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Fascinating and very rare broadside "Extra" announcing Lincoln's assassination...



Item # 657461

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April 15, 1865

TELEGRAPH -- EXTRA, April 15, (1865), 9:20 a.m.

* Very rare miniature broadside
* Abraham Lincoln assassination


A fascinating and uncommonly small broadside "Extra" newspaper announcing the death of President Abraham Lincoln.
Keeping in mind that such "extra" editions were put out quickly as important news was received--hence the 9:20 a.m. in the dateline, and no mention of the year--there was no need to include the city and state as such editions were created for local subscribers.
The report has a dateline from Chicago of April 15, and notes: "President Lincoln was shot through the head last night at Ford's Theatre, and died this morning. The assassin is supposed to be J. Wilkes Booth the actor."
About the same time a desperado called (on) Secretary Sewards, pretending to be a messenger from the physician, being refused admittance, he attacked Fred Seward, son of the Secretary, knocking him down, then passed on to the Secretary's room, when after cutting down two male attendants, he cut Mr. Seward's throat."
Then the "Third Dispatch" notes: "...Abraham Lincoln died this morning at 22 minutes after seven o'clock.", as received from E. M. Stanton, the Secretary of War.
And then the "Fourth Dispatch" which notes: "Seward is dead and Booth has been arrested."
As was typically the case with extra editions that were printed very quickly, there are inaccuracies with this report. Secretary William Seward did not die from the attack, and John Wilkes Booth was not captured (and killed) until 13 days later.
Perhaps the smallest newspaper "extra" edition on Lincoln's assassination we have offered. It measures not quite 4 inches wide and 6 1/4 inches tall. It is bordered in black and is in very nice condition.
Of added interest is the small, black-bordered envelope in which it was received by the original owner, pinned to a sheet which notes: "Received by my grand mother the day President Lincoln was shot. Mary C. Lawrence". (see).
An excellent companion piece which adds to the provenance of the "Extra".
There are a few old creases from having been folded into the envelope, but is in very nice condition. Blank on the reverse as was typical of broadsides.

Category: Yankee