Historic Newspapers: The 20th Century

LOS ANGELES TIMES, July 11, 1985 

* Coca-Cola Company announces "Coke Classic" 
* Infamous corporate change failure - blunder 

The bottom of the front page has a three column heading: "Coca-Cola to Bring Back 'the Real Thing'" with lead-in: "'Classic' to Be Sold Along With Widely Resisted New Formula" First report coverage continues inside with related photo. (see images)

I suspect this to be an extremely rare item because there was really no reason to save it at the time.

Complete with all…

THE EVENING TRIBUNE, San Diego, Sept. 17, 1900

* The Great 1900 Galveston hurricane
* Deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history

The top of the front page has a two column headline: "BATTER CONDITIONS PREVAIL AT GALVESTON" with subheads. (see) Surprisingly this issue is in good condition being from the "wood pulp" era. Very hard to find issues that are not totally fragile from this era in paper. Rare as such.
Complete with 8 pages, 19 x 14 1/2 inches, small library stamps within the masthead, a…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, December 1, 1976

* Best "Rocky" advertisement
* Grand Opening Day movie premiere
* American sports drama film
* Sylvester Stallone - Rocky Balboa

A terrific issue on the premiere of the motion picture hit "Rocky" and perhaps no better issue could be found than this, the leading newspaper from the home of the entertainment industry - the Hollywood area's prime publication.

Note: Where else might one find authentic ads for Opening Day showings, in the most desirable Hollywood-area…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, Nov. 17, 1980 

* The Stable Fire - Bradbury, California 
* San Gabriel Valley firestorm disaster

The front page has a banner headline: "61 Homes Destroyed; Brush Fires Blacken 50,000 Acres" with subhead, large photo and related map. (see images) Nice for display.
Complete 1st section only with all 28 pages, nice condition.

Background: Driven by fierce, hot Santa Ana winds roaring down the canyons of the Angeles National Forest on November 16, 1980, the Stable Fire stands out in…

THE VILLAGE VOICE, Greenwich Village, New York City, June 6, 1977

* George Lucas' amazingly successful, "Star Wars"
*  2nd week showing in a counterculture publication 

Page 45 has a ad for George Lucas' "Star Wars"  The ad measures 10 3/4 x 6 1/2 inches. This original "Star Wars" movie opened just 12 days earlier. The fact that this was a weekly publication makes this one the first ads to appear here.

Provenance: This issue comes from The Village Voice's own archives, part of their in-house…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, Sept. 6, 1986 

* Hijacking of Pan Am Boeing 747 Flight 73
* Killings on the tarmac in Karachi, Pakistan 
* Libyan-backed Abu Nidal Organization terrorists

The front page has a banner headline: "Hijackers Panic, Kill 15 on Jet" with subhead and related photo. More inside with a few more photos. 
Complete with all major sections (100+ pages), nice condition.

Background: The hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 on September 5, 1986, stands as one of aviation history's most extraordinary…

THE LOCK HAVEN EXPRESS, Penn., Aug. 14, 1945  

* World War II ends
* Japanese surrenders
* Nice for display

A very dramatic & displayable "Extra" issue announcing the end of World War II, with a large: " PEACE ! " above the masthead within which are photos of the war, and banner headlines: "THE WAR IS OVER!" "Japanese Accept Allied Terms" and more with image of MacArthur. More inside 
Twelve pages, some wear and a little separation at the folds with minor text loss, a little staining, still a great…

THE NEW YORK TIMES, Aug. 3, 1946 

* Oak Ridge, Tennessee Atomic research 
* Carbon-14 sent for cancer cause research 

The front page has a two column heading: "Atomic Plant Sells a Speck To Help Find Cancer Cause" ralted photo is on page 6. (see images) 
Complete with all 28 pages, rag edition in nice condition.

Background: On August 2, 1946, Oak Ridge made history by completing the world’s first commercial shipment of reactor-produced radioisotopes, sending a speck of Carbon-14 to the Barnard Free…

THE STARS AND STRIPES, Mediterranean Edition, January 1, 1945

* Battle of the Bulge 
* World War II - WWII

The front page has a two column heading: "U.S. Troops Seize Vital Town At Tip Of German Salient" (see images) Nice to have in this famous military publication.
Other World War II news of the day. Complete in 8 pages, a little spine wear, nice condition.

Background: In January 1945, the Saar Region—a heavily industrialized area along the German-French border—was the scene of major Allied…

FITCHBURG SENTINEL, Mass, Nov. 8, 1944 

* Franklin D. Roosevelt - FDR
* 4th presidential election victory

The banner headline proclaims: "ROOSEVELT SWEEPS NATION" with subheads, electoral map and photo. (see images) Nice for display. This was his 4th presidential election victory, a later change in the Constitution would make this an unprecedented event.
Complete with 14 pages, light toning at the margins, irregular along the spine, generally nice.
 

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, New York, July 5, 1913  The most interesting article is nearly a full page on: "The Genealogy of the Motorcycle" which includes 18 illustrations of the earliest of motorcycles. The cover has a nice color illustration showing construction workers using a riveting tool on iron beams for a skyscraper under construction. 
Other items include "Submarine Photography - A New Art" "Teaching Soldiers How to Shoot"  "Novel Uses of Compressed Air" "Fuel Production in the United…

THE DETROIT NEWS, July 12, 1964 

* Murder of Lieutenant Colonel Lemuel Penn
* Georgia Ku Klux Klan - KKK members 

The top of the front page has a six column headline: "FBI PROBES SLAYING OF NEGRO EDUCATOR" with subheads and photo of Penn. (see images) 
Complete with 80+ pages, small library stamp within the masthead, tiny binding holes along the spine, nice condition. 

Background: The July 11, 1964, murder of Lieutenant Colonel Lemuel Penn stands as a watershed moment in American legal history,…

THE NEW YORK TIMES, August 15, 1944 

* Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. killed
* United States Navy lieutenant
* John F. Kennedy JFK's older brother
* World War II - WWII  

Page 18 has one column headings: "SON OF J. P. KENNEDY KILLED IN ACTION" "Navy Reports Loss of Flier in Plane Explosion in European Theatre" with photo of Kennedy. (see) Always nice to have notable events in history reported in this World famous publication.
Complete with all 30 pages, rag edition in very nice condition.

THE NEW YORK TIMES, Aug. 11, 1944 

* Pearl Harbor - Pacific Strategy Conference 
* FDR - Douglas MacArthur - Chester W. Nimitz

The front page has a nice banner headline: "PRESIDENT MET M'ARTHUR AND NIMITZ IN HAWAII" with subheads and photo. (see images) More on page 3 with two more related photos and text of FDR's remarks. 
Complete with all 28 pages, rag edition in great condition.

Background: The conclusion of the Pearl Harbor Conference on July 29, 1944, stands out as a uniquely rare moment in…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, Oct. 25, 1989 

* American televangelist Jim Bakker sentenced to prison
* "The PLT Club" television program w/ Tammy Faye 

The top of the front page has a two column heading: "Bakker Gets 45 Years in Prison" with subhead and photo. (see images) 
Complete with all major sections (80+ pages), very light toning to upper half of the front page, very nice condition.

Background: The October 24, 1989, sentencing of televangelist Jim Bakker stands as a unprecedented watershed moment in…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, July 22, 1979 (an original vintage newspaper leaf from the Calendar section)  This offering consists of four complete pages (two double-sided sheets on one single leaf) featuring a collectible print advertisement for upcoming live concert performances by "BLUE OYSTER CULT" at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on one of the four pages. 

In addition to the feature concert ad, which captures the era's unique promotional graphic design and typography, the surrounding pages provide a…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, June 19, 1977 (an original vintage newspaper leaf from the Calendar section)  This offering consists of four complete pages (two double-sided sheets on one single leaf) featuring a collectible print advertisement for a upcoming live concert performance by "JOHNNY MATHIS" at Pacific Amphitheatre on one of the four pages. 

In addition to the feature concert ad, which captures the era's unique promotional graphic design and typography, the surrounding pages provide a fascinating…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, Sept. 7, 1986 (an original vintage newspaper leaf from the Calendar section)  This offering consists of four complete pages (two double-sided sheets on one single leaf) featuring a collectible print advertisement for a upcoming live concert performance by "ELTON JOHN" at Pacific Amphitheatre on one of the four pages. 

In addition to the feature concert ad, which captures the era's unique promotional graphic design and typography, the surrounding pages provide a fascinating…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, Sept. 7, 1986 (an original vintage newspaper leaf from the Calendar section)  This offering consists of four complete pages (two double-sided sheets on one single leaf) featuring a collectible print advertisement for upcoming live concert performances by "JEFFREY OSBOURNE" at Universal Amphitheatre on one of the four pages. 

In addition to the feature concert ad, which captures the era's unique promotional graphic design and typography, the surrounding pages provide a…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, Jan. 20, 1980 (an original vintage newspaper leaf from the Calendar section)  This offering consists of four complete pages (two double-sided sheets on one single leaf) featuring a collectible print advertisement for a upcoming live performance by "ZZ TOP" at Long Beach Arena on one of the four pages. 

In addition to the feature concert ad, which captures the era's unique promotional graphic design and typography, the surrounding pages provide a fascinating cultural snapshot…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, Aug. 23, 1985 

* Richard Ramirez murders (early)
* Peter and Barbara Pan attack & killing
* The "Night Stalker" valley intruder - killer

This issue has reporting on the "Night Stalker" murder case of Richard Ramirez with a front page, one column heading: "Slaying of S.F. Man Linked to Valley Intuder" First report coverage continues inside with two related photo, one of the murdered Peter Pan. (see images) This was a time where they stilled called the unknown killer (Ramirez) as…

POTTSVILLE REPUBLICAN, Penn., Dec. 26, 1991 

* Dissolution of the Soviet Union
* President Mikhail Gorbachev
* End of the "Cold War" 

The front page has a banner headline: "Gorbachev out; Russian flag flying" with subheads and photo of Gorbachev. (see images)
Complete with all 34 pages, good condition.

Background: The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 stands as a remarkably rare historical event: the swift, mostly bloodless implosion of a nuclear-armed superpower without a direct foreign war…

CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE, Nov. 12, 1930

* Prohibition is a failure ?
* re. Eighteenth Amendment
* Nice headline for display

The front page has a banner headline: "SIFT DRY LAW CHANGE TODAY" with subheads. (see images)
When it comes to gangsters, organized crime, and the nefarious activities born out of the Prohibition and Great Depression eras, no city is more in the forefront of our minds than Chicago - and what better newspaper can be found than the Chicago Tribune, self-proclaimed to be "The…

THE SPRINGFIELD UNION, Mass., November 3, 1956

* "Wizard of OZ" movie classic
* Debuts on television - TV in color
* Judy Garland - Dorothy Gale 
* Ruby slippers turn red for 1st time

Page 21 has a historic advertisement in television history for debut of the iconic movie "Wizard of OZ" This advertisement measures 8 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches. The 1939 movie was a somewhat failure in theaters at the time of it's release and only became a family favorite when it began airing on television with the first…

DAILY NEWS, New York City, Sept. 12, 2001 

* 9/11 Terrorists attack
* World Trade Center

The front page has the headline: "IT'S WAR" with subhead and large photo of the second plane about to hit the South tower. And much, much more on the inside pages, see images for as portion. Nice to have in this famous NYC publication. 
Complete with all 80 pages, tabloid size in nice condition.

THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, Nov. 21, 1956 

* Springhill, Nova Scotia mine disaster
* No. 4 colliery - coal dust explosion 

The top of the front page has a banner heading: "5 Killed; 118 Trapped in Mine--Col. 4" with subheads. (see images) Complete with all 42 pages, small binding holes along the spine, small library stamp within masthead, generally in nice condition.

Background: The 1956 Springhill mine disaster stands out as a remarkably rare coal mining catastrophe because the initial explosion…

Here is a 1967 "Topps Wanted Poster" with heading: "WANTED for penny larceny" and " CANDY STORE OWNER" (see images)
Back side has a some archival mending, generally in good, displayable condition.


Background: The 1967 Topps Wanted Posters novelty set holds a distinct place in non-sport trading card history, featuring 24 humorously illustrated, Wild West–style posters measuring 10" × 18.5" that parodied everyday figures. The "WANTED for Penny Larceny" poster prominently features the local Candy…

THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, Sept. 4, 1953 

* General William F. Dean freed - POW
* Operation Big Switch - Korean War
* Highest ranking U.S. officer captured 

The front page has a five column headline: "KOREA HERO DEAN FREED" with subheads and photo of Dean. (see images) 
Complete with all 34 pages, some small binding holes along the spine, generally in nice condition.

Background: Major General William F. Dean holds the extraordinary historical distinction of being the highest-ranking U.S. and United…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, Aug. 5, 1991

* re. Jeffrey Dahmer arrest - police rally
* American killer - Milwaukee cannibal 

Page 16 has a somewhat discrete one column heading under "Wisconsin": "300 Show Support for Milwaukee Police" (see image)
I suspect this to be an extremely rare item because there was really no reason to save it at the time.
Complete with all sections (70+ pages), nice condition.

Background: The August 4, 1991 rally at Milwaukee City Hall stands out as a rare and notable anomaly: a…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, May 21, 1980

* Best "The Empire Strikes Back" premiere advertisement
* Star Wars: Episode V - Grand Opening Day premiere 

A terrific issue on the premiere of the motion picture hit "The Empire Strikes Back" and perhaps no better newspaper could be found than this, the leading newspaper from the home of the entertainment industry - the Hollywood area's prime publication.

Background: An original May 21, 1980 issue of the Los Angeles Times holds exceptional rarity and historical…

PM's WEEKLY, December 7, 1941 

* Dated on the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor

The front page has a heading that reads: "Vichy Backs Japan Against U.S.A." with coverage on page 3. (see images) Nice to have a publication with the "Dec. 7th" date and having a front page heading regarding the tensions between the United States and Japan.  
Complete with all 32 pages, tabloid size, good condition.

Background: This December 7, 1941 edition of the short-lived, anti-fascist New York tabloid PM—renowned…

THE NEW YORK TIMES, Aug. 31, 1936 

* Harvard University Tercentenary celebration
* Albert Einstein amongst many others - "Macroscope"

The top of the front page has a two column heading: "'Macroscope' of 72 United Brains To Examine Mankind at Harvard" with subhead. (see images) 
Complete with all 32 pages, light toning at the margins, some mending along the margins of a few inside pages, generally good.

Background: The August 30, 1936, New York Times article by Pulitzer Prize-winning science…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, Sept. 2, 1986

* Aeroméxico Flight 498 collision disaster
* Cerritos, Los Angeles neighborhood crash
* McDonnell Douglas DC-9 & Piper Cherokee

The top of the front page has two column headline: "Light Plane's Pilot Had Heart Attack Before Collision" with subhead and related photo. (see images) Much more on a few inside pages.
Complete with all sections (70+ pages), nice condition.

Background: The 1986 Cerritos mid-air collision stands as one of the most remarkable and pivotal…

THE GREENSBORO PATRIOT, N.C May 24, 1937
 
* John D. Rockefeller death
* Oil tycoon (nice headline w/ photos)

The top of the front page has a three column headline: "John D. Rockefeller, Sr. Giant In U. S. Business, Dies In Florida Home" with subhead and photo. (see images)
Complete with all 10 pages, light toning, good condition.

Background: John D. Rockefeller was the calculated architect of the American oil industry, a man whose legacy is defined by the tension between his ruthless pursuit of…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, Sept. 14, 1980 (an original vintage newspaper leaf from the Calendar section)  This offering consists of four complete pages (two double-sided sheets on one single leaf) featuring a collectible print advertisement for upcoming live performances by "PAUL ANKA" at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on one of the four pages. 

In addition to the feature concert ad, which captures the era's unique promotional graphic design and typography, the surrounding pages provide a fascinating…

This original vintage newspaper leaf from the Los Angeles Times Calendar section dated April 22, 1979 consists of four complete pages (two double-sided sheets on one single leaf) featuring a collectible profile by Terry Atkinson on "VAN HALEN" with heading: "Van Halen Revitalizes Hard Rock" and photo on one of the pages. (see images)

In addition to the feature concert ad, which captures the era's unique promotional graphic design and typography, the surrounding pages provide a fascinating…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, April 22, 1979 (an original vintage newspaper leaf from the Calendar section)  This offering consists of four complete pages (two double-sided sheets on one single leaf) featuring a collectible print advertisement for a upcoming live performances at the "WORLD'S GREATEST FUNK FESTIVAL" at the Los Angeles Coliseum on one of the four pages. 

In addition to the feature concert ad, which captures the era's unique promotional graphic design and typography, the surrounding pages…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, April 22, 1979 (an original vintage newspaper leaf from the Calendar section)  This offering consists of four complete pages (two double-sided sheets on one single leaf) featuring a collectible print advertisement for a upcoming live musical performances of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "EVITA" at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on one of the four pages. 

In addition to the feature concert ad, which captures the era's unique promotional graphic design and typography, the surrounding…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, April 22, 1979 (an original vintage newspaper leaf from the Calendar section)  This offering consists of four complete pages (two double-sided sheets on one single leaf), serving as a rare piece of cinematic ephemera, highlighted by an original vintage print advertisement announcing the opening day release of  "THE DARK" on one of the pages. (see images).
In addition to the featured movie ad, which captures the era's distinct theatrical promotional graphics and classic key…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, June 21, 1988 (an original vintage newspaper leaf from the Calendar section)  This offering consists of four complete pages (two double-sided sheets on one single leaf) featuring a collectible print advertisement for a upcoming live performance by "MONSTER OF ROCK" featuring Van Halen, Metallica, Scorpions amongst others at Giants Stadium in  on one of the four pages. 

In addition to the feature concert ad, which captures the era's unique promotional graphic design and…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, March 9, 1986 (an original vintage newspaper leaf from the Calendar section)  This offering consists of four complete pages (two double-sided sheets on one single leaf), serving as a rare piece of cinematic ephemera, highlighted by an original vintage print advertisement announcing the opening day release of  "KNIGHTS OF THE CITY" on one of the pages. (see images).
In addition to the featured movie ad, which captures the era's distinct theatrical promotional graphics and…

THE NEW YORK TIMES, Aug. 12, 1946 

* Operation Igloo - Jewish holocaust survivors
* Haifa Harbor standoff - Mandate Palestine 

The top of the front page has a three column photo with heading: "Illegal Immigrants Seeking To Enter Palestine" And a two column heading reads: "Haifa Port Area Isolated; 2 New Refugee Ships Near" (see images)

Complete with 38 pages, rag edition in nice condition.

Background: On August 11, 1946, a rare and historically decisive standoff unfolded in Haifa Harbor as British…

The New York Times BOOK REVIEW section only dated Sept. 24, 1961 

* 2nd President John Adams 

The front page has a banner heading: "In The Beginning Was John Adams" with subhead and image of John Adams. This piece by Adrienne Koch continues on multiple inside pages. See below for further details. 
Complete book review section only with 56 pages, nice condition.

Background: This September 24, 1961 issue of The New York Times Book Review is a culturally significant piece of mid-century ephemera,…

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, Dec. 31, 1974 

* Olean High School shooting - New York
* Honor student sniper Anthony Barbaro 

The front page has a banner headline: "School sniper kills 3, wounds 6" with lead-in: "Honor student seized" First report coverage continues inside with photo of the suspect. (see images) 
Complete with all 60 pages, tabloid size, nice condition.

Background: The December 30, 1974 shooting at Olean High School stands as one of the most chilling and highly anomalous precursors to modern…

LOS ANGELES TIMES (calendar section only), Sept. 12, 1985 

* Avant-garde performing arts tragedy 
* Dancer Yoshiyuki Takada fatal fall

The front page of this section has a heading that reads: "DEATH HALTS SANKAIJUKU TOUR" with related photo. (see images) 

Complete Calendar section only with 10 pages, very nice condition.

Background: This issue of the Los Angeles Times from September 12, 1985, is a rare and striking artifact of avant-garde performing arts history, documenting the immediate aftermath…

USA TODAY (Life Section (D) only), Oct. 26, 1984 

* "The Terminator" film - movie review 
* Arnold Schwarzenegger - science-fiction

Page 5 of this section has a same day premiere review of Arnold Schwarzenegger's iconic film "The Terminator" with heading: "'Terminator' is a killer of a Schwarzenegger role" and photo. (see images)
Complete 'Life' section only with 8 pages, nice condition.

Background: Owning the October 26, 1984 issue of USA Today puts a rare piece of pop-culture history directly in…

THE NEW YORK TIMES, May 8, 1942 

* Battle of the Coral Sea is on
* Imperial Japanese verses U.S. Navy
* USS Lexington & Yorktown fame 
* Pacific Ocean theater - aircraft carriers

The front page has a nice banner headline: "GREAT NAVAL AND AIR BATTLE RAGES IN PACIFIC" with subheads and related map. (see images) 
Complete with all 42 pages, rag edition in great condition.

Background: On May 9, 1942, both the United States and Japan issued claims about the outcome of the Battle of the Coral Sea that…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, Jan. 27, 1982 

* Golden age of video arcade game machines 
* Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, Centipede & more 

The front page of section V has a banner heading: "The Games People Play and Play and Play and Play..." with subhead and two related photos, one showing youths playing 'Donkey Kong'. (see images) 
Complete with all major sections (70+ pages), very nice condition.

Background: This specific feature by Dave Larsen is a rare, high-value historical artifact from the absolute zenith of…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, Sept. 12, 1985 

* Pete Rose breaks most career hits record (Ty Cobb)
* Historic Major League Baseball MLB milestone 

The front page has two photos related to Pete Rose's record breaking feat with a one column heading: "Rose Topples Cobb's Record for Most Hits" And the front page page of the sport's section has a banner headline: "Rose Hits Jackpot (4,192), Keeps Going" with subheads and four more related photos. (see images) Much more inside. 
Complete 1st and sport's sections…