The Best of the Best
The Best of the Best
California becomes a state... Key acts in the Compromise of 1850...
Item #682815
September 12, 1850
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Sept. 12, 1850
* California joins the Union (statehood)
* From the nation's capital
Not only does page 3 contain the official Act of Congress creating California as a state, the report is in the newspaper which was the unofficial voice of the government in any matters political.
Page 3 has: "An Act for the Admission of the State of C... See More
Washington involved in a plan to exchange prisoners...
Item #687346
May 27, 1779
THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET OR THE GENERAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, May 27, 1779
* American Revolutionary War
* General George Washington
* Exchange of prisoners talks
The front page begins with two detailed reward ads for deserted soldiers.
One-third of the front page and over one-third of page 2 are taken up with the: "Report of Commissioners for Settling a Cartel for the Excha... See More
Unique "Yankee" & "Confederate" pair of the same date...
Item #696643
July 22, 1861
Here is a unique opportunity for a pair of issues--one Yankee and the other Confederate--of the identical date of July 22, 1861 both reporting on the First Battle of Bull Run, one from the New York Tribune and the other from the Confederate capital of Richmond, titled the Daily Dispatch, providing a perspective of how the news was reported with all the "spin" & biases that ... See More
Nice headlines on Lincoln's first election...
Item #691442
November 08, 1860
THE LITCHFIELD ENQUIRER, Connecticut, Nov. 8, 1860
* Abraham Lincoln elected president
* America about to change
Page 2 begins with one of the nicest stack of column heads on Lincoln's first election we have seen. They included: "VICTORY ! VICTORY !! " "Great Republican Victory!" " 'Old Abe' the Next President!!" "Secession And Fusion Simmered... See More
Washington agrees to help establish a military force... Much on the end of the war...
Item #687373
September 18, 1783
THE INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE & THE UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Boston, Sept. 18, 1783
* General George Washington
* United States military force
* Revolutionary War ending events
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 other.
The... See More
The King addressses Parliament on the dire situation in America...
Item #687287
February 23, 1782
THE NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE and GENERAL ADVERTISER, Portsmouth, Feb. 23, 1782
* Rare publication during Revolutionary War
This is certainly one of the less common titles from the Revolutionary War era.
Page 2 has a letter that notes in part: "...the Americans might yet be brought back to a constitutional subordination to this country!...". Also: "The troops destined for t... See More
Handsome, patriotic newspaper with war-related reports...
Item #687350
March 13, 1780
THE INDEPENDENT LEDGER & AMERICAN ADVERTISER, Boston, March 13, 1780
* One of the more patriotic mastheads from the Revolutionary War
The masthead includes one of the more patriotic engravings of the Revolutionary War, described by the motto just under the dateline: "All Hands With One Inflamed, Enlightened Heart" showing 13 arms--one for each colony--joined by holding a... See More
Rare & lengthy account of Joseph Smith running for President...
Item #684969
June 08, 1844
NILES' NATIONAL REGISTER, Baltimore, June 8, 1844
* Joseph Smith running for U.S. president
* Mormons - Mormonism - Latter-Day Saints
It is not known by many today that Joseph Smith, leader of the Latter-Day Saints, ran for president of the United States in 1844.
After several years of harassment and persecution in Missouri and Illinois, Smith wrote to five men expected to be can... See More
Great content on the Revolutionary War... Brandywine Creek... Chesapeake Bay....
Item #687422
February 14, 1778
THE PROVIDENCE GAZETTE and COUNTRY JOURNAL, Rhode Island, Feb. 14, 1778
* American Revolutionary War
* Battle of Brandywine & more
Almost the entire front page is taken up with a report on the treatment of American captures by the British, with considerable detail.
It begins: "The following is an account of the treatment that the Continental officers, taken in the... See More
Early American title from the French & Indian War...
Item #667759
May 13, 1762
THE BOSTON NEWS-LETTER AND NEW ENGLAND CHRONICLE, May 13, 1762
* Rare Colonial Massachusetts
* St. Augustine, Florida
This is a much later issue of America's first successful newspaper, founded in 1704.
The top of the ftpg. has a nice recruiting advertisements to enlist soldiers to fight in the on-going French & Indian War: "For Recruiting His Majesty's Regular Forc... See More
Rare and early title from Honolulu...
Item #667784
February 22, 1845
THE POLYNESIAN, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands, Feb. 22, 1845
* Very rare 19th century Hawaiian publication
One of the earliest newspapers we have offered from Hawaii, and fourteen years earlier than the few of this title we offered in recent years.
The "first series" of this title existed for just 1 1/2 years from 1840 to 1841. It proved unprofitable and was shut down. Th... See More
A different title from Tombstone, Arizona...
Item #673127
August 23, 1889
TOMBSTONE PROSPECTOR, Arizona, Aug. 23, 1889
* Very rare Western publication
* Gunfight at the O.K. Corral fame
We have had a few other newspapers from the iconic Old West town of Tombstone, but this is just the 2nd time we have seen this title. The masthead features a great engraving of a miner on a mule.
Various mining-related items as well as regional & national news reports. ... See More
Nice broadside on President Garfield's condition...
Item #695782
August 28, 1881
THE CHRONICLE--EXTRA, Sunday, August 28, 1881
* President James A. Garfield
A great, narrow slip of paper which is a broadside (printed on one side only) extra edition of this newspaper (no city or state are noted), created to announce good news concerning the recently assassinated President James Garfield".
Printed in one-column format the headlines at the top of the broadside ... See More
First report: Lincoln's assassination...
Item #690672
April 20, 1865
THE JOURNAL & COURIER, Little Falls, New York, April 20, 1865
* Abraham Lincoln assassination (1st report)
* Ford's Theater - John Wilkes Booth
Being a weekly newspaper this issue has the first report of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. All columns on all pages have wide, black mourning rules.
The front page has: "The Great Calamity" which is an essay on Lincol... See More
Colonies wish to declare themselves "free and independent"...
Item #667954
GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, July, 1776 * American Independence
* John Hancock (1776)
It is rare to find newspapers or magazines with the magical date of "July, 1776". Here is one.
The first article is: "Debate on the American Restraining Bill" with has much interesting reading and takes six pages. There are also 3 pages of text on events in America, includin... See More
Beautiful masthead... On the Battle of Eutaw Springs...
Item #682666
December 29, 1781
THE PENNSYLVANIA JOURNAL & THE WEEKLY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, December 29, 1781
* Rare 18th century American publication
* Great masthead engraving for display
I have always thought this newspaper has one of the finest masthead, featuring an uncommonly large engraving with an Indian and an angel on either side of the "Journal", plus a 3-masted ship & other embellis... See More
George Washington's state-of-the-union address...
Item #686710
November 14, 1792
COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Nov. 14, 1792
* President George Washington
* State of the Union Address
Taking over half of the front page and concluding on page two where it is signed in script type: G. Washington, is President George Washington's "Speech to Both Houses of Congress".
This was his annual state-of-the-union address, a tradition which he initiated in 1790 a... See More
On George Washington's death & funeral... Front page report of his death...
Item #697210
January 08, 1800
COLUMBIAN CENTINEL & MASSACHUSETTS FEDERALIST, Boston, Jan. 8, 1800
* George Washington death and funeral
The front page has a nice account headed: "Washington's Last Illness" which begins: "Some time in the night of Friday, the 10th instant, having been exposed to a rain on the proceeding day, General Washington was attacked with an inflammatory affection of the... See More
Rare and early title from Honolulu...
Item #668089
March 29, 1845
THE POLYNESIAN, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands, March 29, 1845
* Very rare 19th century Hawaiian publication
One of the earliest newspapers we have offered from Hawaii, and fourteen years earlier than the few of this title we offered in recent years.
The "first series" of this title existed for just 1 1/2 years from 1840 to 1841. It proved unprofitable and was shut down. T... See More
Chicago 'Black Sox': the entire 1919 World Series....
Item #697216
October 02, 1919
NEW YORK TIMES, a complete set of all 8 games of the infamous 1919 Major League Baseball World Series between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds, to become known as the "Black Sox" series due to the alleged corruption of the White Sox team to throw the series.
This set has dates October 2 through 10, a consecutive run of nine issues.
October 2: ftpg. column heads: "
... See More
This set has dates October 2 through 10, a consecutive run of nine issues.
October 2: ftpg. column heads: "
From Houston during the Civil War...
Item #690808
April 10, 1865
THE HOUSTON TRI-WEEKLY TELEGRAPH, April 10, 1865
* Very rare issue from the Southwest Confederacy
* Last days of the American Civil War
Newspapers from Texas are very uncommon, particularly from before or during the Civil War period.
Here is an issue from two days after Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, containing three dispatches about the Union assault ... See More
The famous "irrepressible conflict" speech...
Item #683605
November 13, 1858
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Nov. 13, 1858
* William H. Seward on slavery
* Irrepressible Conflict speech
Nearly three columns on page 2 are taken up with the: "Speech Of Mr. Seward, of New York, delivered at a political meeting held in Rochester on the 25th of October, 1858".
This speech, although harmful to his political career, put the slavery issue on... See More
The treaty whereby Cornwallis surrendered to Washington, with great commentary in Parliament...
Item #701066
December 08, 1781
THE NEWCASTLE CHRONICLE, England, Dec. 8, 1781
* Treaty of Peace
* Lord Cornwallis capitulation
* General George Washington
* Revolutionary War closing events
The front page has an: "Account of the number of British & German troops, and of ships of war, surrendered at Yorktown...".
But then the great document is on page 2 which prints the: "ARTICLES of CAPITULATI... See More
The Great London Fire of 1666....
Item #667936
October 11, 1666
LONDON GAZETTE, England, Oct. 11, 1666
* The Great London Fire
Contemporary mentions of the Great Fire of London are quite uncommon, as this was one of the only newspapers in print at that time and they gave minimal coverage to this tragic event. However, this issue has not one but two references to the Fire on the reverse, the first reading: "Such as have settled in new habitations sin... See More
A fine & decorative issue from the Revolutionary War...
Item #689458
November 11, 1780
THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET, Philadelphia, Nov. 11, 1780
* Revolutionary War
* Great masthead
Over half of the front page is a: "Message from the President & Supreme Executive Council to the Representatives of...Pennsylvania" in which are addressed many issues.
A few bits include: "...when our enemies, forsaking in no small degree the efforts of open and manly force, b... See More
End of war reports... Proclamation signed by John Hanson, the first President?
Item #694963
November 05, 1782
THE INDEPENDENT GAZETTEER; OR, THE CHRONICLE OF FREEDOM, Philadelphia, Nov. 5, 1782
* Revolutionary War ending events
* John Hanson - 1st American president ?
Page 2 has a lengthy letter which is reflective of the American-British relationship in the past. A few bits include: "...they have not duly considered the solid reasons and unanswerable arguments of the worthy, upright pe... See More
Lincoln formalizes Thanksgiving Day as a national holiday...
Item #680752
October 05, 1863
NEW YORK DAILY TRIBUNE, October 5, 1863
* President Abraham Lincoln proclamation
* America's national day of Thanksgiving begins
Although almost every President since George Washington has issued a proclamation for a "day of thanksgiving", typically celebrated in November but at other times of the year as well, it was Abraham Lincoln who formalized Thanksgiving Day to be... See More
From Texas during the Civil War...
Item #696937
September 23, 1864
GALVESTON TRI-WEEKLY NEWS, Texas, Sept. 23, 1864
* Very rare issue from the Southwest Confederacy
Although the title notes "Galveston" the dateline notes it was printed in nearby Houston, as it is likely moving a bit more inland offered greater security from the Yankee forces.
Confederate newspapers from Texas are very uncommon particularly from before or during the Civil Wa... See More
Beginning of the Australian Gold Rush: New South Wales would be changed forever...
Item #691164
September 19, 1851
THE TIMES, London, Sept. 19, 1851
* First Australian gold rush
* Colony of New South Wales
Page 4 has over two columns taken up with an excellent article concerning the New South Wales Gold Rush in Australia.
The gold rush began a bit earlier in 1851. This period in the history of New South Wales resulted in a rapid growth in the population and significant boost to the economy of the... See More
Jim Thorpe at the 1912 Olympics...
Item #695620
July 19, 1912
VALLEY SENTINEL, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, July 19, 1912
* Jim Thorpe wins Olympic gold medal
* Decathlon - Stockholm Summer Olympic
* Best publication to be had (very rare)
Although legendary athlete Jim Thorpe was born & grew up in Oklahoma, he has very close ties with the city of Carlisle. It was in 1904 when Thorpe attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School that his incredi... See More
Abraham Lincoln's last public speech & last proclamation...
Item #688028
April 12, 1865
NEW YORK TRIBUNE, April 12, 1865
* Civil War is over speech
* Abraham Lincoln's last public speech
* Presidential proclamation 128
* Just 2 days before his assassination
The front page has one column heads including: "RECONSTRUCTION" "Important Speech by the President" "His Views On Peace & Reconstruction" with the text of his speech beginning:... See More
Reference to the 1666 Great Fire of London...
Item #679631
October 04, 1666
THE LONDON GAZETTE, England, Oct. 4, 1666
* The great plague
* London fire report
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 newspapers publishing in 1666 was extremely small, this tit... See More
Lincoln's inauguration...
Item #697916
March 18, 1865
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, March 18, 1865 The entire front page is taken up with a very nice engraving captioned: "President Lincoln Taking the Oath At His Second Inauguration, March 4, 1865" showing just that. A great display issue as such.
An inside page has an article: "The President's Inaugural" which includes the text of his second inaugural address, which i... See More
Lengthy on Abraham Lincoln and his 'Spot Resolutions" in Congress...
Item #692512
December 22, 1847
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Dec. 22, 1847
* Early Abraham Lincoln
* Spot Resolutions in Congress
Page 2 has an uncommonly lengthy report from [Abraham] Lincoln in the House of Representatives. This was his "spot resolution" and speech condemning the reasons for starting the Mexican War. He requests proof from President Polk that American blood wa
... See More
* Early Abraham Lincoln
* Spot Resolutions in Congress
Page 2 has an uncommonly lengthy report from [Abraham] Lincoln in the House of Representatives. This was his "spot resolution" and speech condemning the reasons for starting the Mexican War. He requests proof from President Polk that American blood wa
Official newspaper of the American Anti-Slavery Society... Celebrating the 13th Amendment...
Item #694654
February 18, 1865
NATIONAL ANTI-SLAVERY STANDARD, New York, Feb. 18, 1865
* 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
* Slavery banned - Emancipation of slaves
* Rare Anti-slavery publication
* American Civil War era
This newspaper was the official weekly newspaper of the American Anti-Slavery Society, established in 1840 & was published continuously until the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendme... See More
Texas becomes a state: from the nation's capital...
Item #689614
December 30, 1845
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Dec. 30, 1845
* Texas statehood
* Joins the Union
* Nation's capital
History tells us that on December 29, 1845, Texas became the 28th state in the United States. Formerly part of Mexico, Texas had been an independent country since 1836.
Page 4, under the heading "Texas", is half a column reporting on the discussions on the ad... See More
John Wilkes Booth appears at Ford's Theater...
Item #689534
November 05, 1863
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Nov. 5, 1863
* John Wilkes Booth as an actor
* Rare appearance at Ford's Theatre
A terrific issue with one of the more ironic twists of history, and only to be found in a newspaper from Washington, D.C.
Near the top of the front page is an article headed: "Ford's New Theatre--The Lady of Lyons". The writer reports on t... See More
Perhaps the best graphic Lincoln newspaper to be had...
Item #689046
March 09, 1861
FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, March 9, 1861
* Perhaps the best graphic Lincoln newspaper to be had...
The front page has text on: "Our Portrait of the President" which relates to the terrific double page centerfold captioned: "Portrait of Abraham Lincoln, President elect of the United States of America, With Scenes & Incidents in His Life."
The larg... See More
President Washington's state-of-the-union address...
Item #686595
THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE, Boston, December, 1790 * President George Washington
* 2nd State of the Union Address
Certainly the most notable content is the 1 1/2 pages taken up with: "President Washington's Speech" which was his second state-of-the-union address, signed by him in type: George Washington.
The balance of the issue is taken up with a wide range... See More
Defending Edgar Allan Poe... Significant Poe issue...
Item #687859
May 19, 1853
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., May 19, 1853 Page 2 has almost an entire column taken up with a very notable article headed: "Edgar A. Poe, by Henry Clay Preuss".
As a bit of background, the following from eapoe.org is very helpful:
“In the decade following Poe’s death, periodical writers on both sides of the Atlantic disputed his place in American
... See More
Terrific map of the "West Indies"... Hebrew customs discussed...
Item #682427
THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, January, 1740
* Early and rare 18th century map
* West Indies & Southeast America
Certainly the prime feature of this issue is the terrific foldout map titled: "An Accurate Map of the WEST INDIES, Exhibiting not only all the Islands possessed by the English, French, Spaniards, & Dutch, but also all the Towns and Settleme
... See More
* Early and rare 18th century map
* West Indies & Southeast America
Certainly the prime feature of this issue is the terrific foldout map titled: "An Accurate Map of the WEST INDIES, Exhibiting not only all the Islands possessed by the English, French, Spaniards, & Dutch, but also all the Towns and Settleme
Neil Armstrong steps on the moon in 1969...
Item #674380
July 21, 1969
WAPAKONETA DAILY NEWS, Ohio, July 21, 1969
* Best issue to have on this historic event ?
* Neil Armstrong's hometown newspaper
A great issue on this significant event as this newspaper is from Neil Armstrong's hometown. Typically issues of this date carried a headline "Man Walks On Moon" but this hometown newspaper personalized the report honoring their local hero with: &q... See More
Tonnage Act: further defining the historic Tariff Act of 1789..
Item #686033
July 24, 1789
THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET & DAILY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, July 24, 1789
* Tariff Act of 1789 (Tonnage)
* George Washington signs
* 1st major piece of legislation
The entire front page is taken up with ads including 7 illustrated ship ads.
Page 2 has an address to George Washington from the governor & council of North Carolina, which is followed by his reply which carries ove... See More
Much on events in the South: General Greene & others...
Item #697888
March 13, 1781
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, March 13, 1781 Most of the front page is taken up with reports concerning the: "Account of the Examination& Commitment of John Trumbull, for High Treason", some of the "rebel governor" of Connecticut who was accused of being a spy and who spent 7 months in a London prison.
Page 2 has a great wealth of cont... See More
In a pro-South newspaper: Lincoln's inaugural address on the front page...
Item #701259
March 08, 1865
THE CRISIS, Columbus, Ohio, March 8, 1865
* Abraham Lincoln's inauguration
* Inaugural address on the ftpg.
* Closing weeks of the Civil War - pro-Confederate title
Among the front page reports is: "Inauguration of President Lincoln--His Address" which contains his address in full, ending with the immortal words: "With malice towards none, with charity for all, wit... See More
Much on the funeral of George Washington...
Item #687225
January 04, 1800
COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Jan. 4, 1800
* George Washington funeral
* President John Adams
All four pages have wide black mourning rules for the death of George Washington.
Page 2 has: "Further Respectful Testimonials, Sacred to George Washington, Deceased" "By the President of the United States of America, A Proclamation" signed in type: John Adams, concerning: ... See More
On the 1929 stock market crash, in the New York Times...
Item #684984
October 23, 1929
THE NEW YORK TIMES, October 23, 1929
* Stock market crash of 1929 begins
* Eve of the initial great selling spree
The stock market crash of 1929 did much to define America for the next decade, resulting in the Great Depression and all the trauma relating to it. It seemed common for many newspapers to put a positive spin on the on-going tragedy, so front page reports often conflicted w... See More
Much on Lewis & Clark & their exploration to the Pacific...
Item #678714
October 02, 1807
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Oct. 2, 1807
* Lewis and Clark expedition
Page 3 has a very lengthy: "Proposals...For Publishing LEWIS and CLARK'S Tour to the Pacific Ocean, through the Interior of the Continent of North America..." noting the details that will be in "Volume First" as well as "Volume Second". And this is followed by another d... See More
Ruth slams 3 homers in one World Series game...
Item #681343
October 07, 1926
ALLENTOWN MORNING CALL, Pennsylvania, Oct. 7, 1926
* Babe Ruth hits 3 home runs
* World Series of baseball
* New York Yankees
In the annals of World Series history one of the outstanding events remains Babe Ruth hitting three home runs in the fourth game of the 1926 World Series. That event is reported in this issue.
Of significance--and not commonly found--is the great front page c... See More
A Loyalist states why America is at war...
Item #689079
February 28, 1778
THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER OR THE PHILADELPHIA MARKET-DAY ADVERTISER, Feb. 28, 1778
* Revolutionary War Tory original
* Rare Pro British issue from America
This was a strongly Tory (supportive of the British cause) newspaper which began in 1775 and closed shop in May of 1778 when the British evacuated Philadelphia.
Half of the front page first column is a: "Proclamation" signe... See More
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