Historic Newspapers: New Additions

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…

EVENING TRIBUNE, San Diego, March 13, 1916

* Pancho Villa expedition
* Post Columbus, New Mexico raid
* United States soldiers pursue Mexican bandit

The front page has a banner heading: "MARTIAL LAW FOR BORDER" with subhead. (see images) 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 12 pages, small library stamp within the masthead, a little irregular along the…

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 EVENING TRIBUNE, San Diego, July 8, 1899

* Brazos River flood disaster
* Dewey & Sealey, Texas 

The top of the front page has a one column heading: "FLOOD AND FAMINE" 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, a few small library stamps within the masthead, a few small binding holes along the spine, minor margin wear,…

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.
 

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…

THE LONDON GAZETTE, England, May 15, 1684

* Among the earliest of English language newspapers to be had
* Hold something in your hands from the 17th century
* Unique gift idea for that history buff

This is the world's oldest continually published English language newspaper, having begun in 1665 and is still printing in London to this day. And this is a very early, genuine issue. As was the case with most newspapers of the 17th century, this is complete as a single sheet, measuring 6 1/2 by 10 3/4…

THE LONDON GAZETTE, England, Aug. 9, 1675

* Among the earliest of English language newspapers to be had
* Hold something in your hands from the 17th century
* Unique gift idea for that history buff

This is the world's oldest continually published English language newspaper, having begun in 1665 and is still printing in London to this day. And this is a very early, genuine issue. As was the case with most newspapers of the 17th century, this is complete as a single sheet, measuring 6 1/2 by 10 3/4…

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…

NEW YORK TIMES, June 27, 1861  Page 4 has a great article: "Abraham Lincoln, LL.D." which begins: "The Trustees of Columbia College, at their Annual Commencement...most happily struck the chord of public feeling, by conferring on Abraham Lincoln the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws...", an interesting fact unknown to many.
Among the front page one column heads on the Civil War are: "THE GREAT REVOLT" "Conflicts With the Rebels" "The United States Forces Victorious" "General Scott's Plans for…

THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Feb. 29, 1776  

* General Benedict Arnold
* American Revolutionary War
* Great year to have (1776)

This remarkably historic Revolutionary War issue contains a wealth of foundational content from the early months of 1876. 
Page 2 carries an exceptional military report from Montreal detailing the ongoing American campaign in Canada, reading in part: "Quebec is inclosed by a considerable body of forces under Brigadier General Arnold. They hope to avoid…

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Feb. 27, 1796  

* President George Washington
* U.S. government in it's infancy

Fully half of the front page is taken up with an Act of Congress which is signed in script type: Go. Washington, and in block type by John Adams. This Act was for providing money for the support of the government for the current year.
  Beginning on the front page & ending on page 2 is a letter signed in type by John Jay. And pg. 3 has a document concerning the sale of various tracts of…

THE DAILY DELTA, New Orleans, Sept. 28, 1850  

* Rare antebellum publication
* From the deep, deep South

Newspapers from the pre-Civil War South are rather difficult to find. Here is one from Louisiana.
Among the many ads is one on the front page headed: "Slaves! Slaves!! Slaves!!!" which notes in part: "The subscribers are prepared to receive, on consignment, for sale in this market, any number of slaves, having one of the best showrooms in the city, & large & comfortable quarters where every…

NILES' NATIONAL REGISTER, Baltimore, Nov. 15, 1845  

* Latter-day -Saints founder Joseph Smith's widowed wife Emma

The back page has an item noting: "Emma Smith, the widow of the deceased prophet, claims at least a wife's portion of her late husband's worldly gear, including, it is said, besides the Temple itself at Nauvoo, large and valuable tracts of land in Illinois, for Joseph was suspected of having a hawk's eye towards the mammon of unrighteousness. Emma dislikes the notion of leaving…

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, April, 1747  

* 18th Century Genoa, Italy map
* "The Speech of Polly Baker"
* Early Benjamin Franklin story

Inside includes the well-known Ben Franklin item: "Speech of Polly Baker". This is the earliest Ben Franklin appearance in a Gentleman's Magazine and perhaps within any British publication, as confirmed by the Franklin Papers, Yale University. Quite noteworthy!
Nearly five pages are taken up with an: "Account of the Behaviour and Execution of the late Lord…

THE NEW YORK TIMES, Aug. 26, 1932  

* Aviatrix Amelia Earhart
* 1st woman flight record
* Aviation - airplanes

Of significance is the first-report coverage of a monumental milestone in aviation history, led by page 3 headlines that announce: "MISS EARHART FLIES TO 2 MORE RECORDS" and "Lands at Newark Airport, the First Woman to Hop Nonstop Across Continent" "In Air 19 Hours, 5 Minutes". Accompanied by a photo of the aviatrix, the text details Amelia Earhart's historic achievement as the first…

THE DETROIT NEWS TRIBUNE, New York, NY, March 31, 1913 

* John Pierpont Morgan dying (died on this day)
* Money magnate - financial titan

The front page has a three column headline: "J. PIERPONT MORGAN'S CONDITION CRITICAL, IS OFFICIAL REPORT", with subheads and a photo of Morgan.
Other news of the day is found throughout including some reporting on the great Dayton flood in Ohio.
Nice to have this report on the impending loss of John Pierpont Morgan. As America’s ultimate money magnate and…

THE WEEKLY RECORDER, Chillicothe, Ohio, July 11, 1815  

* Very early & rare for the state of Ohio

This was one of Ohio's most important frontier and early statehood communities. Chillicothe served as the capital of the Ohio Territory and later the state itself for several periods between 1803 and 1812, making it a center of politics, commerce, and communication in the Old Northwest.
Published during the early 19th century, the Weekly Recorder was part of the rapidly expanding newspaper culture…

NEW YORK SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, March 22, 1878

* Inventor Thomas A. Edison
* Phonograph invention explained 
  
Page 4 has a nice article: "Explaining The Phonograph" "Ladies' Day at the Telephone Office". The report includes in part: "...The exhibition of Professor Edison's phonograph has lately attracted so many spectators...Mr. Applebaugh seated himself by the phonograph & for three hours devoted himself to experiments & explanations...". Then much detail on how his invention operates. 
Sixteen…

THE DAILY MEMPHIS AVALANCHE, Tennessee, Dec. 28, 1879  

* Inventor Thomas Edison at Menlo Park
* Incandescent electric light bulb invention

Fully 2 1/2 columns on page 2 are taken up with a great account of Thomas Edison's latest invention: the light bulb. With heads: "THE NEW LIGHT" "The Undoubted Success of the Edison Lamp" "Some Adverse Opinions of A Rival Inventor"
The very lengthy text goes to great detail in explaining the possible value in this invention, balanced by the criticism of…

THE DAILY JOURNAL, Wilmington, North Carolina, June 17, 1868  

* Post-Civil War era Ku Klux Klan
* First assassination in Georgia by KKK

The front page has a notable report titled: "The Georgia Military Outrage". This reports on the assassination of G. W. Ashburn who was a Georgia politician assassinated by the Ku Klux Klan in Columbus, Georgia for his pro-African-American sentiments. He was the first murder victim of the Klan in Georgia. The report is extensive, taking over 1 1/2 columns.
Four…

NEW YORK TIMES, Nov. 29, 1871  

* Catherine O'Leary's cow legend
* Chicago fire started from her barn

Page 3 has a very interesting article headed: "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" "Attempt to Get at the Truth as to the Origin of the Chicago Fire--Statement of Neighbors".
Keep in mind that this was just 7 weeks after the fire, and it is rare to find contemporary accounts giving some credence to the report that Mrs. O'Leary's cow started the fire by kicking over a lantern.
This report is an investigation by the…

THE IREDELL EXPRESS, Statesville, North Carolina, Dec. 3, 1863  

* Extremely rare Confederate publication

A very rare Confederate newspaper. Gregory's "Union List of American Newspapers" notes it began in 1857 with an unknown ending date, however one institution has an issue from April, 1865. Gregory lists a total of just 4 known dates (known are Dec. 3, 1863), although the Am. Antiquarian Society also records two issues.
Various Civil War reports on on page 3 including: "For the 4th Regiment…

LA ESTRELLA DE OCCIDENTE, Sonora, Mexico, Dec. 31, 1875 Translates to: "The Star of the West", noting in the masthead (translated): "Official Newspaper of the Government of the Free and Sovereign State of Sonora".
Of interest is that it is printed on light orange "necessity paper" which is tissue paper thin.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed, 12 by 16 1/2 inches, totally in Spanish, nice condition.

Background: This December 31, 1875, issue of La Estrella de Occidente ("The Star of the West")…

GUINEA GOLD, "Australian Edition", Aug. 8, 1945  

* Atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan
* World War II ending - surrender nears

Hailing itself as the "most bombed newspaper", this military publication was printed in the jungles of New Guinea, hence the title.
The headline announces: "ATOM BOMB CREATED" "War's Most Terrible Weapon Launched On Japan - 'Could Destroy Man' -Truman".
This newspaper may well be the closest to Japan of any we have offered.
Four pages, 10 by 11 1/4 inches, various discrete…

THE FREDERICK VISITER, Maryland, March 5, 1840  

* Rare antebellum reform - temperance movement publication

A rather scarce title that existed for just 3 years, this being the first we have ever offered. Gregory notes it was a temperance newspaper, and printed in the masthead is: "Devoted To Literature Morality, and Religion."
Four pages, a vertical crease near the middle, close-trimmed at the bottom margin causes loss of the last line.

Background: The March 5, 1840 issue of The Frederick Visiter…