The Rare Newspaper's Top Collectibles
The following are some of the best and most desirable issues to be found. Welcome to the "Best of the Best" !The Rare Newspaper's Top Collectibles
The following are some of the best and most desirable issues to be found. Welcome to the "Best of the Best" !
Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown: a first report...
Item #698085
November 27, 1781
THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, Nov. 27, 1781 This is one of the more noteworthy issues of the Chronicle for the entire Revolutionary War, as it is the first issue in this title to announce the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, essentially ending the Revolutionary War.
Although the formal letter from Cornwallis announcing the surrender would appear in the next issue, that issue dated... See More
One of the earliest newspapers from the colonies...
Item #669851
April 03, 1735
THE AMERICAN WEEKLY MERCURY, Philadelphia, April 3, 1735
* Earliest of American newspapers
* Very early & rare
As any serious collector of newspapers knows, it is exceedingly difficult to find any colonial American newspapers from before 1760, let alone an issue from 1735. It began in 1719 and only published through 1749. It was the very first newspaper in all of the Middle Coloni... See More
Extremely rare 1665 Oxford Gazette...
Item #615072
February 01, 1666
THE OXFORD GAZETTE, England, February 1, 1665 (1666 by today's calendar) - issue #23 (the last issue before becoming the London Gazette)
* One of the earliest & rarest of newspapers to be had
This is an extremely famous--and rare--title, being the predecessor of the famous "London Gazette", the oldest continually published English language newspaper in the world. Bec... See More
Great issue on the Battle of Gettysburg... From the capital of the Confederacy...
Item #688122
July 06, 1863
DAILY RICHMOND EXAMINER, Richmond, Virginia, July 6, 1863
* Historic Battle of Gettysburg
* From the Confederate perspective
Not only is this a nice newspaper from the Confederacy, but it is from the Confederate capital.
Although the front page has much reporting on the Civil War, certainly the most significant content in this issue is the rather lengthy & detailed reporting on ... See More
Billy the Kid, Pat Garett, Virgil & Wyatt Earp, Frank Stilwell, Johnny Behan...
Item #668423
August 10, 1881
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH, Arizona, August 10, 1881
* Best Old West title to be had
* Pre Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Few could argue for a more recognizable title from the Old West, nor could any town be more linked to the romance of the West than this one. Tombstone is steeped in Western lore, and the several movies done concerning the gunfight at the O.K. Corral have kept this town in ... See More
Establishing the rules of cricket... A premier report...
Item #671291
July 28, 1789
THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, July 28, 1789
* A cornerstone issue for any cricket collection
The article is titled: "Cricket" which contains within a subtitle reading: "Laws of the Game" which takes the majority of the article. There is another smaller subhead reading: "Betts" which mentions wagering on the game. The prefatory paragraph reads:... See More
From perhaps the most famous town of the Old West...
Item #687599
July 15, 1881
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH, Arizona, July 15, 1881
* Best Old West title to be had
* Pre Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Few could argue for a more recognizable title from the Old West, nor could any town be more linked to the romance of the West than this one. Tombstone is steeped in Western lore, and the several movies done concerning the gunfight at the O.K. Corral have kept this town in p... See More
Rare Johnny Ringo mention in a Tombstone Epitaph...
Item #688937
January 21, 1882
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH, Cochise County, Arizona, January 21, 1882
* Best old West title to be had
* Johnny Ringo mention
Few could argue for a more recognizable title from the Old West, nor could any town be more linked to the romance of the West than this one. Tombstone is steeped in Western lore, and the several movies done concerning the gunfight at the O.K. Corral have kept this to... See More
Constitutional Convention begins & Washington is elected its President...
Item #686742
June 01, 1787
THE MASSACHUSETTS CENTINEL, Boston, June 6, 1787
* Constitutional Convention begins
* George Washington elected president
An exceedingly historic issue as this newspaper reports the formal beginning of the Constitutional Convention.
Page 2 has a report from Philadelphia datelined May 26 with the historic report: "Yesterday, at the State House in this city, seven states were ful... See More
Terrific pictorial issue on the death of Jesse James...
Item #699928
April 22, 1882
FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED NEWSPAPER, New York, April 22, 1882 This famous title produced many issues with some very desirable illustrations, but this issue, with the entire front page taken up with a portrait of the notorious outlaw Jesse James, is arguably the most coveted.
The caption beneath the full front page illustration reads: "Missouri--Jesse James, the Notorious Desperado... See More
From perhaps the most famous town of the Old West...
Item #687598
July 14, 1881
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH, Arizona, July 14, 1881
* Best old West title to be had
* Virgil Earp report
Few could argue for a more recognizable title from the Old West, nor could any town be more linked to the romance of the West than this one. Tombstone is steeped in Western lore, and the several movies done concerning the gunfight at the O.K. Corral have kept this town in popular cultu... See More
Death of Sir Isaac Newton...
Item #685204
March 25, 1727
MIST'S WEEKLY JOURNAL, London, March 25, 1727
* Death of Sir Issac Newton (very rare)
When it comes to notable deaths of the world, they don't get too much better than this.
Page 2 has a simple, yet powerful report noting simply: "Died, Sir Isaac Newton, the greatest Mathematician that the World ever knew."
Isaac Newton was an English mathematician, physicist, astr... See More
Congress proclaims an end to the war with England...
Item #700573
April 22, 1783
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, April 22, 1783
* End of American Revolutionary War w/ Britian
* U.S. Congress formally announces cease-fire
A wonderfully historic issue as page 3 contains the formal document by the United States Congress that put an end to the fighting in the Revolutionary War.
It is officially titled: "By the United States o... See More
Official announcement of the capture of Richmond: in a Richmond newspaper...
Item #683303
April 05, 1865
EVENING WHIG, Richmond, April 5, 1865
* The fall of Richmond from the Confederate capital
* Extremely rare as such (historic)
It's always nice to get reports of famous events in newspapers from where the event occurred. Here is a terrific opportunity.
This is a very rare Union occupation newspaper, as Richmond had just fallen to the Yankee forces on April 3. The issue of April 4 ... See More
Terrific & rare broadside "Extra" on the capture of Jefferson Davis...
Item #695818
May 14, 1865
STATE JOURNAL - EXTRA, Sunday, May 14, 1865
* Very rare miniature broadside
* Capture of Jefferson Davis
* President of the Confederacy
A terrific little broadside "Extra" with no mention of city or state of origin as was typical, given such releases were for local consumption only. The only hint that it may be from Michigan is in one of the headlines.
The three headlines ... See More
From perhaps the most famous town of the Old West...
Item #671923
October 31, 1880
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH, Arizona, October 31, 1880
* Best Old West title to be had
* Pre Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Few could argue for a more recognizable title from the Old West, nor could any town be more linked to the romance of the West than this one. Tombstone is steeped in Western lore, and the several movies done concerning the gunfight at the O.K. Corral have kept this town in... See More
The Gettysburg Address...
Item #681893
November 20, 1863
THE SPRINGFIELD DAILY REPUBLICAN, Massachusetts, Nov. 20, 1863
* President Abraham Lincoln's famous speech
* Gettysburg Address at battlefield cemetery
It would be difficult to argue for a more historic or significance speech from the 19th century, let alone the Civil War. As it was not printed in all newspapers of the day, this report with the full text of Lincoln's Gettysbu... See More
Tombstone Epitaph shortly after the gunfight at the OK Corral...
Item #691509
December 04, 1881
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH, Arizona, Dec. 4, 1881
* Best Old West title to be had
* Post Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Few could argue for a more recognizable title from the Old West, nor could any town be more linked to the romance of the West than this one. Tombstone is steeped in Western lore, and the several movies done concerning the gunfight at the O.K. Corral have kept this town in po... See More
One of the best Lincoln assassination issues...
Item #696722
April 22, 1865
WASHINGTON WEEKLY CHRONICLE, D.C., April 22, 1865
* Abraham Lincoln assassination (1st report)
* Ford's Theater - John Wilkes Booth
* From our nation's capital
Truly a terrific issue, for being a weekly newspaper this was the first report of this event in this title, and better yet it is from the city where the assassination happened. A notable--and very uncommon--graphic... See More
A great rarity: an early volume one issue of the Massachsetts Spy...
Item #687191
September 22, 1770
THE MASSACHUSETTS SPY, (Boston), September 22, 1770
* Very early famous 18th century publication
* Volume 1 issue - Isaiah Thomas as publisher
This innocuous looking newspaper is arguably the most famous of all American titles of the 18th century. It began in July, 1770, this being issue number 22. It is exceedingly rare to find this title from the first year of publication.
The famed Isa... See More
Great Tombstone newspaper printed ten days before the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral...
Item #670755
October 16, 1881
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH, Cochise County, Arizona, October 16, 1881
* Best Old West title to be had
* Pre Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Few could argue for a more recognizable title from the Old West, nor could any town be more linked to the romance of the West than this one. Tombstone is steeped in Western lore, and the several movies done concerning the gunfight at the O.K. Corral have kept th... See More
Putnam's account of the Battle of Horse Neck via George Washington...
Item #693762
April 22, 1779
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL & GENERAL ADVERTISER, Providence, Rhode Island, April 22, 1779
* The Battle of Horse Neck
* Greenwich, Connecticut
* General Israel Putnam
* Gen. George Washington
A truly rare title from the Revolutionary War, as it lasted for less than 1 1/2 years from March, 1779 to August, 1781.
This issue is volume 1, number 6.
The front page begins with a letter conc... See More
Congress responds to the King's Proclamation that the colonies are in open rebellion...
Item #687385
December 21, 1775
THE NEW-ENGLAND CHRONICLE or the ESSEX GAZETTE, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Dec. 21, 1775
* King Charles III of England
* American colonies in rebellion
* U.S. Congress addresses conflict
* American Revolutionary War
Certainly the most historic content is found on page 3, being Congress' response to the King's proclamation of August 23 in which he refused to receive the conc... See More
The Emancipation Proclamation... Lincoln suspends the Writ of Habeas Corpus...
Item #689603
September 27, 1862
NEW YORK WEEKLY TRIBUNE, September 27, 1862
* Emancipation Proclamation
* President Abraham Lincoln
Page 2 contains the full texts of the Emancipation Proclamation, perhaps the most significant Presidential pronouncement of the entire Civil War wherein Lincoln declared all slaves free.
Headed: "A Proclamation By the President of the United States" the document begins at the... See More
The Gettysburg Address...
Item #675845
November 28, 1863
NEW YORK WEEKLY TRIBUNE, Nov. 28, 1863
* President Abraham Lincoln
* Gettysburg Address at battlefield cemetery
Page 3 contains a report headed: "The Gettysburg Ceremonies" "Description of the Battle-Field and Consecration Exercises" as well as one of the most memorable speeches ever given by a President.
The article takes nearly two columns and contains much rep... See More
First printing of baseball rules and regulations proposed to the first baseball convention...
Item #673908
February 28, 1857
PORTER'S SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Feb. 28, 1857
* Historic baseball periodical
* New fundamental rules
* "Baseball's Magna Carta"
* For Baseball Convention of 1857
An extremely significant issue on the history of baseball, as an inside page has almost an entire column taken up with: "Base Ball" "The Base Ball Convention And Their New Rules"... See More
Rare issue of the Oxford Gazette... Death toll from the Great Plague...
Item #690901
December 21, 1665
THE OXFORD GAZETTE, England, Dec. 21, 1665
* Earliest & Rarest of newspapers to be had
* The black plague deaths
This is an extremely famous--and rare--title, being the predecessor of the famous "London Gazette", the oldest continually published English language newspaper in the world. This is the #11 issue.
Because of the Plague at this time, the Royal Court had remove... See More
Washington's miraculous escape from Long Island...
Item #687294
September 18, 1776
THE CONNECTICUT JOURNAL, New Haven, Sept. 18, 1776
* Battle of Long Island - Brooklyn
* General George Washington
* Escape from New York - East River
* American Revolutionary War
The front page has a report from Congress concerning the use, storage & inspection of gunpowder, signed in type by its President: John Hancock.
The ftpg. also has several reports concerning ht Revoluti... See More
The first convention of clubs: the birth of organized baseball...
Item #675239
January 23, 1857
THE NEW YORK HERALD, January 23, 1857
* Birth of organized baseball
* First convention of clubs
The back page has a report which could be considered the birth of organized baseball. And printed the day after the event happened!
The second column has an article headed: "Our National Sports" with subheads: "The Game of Base Ball--Convention of the Various Clubs Of the Ci... See More
Lincoln in the local newspaper 40 days after assuming his first public office...
Item #675874
January 10, 1835
ILLINOIS ADVOCATE, Vandalia, Jan. 10, 1835
* Extremely early Abraham Lincoln
At this time Vandalia was the capital of Illinois, located there from 1820 thru 1837 before being removed to Springfield. This is significant to this newspaper, as the appearance of Abraham Lincoln's name at such an early date would likely only appear in a newspaper from the state capital.
Almost the ent... See More
From rough & tumble Deadwood, Dakota Territory...
Item #668707
June 20, 1882
BLACK HILLS DAILY PIONEER, Deadwood City, Black Hills, Nov. 24, 1878
* Very rare & desired 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.
This issue is ... See More
The Great Fire of London...
Item #668440
September 24, 1666
THE LONDON GAZETTE, England, September 24, 1666
* The Great London Fire period coverage
* Among the earliest of newspapers to be had
One of the greatest calamities, and more notable events to strike London in its long history is the Great Fire which destroyed much of the city in September, 1666. Finding period references to it are exceedingly difficult, as the number of newspape... See More
Early newsbook from the English Civil War...
Item #692456
November 16, 1643
MERCURIUS BRITANICUS Communicating the Affaires of Great BRITAINE: For the Better Information of the People. London, November 16, 1643. This is Crane & Kaye title #472.
This is a very early newsbook published by Marchamont Nedham who espoused the parliamentary politics of the era, mainly written as a response to the Royalist 'Mercurius Aulicus' of John Birkenhead.
Being f... See More
First Jew appointed to a federal post...
Item #669257
June 11, 1801
THE UNIVERSAL GAZETTE, Washington, D.C., June 11, 1801 It is reported in a brief, inconspicuous report on page 2, but its significance is considerable.
It was in 1801 when a significant stride in the recognition of Jewish Americans when President Thomas Jefferson appointed the very first Jew to a federal position by naming Reuben Etting of Baltimore as United States Marshall for Maryland. T... See More
The very historic Duche letter to General Washington... Battle of the Kegs...
Item #680789
February 19, 1778
INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE, Boston, Feb. 19, 1778
* Jacob Duché - 1st chaplain to the Continental Congress
* Famous letter to General George Washington
* American Revolutionary War
A nice feature of the masthead is a great engraving taken after one done earlier by Paul Revere, showing a patriot soldier with a sword in one hand and a scroll reading "Independence" in the ot... See More
Latest news from the Revolutionary War in a very rare newspaper...
Item #695809
May 07, 1779
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL & GENERAL ADVERTISER, Providence, Rhode Island, May 7, 1779
* Very rare American Revolutionary War publication
A truly rare title from the Revolutionary War, as it lasted for less than 1 1/2 years from March, 1779 to August, 1781. This issue is volume 1, number 8.
Inside has a report from Charleston beginning: "Five deserters who came last week to Purysbu... See More
Perhaps the best newspaper to be had for Harrison's inauguration...
Item #685222
March 05, 1841
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 5, 1841
* President William Henry Harrison inauguration
* Inaugural address - best title to be had (rare)
Perhaps the best newspaper to be had on the inauguration of William Henry Harrison as the nation's ninth President, this being the premier newspaper from the nation's capital.
Most of page 2 is taken up with: &q... See More
From rough & tumble Deadwood, Dakota Territory...
Item #678600
March 03, 1878
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 ... See More
George Washington is elected President of the United States...
Item #677063
February 20, 1793
NATIONAL GAZETTE, Philadelphia, Feb. 20, 1793
* President George Washington
* Historic 2nd election victory
Nearly three-quarters of the front page is taken up with an address: "To ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Secretary of the Treasury of he United States". This is followed, on page 2, with a second analysis of America's financial situation.
But by far the most significant ite
... See More
Washington proclaims an end to hostilities in the Revolutionary War...
Item #689607
June 09, 1783
THE MORNING POST & DAILY ADVERTISER, London, June 9, 1783
* General George Washington letter
* Announcing the end of hostilities
* American Revolutionary War ending
Certainly the most significant content takes almost an entire column of page 3, which has George Washington's letter announcing a cessation of hostilities in the Revolutionary War.
It is prefaced with a note stat... See More
Front page print shows Lincoln being assassinated...
Item #688982
April 29, 1865
FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, Apr. 29, 1865
* Famous Abraham Lincoln assassination issue
This issue remains one of the most desired for this historic, tragic event, as it is one of the only newspapers which included a front page graphic showing the actual assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
Over half of the front page is taken up with a very dramatic print captioned: "A... See More
Terrific discussions on the value of independence from England... Confirmation Howe has evacuated Boston...
Item #687419
March 30, 1776
THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, March 30, 1776
* Rare Revolutionary War era title
* Tory issue from Pennsylvania
* Great year to have (1776)
This was a decidedly Tory newspaper, supportive of the British efforts in America. This newspaper ended publication in June, 1778 when the British evacuated the city.
The entire front page and a portion of the back page are filled with a terri... See More
Winslow Homer's famous Snap The Whip...
Item #678435
September 20, 1873
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Sept. 20, 1873
* Winslow Homer's most famous print
* "SNAP-THE-WHIP" Great for framing
Certainly the prime feature of this issue is the much desired Winslow Homer doublepage centerfold: "Snap the Whip". As the photos show, this print is in very nice condition.
Front page features a 1/2 page illustration entitled: "The New Sc... See More
Very lengthy letter by Ben Franklin... British generals say America cannot be conquered...
Item #697886
September 09, 1779
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL & GENERAL ADVERTISER, Providence, Rhode Island, Sept. 9, 1779
* Very rare American Revolutionary War publication
* Lengthy letter from Benjamin Franklin
A truly rare title from the Revolutionary War, as it lasted for less than 1 1/2 years from March, 1779 to August, 1781.
The entire front page and a bit of the back page are taken up with a very lengthy: &quo... See More
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