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Rare Paul Revere engraving... Questioning Burgoyne on the Battle of Bunker Hill...
Rare Paul Revere engraving... Questioning Burgoyne on the Battle of Bunker Hill...
Item # 610418
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February 16, 1776
THE ESSEX JOURNAL & NEW HAMPSHIRE PACKET, Newburyport, Massachusetts, Feb. 16, 1776
* Paul Revere masthead engraving
* re. Battle of Bunker Hill
* Revolutionary War
There were but a few masthead engravings of the 18th century which were created by Paul Revere. The "Massachusetts Spy" is perhaps the most famous, plus there is the engraving in the "Boston Gazette" as well, with these two newspapers being among the most common in a relative sense--but even these are quite rare. Revere also created the masthead for the Essex Journal, very few examples of which are found on the market today. In addition to the ornate engraving of the title, the left engraving shows a native American and the right engraving shows a sailing ship.
With the scarcity of this title with the Revere engraving the content might seem inconsequential, however there is some nice war-related content as well. Page 2 has a terrific letter: "To General Burgoyne" in which the writer questions him concerning the Battle of Bunker Hill, referencing a letter Burgoyne wrote back to London ending with: "The day ended with glory.". The writer wants to know: "...As I am totally at a loss to know what part of that day's conduct was crowned with so much 'glory' on your part...whether it was such a 'glorious' achievement for upwards of 2000 regular disciplined troops, being the flower of the British army headed by the most approved & experienced generals...and which commanded the town, to dislodge a much inferior number of American militia from a slender defence which they had but 4 hours to prepare..." with much more. And further on: "...Or was it indeed such a 'glorious' sight to view the field strewn with the mangled corpses of a few brave & virtuous Americans? or to see the agonies & hear the piercing shrieks & dying groans of Abercrombie, Pitcairne & above a thousand others who were brought hither to crush the rising liberty of America..." with even more. The letter takes over a full column (see).
Over half of the back page is taken up with: "A Proclamation" dated January 19, 1776, by the General Court of Massachusetts, meant to instill a sense of loyalty & obedience among the people during this troubling time of the British occupation. The hyperlink shows the complete text, which is also printed in its entirety in this newspaper.
Complete as a four page newspaper, never bound nor trimmed. There is wear at the folds including small wear holes at some fold junctures causing some text loss. Some of the rubbing at folds causes word loss including the letter to Burgoyne. Pages 2 & 3 have discrete archival strengthening at several of the folds. A piece from the bottom margin of the back leaf does not affect any text.
Category: Revolutionary War
No Longer Available
