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Wallpaper newspaper by Union troops in Louisiana...
Wallpaper newspaper by Union troops in Louisiana...
Item # 660598
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October 31, 1863
UNCONDITIONAL S. GRANT, New Iberia, Louisiana, Oct. 31, 1863
* Extremely rare wallpaper title
This title is a great rarity which we have never before had the pleasure to offer. A single sheet printed on wallpaper, folded such that page 1 has news, pages 2 & 3 are wallpaper, and page 4 has additional news, this unusual newspaper was published by the 130th Illinois Regiment stationed in New Iberia at the time. I am not aware of any other Yankee newspaper having been printed in occupied Louisiana.
This is the volume 1 number 2 issue, and only two issues are recorded in Gregory and known to exist. Gregory notes just two institutions holding #1 (October 24) and only one institution having this, issue #2.
The front page has: "The Price of Treason" which has near the beginning: "...we are now chasing the fleeing, fugitive minions of Jeff. Davis across the swamps and over the prairies of Louisiana..." with much more, taking over 1 1/2 columns. Also on the front page is the: "Biography of President Lincoln" which carries over to take most of a column on page 4. The front page also has the: "Roster of Officers of the 130th Illinois" and the "Roster of Officers of the 97th Illinois".
In addition to the continuation of the Lincoln biography on page 4, there are also several news reports, including: "We learn that three or four of the 1st Louisiana cavalry were gobbled up by guerrillas a few days since..." and "Lieut. Fielding Phillips of company F, 130th, is now acting Quartermaster..." and "Forty-eight prisoners arrived here on Thursday from the front. They look a little the worse for wear." and a lengthy article: "A Sunday In New Iberia" which is very descriptive (see). There is also a great letter to the editor of the newspaper which includes: "Many are the hearts made glad by the circulation of even the first issue of the Grant. The 13th Army Corps remember with thrilling emotions of love & admiration the great general whose name stands at the head of your paper, & they love the name, the love the man, and are devoted to the cause in which he has been their leader. They have a peculiar respect & love for anything that has Grant before it as its beacon light to success, and they hail with raptured delight the "Conditional S. Grant" as a token of their fidelity to their great leader..." with a bit more (see).
Other content on pages 1 and 4 as well.
This newspaper measures 19 1/2 by 24 inches when opened. The wallpaper side has a grayish tone on white as the background with a pattern of yellow floral designs (all lightly inked; best observed at an oblique angle. The photo with the well-defined floral pattern is with the issue back lit. The other much more subtle is front lit.). As the photos show there is various old strengthening at the folds of the reverse, many of which were likely never needed. A few modern & very discrete archival mends. There is some wear at some folds with the loss on pages 1 & 4 being very minimal and affecting a few words.
One of the more rare Civil War newspapers we have had the pleasure to offer. For what it's worth, a little note which came with the newspaper reads: "This newspaper...was picked up in a deserted cabin in the South during the Civil War....by H.T. Antes, Army Surgeon."
Category: Yankee
No Longer Available
