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The Confederate version of "Harper's Weekly"...
The Confederate version of "Harper's Weekly"...
Item # 648537
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November 15, 1862
SOUTHERN ILLUSTRATED NEWS, Richmond, Virginia, Nov. 15, 1862
* General Leonidas Polk
A very rare publication from the Confederacy which seldom comes to the collector market. Although much of the content was literary in nature, there are news reports and a few illustrations.
The front page features a nice print of: "Lieut. Gen. Leonidas Polk" with a biography of him on the front page taking most of the first column. Page 2 has: "The Times" which provides the most recent reports on the Civil War, a few bits including:"...reported on Wednesday that General Jackson had had a battle with Siegel in the county of Clarke...70 prisoners captured in a cavalry skirmish near Leesburg...Herald says Gen. Lee will be obliged to retreat to save his communications, Snicker's Gap being occupied by the Yankees. We doubt whether Gen. Lee will retreat until he thinks proper to do so, gap or no gap...From the South we have the painful intelligence of the surrender of Galveston without firing a gun...General Bragg...was marching on Nashville & the Yankees had threatened to burn it..." and so much more. Also on page 2 & 3 is: "Vicksburg" taking over a full column and is very descriptive of the city and its people.
One of the poems is titled: "Maryland, Oh! Maryland", there is an item headed: "Wounded And Killed" and the back page has a cartoon concerning the war captioned: "The Yankee Cavalry Sent to Intercept Gen. Stuart."
Begun on September 13, 1862 the "Southern Illustrated News" sought to fill the void left when the Southern States lost access to Harper’s Weekly and other illustrated newspapers from the North. In its “Salutatory,” in the first issue the editors state: "...We propose to issue an Illustrated Family Newspaper…devoted to literature, to public instruction and amusement, to general news, and to the cause of our country in this trying hour when she is engaged in a terrible, but resolute and hopeful struggle for her liberty and independence..." Although it could be argued it never lived up to all of these goals as reports from the war were very limited, it was an important publication nonetheless. At its peak boasting as many subscribers as the largest daily paper in Richmond. As with all Southern publications it suffered from lack of supplies, reporters, artists and engravers as many had been drafted either into the military or into the service of the Confederate administration to engrave paper money and stamps. The engravings were crude when compared to Yankee publications.
Eight pages, wide, never-trimmed margins, a light water stain, otherwise in nice condition. There is more war content in this issue than typically found in this title.
Category: Confederate
No Longer Available
