famous Jesse James-Young Gang. 
Also on the front page: "The Coal Miners - Meeting in Wilkes Barre--The Delegates Adhere to the Demand for an Advance" reporting on the troubles

LAS VEGAS DAILY OPTIC, New Mexico (Territory), Feb. 19, 1898

• Very early for this state

An uncommon territorial newspaper from 14 years before statehood
Four pages, large folio size, edge tears & some edge chipping, very fragile & must be handled very carefully.

Background:The city is known for its rich history, with over 900 historic buildings, including Victorian homes, Old West saloons, and a Carnegie library. It has two main areas: Old Town, centered around the original Spanish plaza, and

THE ADVANCE, Red Wing, Minnesota, Oct. 25, 1882  Page 2 has a somewhat inconspicuous report; "Female Bandit Caged" which reports: "...the capture in the Indian Territory of  a female desperado named Belle Starr. She was wanted for horse stealing...claimed she has led a wild life...claimed that she was a member of the Younger gang of outlaws & was present when Shepard claimed to have shot & killed Jesse James..." with more.
Also an account of the gunfight on Gay Street during which 3 prominent

THE PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE, Philadelphia, February, 1775

• Pre American Revolutionary War
• Thomas Paine - first time as editor

This is a very rare magazine, published only from January, 1775 thru July, 1776, containing the Declaration of Independence in its final issue.
It was the only American magazine to print the Declaration, in fact it was the only American magazine ever printed in 1776. In the entirely of the Revolutionary War only two American magazine titles existed, they being this one and

THE SILVER STATE, Winnemucca, Nevada, Sept. 19, 1877  Page 2 has a nice account of the infamous Big Springs train robbery.
This was a robbery of a Union Pacific train near present-day Big Springs, Nebraska on the day prior to this report. The robbery was perpetrated by a gang of six outlaws led by Sam Bass. 
It is headed: "The Overland Train Robbed--The Express Robbed of $75,000". The report notes the details. At the time it was not yet known that Sam Bass was the leader.
Four pages, very nice

SAN DIEGO WEEKLY BULLETIN, California, Aug. 21, 1869  This is the volume 1, number 1 issue of this very early San Diego newspaper.
Gregory notes only two newspapers in San Diego preceded this one, one of which began just ten months earlier. This was a very short-lived newspaper, existing for less than 3 years. Just four institutions are noted as having but a few scattered issues.
Four pages, archivally rejoined at the blank spine, nice condition.

SACRAMENTO DAILY UNION, California, Nov. 15, 1860  While most newspapers on the East Coast reported Lincoln's election in their November 7th edition, West Coast newspapers were reliant upon the iconic Pony Express for their news. As noted in the stack of front page headlines, the report was telegraphed to St. Louis, and from there it was overland by Pony Express, taking seven days.
The stack of heads at the top of the front page include: "Seven Days Later From St. Louis" "ARRIVAL OF THE PONY

THE PIONEER, San Jose, California, Aug. 16, 1879  The masthead notes: "Devoted To The Interests Of The Pioneers of California And the Resources of the Golden State."
The masthead is one of the more graphic we have seen, featuring three vignettes: one of settlers traveling, one of a bear, and another of a detailed mining scene.  
The front page has part 7 of a continuing series: "Hoisting the American Flag at Monterey, Yerba Buena, Sonoma, Bodega, Sutter's Fort, San Jose and San Juan, by Order of

THE REPUBLICAN, St. Louis, Missouri, April 13, 1882   Page 4 has an article with column heads: "The Killing Of Bandit James" "More Comfort for the Murderer's Friends".
This is an interesting editorial groaning about the those who mourn about how he was killed, and including: "...True, a pistol was not placed in his hands and he told to 'defend himself'..." and: "...Missourians who think more of Missouri and its prosperity than they do of outlaws, thieves, murderers, need not be disturbed by the

THE PIONEER, San Jose, California, Aug. 9, 1879  The masthead notes: "Devoted To The Interests Of The Pioneers of California And the Resources of the Golden State."
The masthead is one of the more graphic we have seen, featuring three vignettes: one of settlers traveling, one of a bear, and another of a detailed mining scene.  
The front page has part 8 of a continuing series: "Hoisting the American Flag at Monterey, Yerba Buena, Sonoma, Bodega, Sutter's Fort, San Jose and San Juan, by Order of

THE STOCK EXCHANGE, San Francisco, California, May 26, 1875  The top of the back page has a great map headed: "Map And Description of the Comstock Lode & Adjoining Districts, Virginia City, Nevada." 
Also, this is the volume 1, number 1 issue, the very first published.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed, several creases, various archival mends inside do not deter readability, minor margin wear, light foxing.

Background: The May 26, 1875, premier issue (Vol. 1, No. 1) of San Francisco’s The

VELASCO DAILY TIMES, Texas, Feb. 28, 1892

• Rare Southwestern "Boomtown" publication
• Possibly the first time offered anywhere

A rare title as it existed for less than six months.
Velasco was a town in Texas that was later annexed by the city of Freeport. Founded in 1831, Velasco is situated on the east side of the Brazos River four miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The town's early history is closely tied with the Battle of Velasco and the Texas Revolution.
Velasco was an important entry point for

SAN DIEGO BULLETIN, California, Feb. 13, 1872

• Volume 1 Number 1 issue
• Southern California first

This is the first issue published of the daily paper, the volume 1, number 1 issue. It was preceded by almost 3 years by the weekly edition. It also was very short-lived, existing only thru July 23, 1872, with the weekly paper ceasing publication at the same time. Given this, it is rare to find any issues.
A very notable issue for any collection of Southern California newspapers.
Four pages, archivally

TOMBSTONE PROSPECTOR, Arizona, Nov. 20, 1889

• Very rare wild West publication
• Gunfight at the O.K. Corral fame
• The Wham Paymaster Robbery trial

We have had a few other newspapers from the iconic Old West town of Tombstone, but this is is perhaps the most uncommon. The masthead features a great engraving of a miner on a mule.
The front page has nearly 1 1/3 columns taken cup with: "The Wham Trial" " 'Frankie' Campbell Relates Her Experience With the Robbers".
This trial concerns the robbery of U.S.

DEADWOOD DAILY PIONEER, Black Hills, (South Dakota) July 23, 1889  This city would arguably be--along with Tombstone & Dodge City--one of the more famous of all the towns from the rough & tumble days of the Old West, and only rarely do such issues come to light. It attracted larger-than-life Old West figures including Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane, and Wild Bill Hickok (who was killed there). "Union List of Newspapers" notes only two institutions have just scattered 19th century issues of this

THE SAN DIEGO UNION, California, May 4, 1877  Among the front page articles: "Arizona" "Agent Clum Completely Successful in Hunting up the Renegade Apaches--Latest Sonora News". Clum is John Clum who would go on to publish the famous newspaper Tombstone Epitaph. and more.
Also on the front page is a lengthy article: "Death of Parson Brownlow" "A Sketch of His Private and Public Life".
Four pages, small binding holes at the blank spine, generally good condition. A bit fragile, so should be

THE SAN DIEGO UNION, California, Oct. 21, 1879  The top of the first column is headed: "The Indian War" "Present Situation of Affairs in Colorado" which has two reports, and this is followed by: "The Apache Outbreak in New Mexico".
Also on the front page are reports from the Tombstone Nugget, including: "The Mormon saw mill at the Huachucas is turning out from three to five thousand feet of lumber per day..." with a bit more.
Four pages, some archival strengthening near the margins & a bit

DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGNER, Sacramento, California, Aug. 14, 1852

• Franklin Pierce's presidential campaign
• Extremely rare old West publication

Beyond being a campaign newspaper, which by nature was short-lived, existing only until the November election, this is also a very early newspaper of any kind for California.
This is the volume 1, number 2 issue of a title promoting the campaign of Franklin Pierce for President. The subscription notice on page 2 mentions it will publish weekly until the

SEYMOUR WEEKLY CRESSET, Seymour, Baylor County, Texas, June 9, 1887

• Very rare Southwestern publication

A very rare newspaper which is believed to have existed for ten years, from 1879 to 1889, however records are not clear. Gregory's "Union List of American Newspapers" notes that only the Bancroft Library had any holding of this title, and those were deaccessioned many years ago. This is one of the deaccessioned issues. No institutions still have any holdings of this newspaper.

Eight pages, a

THE MEXIA DEMOCRAT, Mexia, Texas, Aug. 22, 1889  A very rare newspaper, as Gregory's "Union List of American Newspapers" believes it existed from 1887 to 1893, however, only one American institution had any holdings. That was the Bancroft Library, which had just two issues, both deaccessioned, one of which is this one. No other institutional holdings are known to exist.
Eight pages, discrete archival strengthening to a portion of the blank spine, a printing error to the bottom of page 7, nice

THE LONE OAK NEWS, Lone Oak, Hunt County, Texas, Feb. 28, 1890  A very rare newspaper as Gregory's "Union List of American Newspapers" notes that only one institution (Bancroft Library) had any 19th century holdings & they were deaccessioned many years ago, one of which is this one being offered. The University of Texas has just 2 issues of 1900.
This is the volume 1, number 18 issue. At the 2020 census Lone Oak had a population of 643.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed, very nice condition.

LA COLONIA MEXICANA, Laredo, Texas, Aug. 24, 1889  An extremely rare newspaper thought to have existed from 1886 to 1891, but records are unclear. Gregory's "Union List of American Newspapers" notes that only the Bancroft Library had any holdings, and they had but a single issue. It was deaccessioned many years ago and ended up in our inventory. It is this issue. There are no other institutional holdings of this title, which is printed totally in Spanish.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed,

ALPINE SIGNAL, Markleeville, California, July 4, 1879

• Very rare old West publication

A very rare title that lasted less than one year, and only one institution has scattered issues. This is a volume 1 issue.
This small town is located at the "elbow" of California on the Nevada border. The population in 2010 was 210. Page 2 articles include: "The Oakland Ku-Klux" "The Eaters of Morphine" & "A New Chinese Bill".
Four pages, never-trimmed margins, new agent's stamp above the masthead, very nice

LEAD DAILY TRIBUNE, Lead City, Black Hills, South Dakota, July 3, 1906  Beyond all the historic reports of world history reported in newspapers, curiosities have always been of interest as well. This is one.
To celebrate the 4th of July, this publisher opted to create a red, white, and blue issue. On both the front and back pages, the left portion is in blue ink, and the right portion is in red. The white of the paper provides the third color.
A very intriguing issue as such. Presumed complete

BLACK HILLS DAILY PIONEER, Deadwood, Black Hills, March 3, 1878

• Rare publication
• Famous wild West town
• "Wild Bill" Hickok fame

This town would arguably be--along with Tombstone & Dodge City--one of the more famous of all the towns from the rough & tumble days of the Old West, and only rarely do such issues come to light. Plus, this is a volume 1 issue.
This issue is from the "heyday" of the Wild West. Some of the most celebrated names of the Old West passed through Deadwood, not the least of

DAILY ALTA CALIFORNIA, San Francisco, July 5, 1852

• Very early Old West title (rare)
• California gold rush era
• Printed on "necessity paper"

This is a very early newspaper from California, just 14 months after statehood was achieved.
Page 1 contains news and ads, with almost the entirety of pages 2, 3 & 4 are taken up with advertisements. This reflects the tremendous growth of Northern California during the Gold Rush era.
This issue is particularly unusual in that it is printed on brown wrapping

SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Sept. 23, 1871

• Rare & early from Southern California

Very early from San Diego--a volume 2 issue--when the population was just 2300, with a nice engraving of the harbor in the masthead.  All four pages have various news tidbits of the day, including local, regional, and national reports. A great wealth of advertisements as well, several of which are illustrated.
Complete as a 4 page issue, 12 by 18 inches, printed on high-quality newsprint, some tiny binding

NEW YORK TIMES, June 15, 1874

• Tribal Chief Cochise death (1st report)
• Chiricahua Apaches - Indians

The very bottom of the front page has a very brief and discrete report headed: "Death Of The Indian Chief Cochise" with the text reading simply: "Cochise, the famous Apache chief, died on the 9th of June." (see)
Eight pages, light toning at the margins, should be handled carefully.

THE LOWER LAKE BULLETIN, Lower Lake, California, March 9, 1889

• Very rare publication on "necessity paper"
• Koi Nation of the Lower Lake Rancheria
• Lake County - Clear Lake region

Not only is this the first of this title we have offered, but it is a rarity in that it is printed on orange "necessity paper". Such paper is non-typical newsprint used when the normal supply of paper is not available, usually due to weather and transportation issues. And usually affected are smaller towns in remote areas

KERENS ENTERPRISE, Texas, Aug. 29, 1889

• One of a kind ? Navarro County

An exceedingly rare newspaper, in fact this is the only issue recorded anywhere according to Gregory's "Union List of American Newspapers". It notes that Kerens only had one newspaper through at least 1936, and this was it. It also notes that just one institution had any issues, and it (Bancroft Library) had just one issue. It has since been deaccessioned and it is this one being offered.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed,

MIDLAND GAZETTE, Texas, Feb. 7, 1890

• Very rare Southwest publication

This is the volume 1, number 35 issue of a title we've never offered previously. Quite rare, as Gregory's "History & Bibliography of American Newspapers" notes only two institutions as having any issues, one of which deaccessioned their holdings. This issue is from that institution (Bancroft Library).
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed, typical news & ads of the day, some minor margin tears, partial archival strengthening at

THE OVERTON RECORD, Texas, Oct. 31, 1889

• Very rare Southwest publication
• Jesse James & the Ford Brothers

Overton only had one newspaper thru 1936 and this was it. It is not known how long this title existed, but Gregory's Union List of American Newspapers notes only one institution having had any issues, and it had just two dates, both of which have been deaccessioned. This is one of them.
The top of the front page has an article with column heads: "SHOT AT BOB FORD" " 'Look Out, Bob, I'm Going

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCAT, Dec. 5, 1883

• Mormons and polygamy
• President Chester A. Arthur
• Outlaw Frank James trial

Over half of the front page and page of pg. 2 are taken up with: "The President's Message" being the annual state-of-the-union address of Chester  A. Arthur. Near the end he addresses: "The Mormon Question", noting: "...I fear that it is far from indicating any real and substantial progress toward the extirpation of polygamy. All of the members of the Legislature are Mormons. There is

DAILY EVENING HERALD, Stockton, California, Nov. 22, 1870

• Wild Old West
• Rare publication

The city, founded in 1849, is named after Robert F. Stockton and it was the first community in California to have a name not of Spanish or Native American origin. During its early years, Stockton was known by several names including "Tuleburg" "Fat City" and "Mudville".
Built during the California Gold Rush, Stockton's seaport serves as a gateway to the Central Valley and beyond.
Four pages, nice condition.

RENO EVENING GAZETTE, Nevada, March 20, 1879

• Wild Old West
• Rare publication

An early issue from this famous gambling city in Northern Nevada near Lake Tahoe.
Gold was discovered in nearby Virginia City in 1850 and a modest mining community developed, but the discovery of silver in 1859 at the Comstock Lode led to a mining rush, and thousands of emigrants left their homes bound for the West, hoping to find a fortune.
Various news of the day and a wealth of fine ads.
Four pages, never bound nor

THE DESERET NEWS, Salt Lake City, Utah, Feb. 2, 1870

• Mormons - Mormonism
• Utah polygamy argument

This newspaper was published 26 years before Utah became a state.
Most of the front page is taken up with a report headed: "Indignation Meetings in the Settlements", beginning: "Determined not to be behind their sisters in this city in their loyalty to the cause of truth, the ladies in various settlements throughout the Territory have held mass meetings t protest against the infamous measures