The Best of the Best
The Best of the Best
Great issue on the capture of New York City...
Item #662462
November 04, 1776
THE LONDON GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY, England, Nov. 4, 1776
* Capture of New York City
* American Independence
* Great year to have (1776)
* Revolutionary War
Almost the entirety of the front page is taken up with a letter from General Howe to Lord G. Germaine dated at "York Island, Sept. 21, 1776". It begins with an historic report: "I have the satisfaction to inform you... See More
An incredible display issue on the end of World War II...
Item #672620
August 14, 1945
THE WILMINGTON NEWS--EXTRA, North Carolina, August 14, 1945
* World War II ends
* Japanese surrenders
* Terrific headline for display
When it comes to huge, screaming headlines on the end of World War II they can't possibly get much better than this.
Taking about three-quarters of the front page, in letters 8 1/4 and 4 7/8 inches high, is: "JAPS QUIT ! " with subhead: "... See More
Statehood for Israel...
Item #674360
May 14, 1948
FITCHBURG SENTINEL, Massachusetts, May 14, 1948
* Israeli Declaration of Independence
* Early, same day 1st report
The front page has an extremely historic and desirable report headed: "First Hebrew Nation Proclaimed By Jews" with the subhead: " 'State Of Israel' Becomes Reality After Midnight" and other small subheads. The ftpg. also includes photos headed... See More
Much on events in the South: General Greene & others...
Item #658553
March 13, 1781
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, March 13, 1781
* Rare Revolutionary War title
* General Nathanael Greene
* Events in the South
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 ... See More
George Washington's state-of-the-union address...
Item #673464
November 14, 1792
COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Massachusetts, November 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 initiate... See More
Death of John Hancock in his hometown newspaper...
Item #681123
October 09, 1793
COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Oct. 9, 1793
* John Hancock death (1st report)
* Declaration of Independence signer
* 1st Massachusetts Governor
* From his hometown (rare)
Curiously, the ftpg. includes "A Proclamation for a Day of Public Thanksgiving By His Excellency John Hancock, Governor..." carrying over to pg. 2 where it is signed by him in type: John Hancock.
Contrast t... See More
Great foldout map of "West Florida" from Pensacola to New Orleans...
Item #680579
THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, England, February, 1772 * Nice map of "West Florida"
* Pensacola, Florida, to New Orleans, Louisiana
* Plate of a rare bird from the Hudson Bay
Certainly the most notable item in this issue is the very nice foldout map titled: "A Map of Part of WEST FLORIDA" from Pensacola to the Mouth of Iberville River, with a View to shew t... See More
Latest war news from the middle of the Revolutionary War...
Item #677118
December 26, 1778
THE PROVIDENCE GAZETTE & COUNTRY JOURNAL, Rhode Island, Dec. 26, 1778 The entire front page and half of page 2 are taken up with the second half of the: "Treaty of Amity and Commerce Between the Most Christian King and the United Starters of North America", this being the treaty of assistance between French and the colonies, which did much to support the American cause ag... See More
Wishful thinking on the fate of Cornwallis at Yorktown...
Item #658840
January 29, 1782
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, Jan. 29, 1782 The front page is mostly taken up with: "An Ordinance Ascertaining What Captures on Water Shall be Lawful". This lengthy text carries over to take close to half of page 2 & is signed in type by: John Hanson, President of Congress.
Page 3 has some optimistic hopes from London including: "Though the... See More
Provincial Congress meeting...
Item #667176
December 23, 1775
PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Dec. 23, 1775
* Meeting of a Provincial Congress
* Early Revolutionary War
Front page report mentions the meeting of a Provincial Congress in Charlestown, South Carolina. Interesting ftpg. letter concerning a runaway slave on board a British ship. Pg. 2 has political reports from New York & Philadelphia, including mention that
... See More
* Meeting of a Provincial Congress
* Early Revolutionary War
Front page report mentions the meeting of a Provincial Congress in Charlestown, South Carolina. Interesting ftpg. letter concerning a runaway slave on board a British ship. Pg. 2 has political reports from New York & Philadelphia, including mention that
Period mention of the great London Fire...
Item #680005
January 28, 1666
THE LONDON GAZETTE, England, January 28, 1666 (1667 by today's calendar).
* The Great London Fire period coverage
* Among the earliest newspapers to be had
It is very rare to find any period mention of the great London Fire of 1666 in newspapers of the day, certainly one reason being the death of publications in print at that time--very few beyond the London Gazette.
The back pag... See More
The Siege of Ninety-Six and more military events in South Carolina...
Item #658614
August 28, 1781
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, August 28, 1781
* Revolutionary War in the South
* Ninety-Six SC South Carolina
Half of page 2 is taken up with a letter from Major General Green in which he officers much on the Siege of Ninety-Six. Additional reports carry over to page 3 with much more detail on the military events in South Carolina. One item begins: &quo... See More
The Jay Treaty: preventing another war...
Item #660402
July 13, 1795
INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Boston, July 9 and 13, 1795
* Jay's Treaty - John
* George Washington
A very significant pair of issues as they contain, in its entirety, the full text of the Jay Treaty, one of the more significant 18th century documents in American history.
Taking all of the front page and a bit of page 2 in the July 9,
concluding in the issue of the... See More
Rare Hawaii newspaper from 1859...
Item #665465
February 05, 1859
THE POLYNESIAN, Honolulu, (Hawaii), Feb. 5, 1859
* Very rare 19th century Hawaiian publication
A quite rare newspaper from such an early date, in fact outside of "The Friend" which was more of a missionary newspaper, this is the second oldest Hawaii newspaper we have offered.
It is formatted much like other newspapers of the day with the ftpg. containing both ads & news ... See More
Revisiting Revere's 'midnight ride' to Lexington & Concord...
Item #678535
December 05, 1795
COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Dec. 5, 1795 Period accounts of Paul Revere's legendary ride on the eve of the battle of Lexington and Concord are exceedingly rare. The few we discovered over the past 45 years are exceptionally brief.
As Paul Revere was running for the vacated post of town treasurer for Boston, a friend writes a piece for this Boston newspaper in support of him and includes... See More
Much on Lewis & Clark & their exploration to the Pacific...
Item #679743
August 26, 1807
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Aug. 26, 1807
* Lewis and Clark expedition - Pacific
The back page 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 fol... See More
Rare Confederate newspaper... Confederates have stopped Sherman?
Item #684217
August 04, 1864
THE CAMDEN DAILY JOURNAL, South Carolina, August 4, 1864
* Rare Confederate publication
* William T. Sherman
* March to the sea is stopped?
A nice and quite rare title from late in the Confederacy. The front page has various news items concerning the war including: "The news of the defeat & capture of the most famous of all the Yankee raiders comes in like a welcome gleam of... See More
Rare and very early from the "Alaska Territory"...
Item #664597
July 17, 1886
THE ALASKAN, Sitka, Alaska Territory, July 17, 1886
* Very rare Alaska Territorial issue
Rarely are newspapers from Alaska found from before the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897 when interest grew dramatically. This newspaper pre-dates the gold rush by over ten years. This is the volume one, number 37 issue of this title.
The format of the newspaper is much like other newspapers of the day,... See More
The prelude to the final battles at Yorktown...
Item #658618
September 04, 1781
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, Sept. 4, 1781
* Surrender of Cornwallis nears
* Siege of Yorktown prelude
* Revolutionary War ending close
Page 2 begins with a report from Annapolis which foreshadows the coming events at Yorktown: "The apprehensions of an invasion are at present dissipated; the fleet, supposed to be destined for Baltimore or t... See More
General Lawrence O'Bryan Branch... The Confederate version of "Harper's Weekly"...
Item #661529
June 07, 1863
SOUTHERN ILLUSTRATED NEWS, Richmond, June 7, 1863
* General Lawrence O'Bryan Branch
* Very rare Confederate title
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 is entirely taken up with a nice illustration of: "Genera... See More
Ulysses S. Grant clarifies his infamous "Jew Order"....
Item #663858
November 30, 1868
NEW YORK HERALD, Nov. 30, 1868
* General Ulysses S. Grant
* General Order No. 11 - Jews
Page 5 has a very significant Judaica item headed: "Letter From General Grant on the Hebrew Question."
This relates to Ulysses S. Grant's General Order #11 from during the Civil War, known as the infamous "Jew Order". A website has further details on Grant
... See More
* General Ulysses S. Grant
* General Order No. 11 - Jews
Page 5 has a very significant Judaica item headed: "Letter From General Grant on the Hebrew Question."
This relates to Ulysses S. Grant's General Order #11 from during the Civil War, known as the infamous "Jew Order". A website has further details on Grant
A different title from Tombstone, Arizona...
Item #687226
June 04, 1889
TOMBSTONE PROSPECTOR, Arizona, June 4, 1889 We have had a few other newspapers from the iconic Old West town of Tombstone, but this is perhaps the most uncommon. The masthead features a great engraving of a miner on a mule.
The content is much as would be expected from a mining town, including many legal notices concerning mines, etc. A wealth of ads as well.
Four pages, various chipping n... See More
Creating the "Great Seal" of the state of California... Constitution of the state of Deseret...
Item #677165
December 22, 1849
NEW YORK WEEKLY TRIBUNE, Dec. 22, 1849
* State of Deseret Constitution
* Mormons - Mormonism - Utah
* Great Seal of California adopted
The front page has an article which includes a very nice engraving captioned: "The Great Seal of the State of California" and a related article which begins: "The Convention yesterday adopted the above design of a Great Seal for the new... See More
Earliest Florida newspaper we have offered...
Item #675979
June 15, 1822
THE FLORIDIAN, Pensacola, June 15, 1822 Not only is this the earliest Florida newspaper we have offered, it is a volume 1 issue of the earliest title in Pensacola, and one of the earliest newspapers in all of Florida. Its desirability is more in its early date than in its content, which has typical news reports and include: "From Fort Smith, Arkansas" "Alligator's Cruise&q... See More
General Howe proclamations in a Tory newspaper... The latest war news...
Item #616816
November 26, 1777
THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER OR THE WEEKLY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, Nov. 26, 1777
* Revolutionary War Tory original
* Rare Pro British issue from America
* General William Howe proclamations
This was a strongly Tory newspaper published in Philadelphia when the British were in occupation. It began in 1775 and ended when the British evacuated the city in May of 1778. Not surprisingly, the ... See More
Obvious bias against the Mormons: a very early report...
Item #657362
June 01, 1831
HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE, Northampton, Mass., June 1, 1831
* Among the earliest of reports to be had
* re. "Book of Mormon" (bible)
* Latter Day Saints movement
The earliest Mormon report we've found in a popular newspaper title is the July 16, 1831 issue of "Niles Weekly Register" which we are currently offering for $370.
This issue pre-dates that report by 1 1/2 m... See More
Great map of the West Indies & America...
Item #666255
THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, February, 1762 * Very early Southern America map w/ West Indies
Certainly the prime feature of this early magazine is the terrific & very displayable foldout map titled: "An Accurate Map of the West Indies with the Adjacent Coast" as noted in the ornate cartouche. This map shows much of present-day Georgia & Florida to present-day... See More
The great Philadelphia State House print...
Item #680365
GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, September, 1752 * Pennsylvania State House
* Philadelphia PA print
* Independence Hall
Despite the 48 pages of text within this issue the prime content is certainly the full page plate captioned: "A View of the State House in Philadelphia" which would later be known as Independence Hall.
This is a print of this famous building 24 years bef... See More
General Howe proclamations in a Tory newspaper.....
Item #661835
November 19, 1777
THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER OR THE WEEKLY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, Nov. 19, 1777
* Revolutionary War Tory original
* Rare Pro British issue from America
* General William Howe proclamations
This was a strongly Tory newspaper published in Philadelphia when the British were in occupation. It began in 1775 and ended when the British evacuated the city in May of 1778. Not surprisingly, the ... See More
A Tombstone newspaper with an ad for the O.K. Corral...
Item #673608
November 21, 1886
THE DAILY TOMBSTONE, Arizona, November 21, '86 (1886)
* Gunfight at the O.K. Corral fame
* Rare advertisement of the famed livery stable
This may well be the consummate "Old West town" much romanticized in movies and television shows, perhaps most famous for the gunfight at the OK Corral involving Wyatt Earp and the Clanton gang. I would almost suggest that this title is more ... See More
Jefferson's annual message, with mention of Lewis & Clark...
Item #687914
December 11, 1806
INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE, Boston, Dec. 1, 1806 Beginning on the front page & concluding on patge 2 is the: "President's "Message" communicated to Congress, it being Jefferson's state-of-the-union address to the nation.
Of significance is some fine mention of the Lewis and Clark expedition which appears on the front page: "...The expedition of Messrs. Lewis and C... See More
Fine reporting in this first report of Lincoln's assassination...
Item #677923
April 15, 1865
AUBURN DAILY ADVERTISER & UNION, New York, April 15, 1865
* Abraham Lincoln assassination (1st report)
* Ford's Theater - John Wilkes Booth
An exciting issue reporting the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, as inside pages have various dispatches as the news was received at the printing office.
Page 2 begins with a report from the editor headed: "Assassination of Preside... See More
Formation of the Mormon Church...
Item #667086
July 16, 1831
NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, July 16, 1831
* Formation of the Mormon Church
* Historic issue
Page 17 has a fine and very early account of the formation of the Mormon church, headed: "Mormonism".
The bias against the Mormons is revealed in the report, which includes: "...certain knaves, pretending to have some holy writings hidden under a stone in Ontario c
... See More
* Formation of the Mormon Church
* Historic issue
Page 17 has a fine and very early account of the formation of the Mormon church, headed: "Mormonism".
The bias against the Mormons is revealed in the report, which includes: "...certain knaves, pretending to have some holy writings hidden under a stone in Ontario c
A Williamsburg, Viriginia report...
A Tory newspaper from the Revolutionary War...
Item #671965
February 21, 1778
THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER OR THE PHILADELPHIA MARKET-DAY ADVERTISER, February 21, 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.
The entire front page is taken up with ads. Page 2 has a nice letter... See More
By America's first newspaper publisher...
Item #670170
February 20, 1679
THE PROTESTANT (DOMESTICK) INTELLIGENCE, OR NEWS BOTH FROM CITY AND COUNTRY, London, England, February 15, 1681
* Rare 17th century periodical
Here is a rare opportunity to purchase a newspaper by Benjamin Harris. Harris was the first newspaper publisher in the colonies, having published "Public Occurrences Both Foreign & Domestick" in Boston in 1690. It lasted for only o... See More
Rare newspaper printed on board a transcontinental train...
Item #672794
June 25, 1870
TRANS-CONTINENTAL, San Francisco, California, June 25, 1870 This is a very fascinating newspaper, borne in the ingenious mind of a publisher who decided to take a small printing press on board the first transcontinental railroad excursion and publish 6 issues westbound and 6 issues eastbound. Printed on a Gordon press in the baggage car, it is considered the very first newspaper compos... See More
Great map showing North America... On taxing America without their consent...
Item #682287
THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, April, 1776 The prime feature of this issue is the great map showing all of the western hemisphere titled: "A New Projection of the Western Hemisphere of the Earth on a Plane shewing the proportions of its several parts nearly as on a Globe, By J. Hardy, at Eton College." The map is dated at the bottom: "by F. Newbery, Ludgat
... See More
Criticizing Burgoyne for his failure in America...
Item #672229
October 02, 1779
THE PROVIDENCE GAZETTE & COUNTRY JOURNAL, Rhode Island, Oct. 2, 1779
* American Revolutionary War
* Gen. John Burgoyne failures
Almost the entire front page is taken up with a letter: "To Lieutenant-General Burgoyne" taken from a London newspaper and reprinted here.
Not surprisingly the theme is critical of Burgoyne, who is best remembered as the commanding general at S... See More
Rare Texas newspaper from during the Civil War...
Item #663218
December 30, 1864
THE HOUSTON TRI-WEEKLY TELEGRAPH, Houston, Texas, Dec. 30, 1864
* Very rare issue from the Southwest Confederacy
Newspapers from Texas are very uncommon especially from before or during the Civil War.
Quite lengthy and beginning on pg 2 is: "Wheeler's Last and Greatest Raid". It concludes on pg. 3. Page 3 has a detailed advertisement with the names and descriptions of th... See More
Rare newspaper printed on board a transcontinental train...
Item #676993
July 04, 1870
TRANS-CONTINENTAL, Boston, June 20, 1870 This is a very fascinating newspaper, borne in the ingenious mind of a publisher who decided to take a small printing press on board the first transcontinental railroad excursion and publish 6 issues westbound and 6 issues eastbound. Printed on a Gordon press in the baggage car, it is considered the very first newspaper composed, printed, & ... See More
Criticizing the King's speech... Independence is not to be granted...
Item #658845
March 12, 1782
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, March 12, 1782
* George III of the United Kingdom
* American independence in question
A full column on the ftpg. & a full column on page 2 are taken up with: "Common Sense on the King of England's Speech" in which the king stubbornly refuses to admit defeat with the situation in America.
This commentary p... See More
Putting the Constitution into effect, & New York is the capital...
Item #687174
September 20, 1788
THE MASSACHUSETTS CENTINEL, Boston, Sept. 20, 1788 The top of the front page has an article signed by: "A Federalist" which is very supportive of the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the various states. It notes in part: "...The game that is now playing by the antifederalists is their last chance--Under the fallacious guise of being advocates for wha... See More
Rare newspaper printed on board a transcontinental train...
Item #683143
June 25, 1870
TRANS-CONTINENTAL, San Francisco, California, June 25, 1870 This is a very fascinating newspaper, borne in the ingenious mind of a publisher who decided to take a small printing press on board the first transcontinental railroad excursion and publish 6 issues westbound and 6 issues eastbound. Printed on a Gordon press in the baggage car, it is considered the very first newspaper compos... See More
The Act creating the Bank of the United States...
Item #664965
THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE, Boston, March, 1791* First Bank of the United States creation
The issue begins with textual: "Sketches of the President Of the United States" which is nearly a 4 1/2 page biography of George Washington (the plate called for is lacking). Also inside is the conclusion of: "Description of Cape Cod & the County of Barnstable" which takes 2 1/2... See More
Map of Hudson River region... Franklin on exchange of prisoners...
Item #678034
GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, January, 1778 * Rare Revolutionary War New York map
* Benjamin Franklin letter
* Ethan Allen
Of great significance is the very nice foldout map headed: "Map of Hudson's River with the Adjacent Country", which shows from Crown Point & Ticonderoga, south to Philadelphia, & also from Long Island to Lake Ontario with considerable de... See More
Exceedingly rare Napoleon occupation newspaper...
Item #681467
September 27, 1811
COURRIER D'AMSTERDAM or the COURIER VAN AMSTERDAM, September 27, 1811
* Exceedingly rare Napoleon Bonaparte occupation newspaper
This was a daily newspaper published in Amsterdam during the French occupation of Holland. It is bilingual: half printed in French and half in Dutch. Two mastheads as well, one in each language.
In 1810 Napoleon Bonaparte annexed Holland to his empire, h... See More
Latest news on the war, in a rare newspaper...
Item #658715
July 01, 1779
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL & GENERAL ADVERTISER, Providence, Rhode Island, July 1, 1779
* Very rare American Revolutionary War publication
A truly rare title from the Revolutionary War, as it lasted for less than 1 1/2 years from March, 1779 to August, 1781. This is the volume 1, #16 issue.
The front page has a report about the precarious situation of the American currency. Also ... See More
One of the best baseball prints...
Item #672142
March 23, 1889
THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, March 23, 1889
* Great baseball prints - illustrations
Note: this is just a portion of the issue, 8 pages but including the mentioned centerfold.
This terrific double page centerfold is captioned: "The American Baseball Players at Kennington Oval--Visit of the Prince of Wales". It includes some 19 scenes of various "plays" in basebal... See More
Jim Thorpe wins Olympic gold... In a Carlisle newspaper...
Item #680041
July 09, 1912
VALLEY SENTINEL, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, July 9, 1912
* Jim Thorpe wins Olympic gold medal
* Pentathlon - 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
Alexander Graham Bell & his telephone featured on the front page...
Item #669259
March 31, 1877
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, New York, March 31, 1877
* Alexander Graham Bell
* Invention of the telephone
A front page report headed: "The Telephone" begins: "We have already laid before our readers accounts of the wonderful performance of Professor Bell's telephone, an instrument remarkable not merely for its phenomenal capabilities but also because of its having been brought t... See More
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