The Best of the Best
The Best of the Best
Death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart... Slaves revolting in Haiti...
Item #700316
December 01, 1791
THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, December, 1791
* Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart death (1st report)
* Musical composer - Classical music era original
Presented inconspicuously among other death reports is a brief yet very notable report on the death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, ending with a prophetic comment: " At Vienna, Wolfgang Mozart, the celebrated German composer. ... See More
John Hancock... Great masthead... British "seeks" a new commander...
Item #693170
January 21, 1782
THE INDEPENDENT LEDGER & THE AMERICAN ADVERTISER, Boston, Jan. 21, 1782
* One of the more patriotic mastheads from the Revolutionary War
Perhaps the best feature of this issue is the masthead engraving which features a very patriotic theme: "All Hands with One Inflamed Enlightened Heart." signifying the 13 united colonies having a common, patriotic purpose. One of the mo... See More
Pressure to end the war in America: ministers remain obstinate...
Item #697394
May 14, 1782
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, May 14, 1782
* Rare Revolutionary War publication
The front page has mention from London that: "The measures which injured the King's affairs the most in Virginia was the news arriving there that Lord Dunmore was to be their governor again...it arrested the activity of every man inclined to loyalty & quickened ... See More
Great map of America & the West Indies...
Item #701522
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
Fall of Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy...
Item #689661
April 04, 1865
NEW YORK HERALD, April 4, 1865
* Fall of Richmond VA Virginia
* Civil War nearing the end
First column heads on the front page about the fall of Richmond: "GRANT" "Richmond Ours" "Weitzel Entered the Rebel Capital Yesterday Morning" "Many Guns Captured" "Our Troops Received with Enthusiasm" "The City On Fire" "Pe
... See More
* Fall of Richmond VA Virginia
* Civil War nearing the end
First column heads on the front page about the fall of Richmond: "GRANT" "Richmond Ours" "Weitzel Entered the Rebel Capital Yesterday Morning" "Many Guns Captured" "Our Troops Received with Enthusiasm" "The City On Fire" "Pe
The Jay Treaty: preventing another war...
Item #697906
July 13, 1795
INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Boston, July 9 and 13, 1795 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 13th taking all of the front page and a bit of... See More
Official report that the Louisiana Purchase treaty has been concluded...
Item #684523
July 25, 1803
BOSTON GAZETTE, July 25, 1803
* The Louisiana Purchase Treaty
Page 2 has: "By the President of the United States...A PROCLAMATION" calling for a special session of Congress, signed in type: Th. Jefferson.
This is followed by a very historic report headed: "Louisiana - Official" which mentions in part: "Dispatches from the American ministers at Paris...contain ... See More
Lincoln's first inaugural address... "We are not enemies, but friends"...
Item #688044
March 08, 1861
KENNEBEC JOURNAL, Augusta, Maine, March 8, 1861
* President Abraham Lincoln
* Inauguration - inaugural address
* "We are not enemies, but friends"
Page 3 begins with the: "Inaugural Address" which is signed in type at its conclusion: Abraham Lincoln. It takes nearly 2 columns.
Page 2 has a lengthy editorial on: "Lincoln's Inaugural". It includes in ... See More
Killing of Booth & the Lincoln funeral...
Item #688987
May 13, 1865
FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, May 13, 1865
* Killing of John Wilkes Booth
* President Abraham Lincoln funeral
* Prints - illustrations - wood engravings
The front page shows: "Sergeant Boston Corbett, the Man who shot Booth" as well as a dramatic print of: "The Killing of Booth, the Assassin--The Dying Murderer drawn from the Barn where he had Taken Refuge.... 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 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
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
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
Rare newspaper printed on board a transcontinental train...
Item #684697
May 31, 1870
TRANS-CONTINENTAL, Summit Sierra Nevadas, California, May 31, 1870
* First Transcontinental Railroad "Overland Route"
* Very first excursion published newspaper (#6)
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 i... See More
Rare newspaper printed on board a transcontinental train...
Item #684698
May 30, 1870
TRANS-CONTINENTAL, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 30, 1870
* First Transcontinental Railroad "Overland Route"
* Very first excursion published newspaper (#5)
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 e... See More
Testimony of Joseph Galloway against General Howe... Thomas Paine...
Item #693175
November 23, 1779
PENNSYLVANIA PACKET, Philadelphia, November 23, 1779 One-third of the front page has reports from the Penna. General Assembly, with a prefacing note signed in type by Thomas Paine, who was the Clerk of the General Assembly at that time.
There is a similar note signed by Thomas Paine on page 2 as well.
Half of page 2 is taken up with the continued: "Examination of Joseph Galloway befor... 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
Rare newspaper printed on board a transcontinental train...
Item #683143
June 25, 1870
TRANS-CONTINENTAL, San Francisco, California, June 25, 1870
* First Transcontinental Railroad "Overland Route"
* Very first excursion published newspaper (#7)
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 is... See More
Putting the Constitution into effect, & New York is the capital...
Item #687174
September 20, 1788
THE MASSACHUSETTS CENTINEL, Boston, Sept. 20, 1788
* United States Constitution into effect
* New York City as nation's capital
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 ant... See More
The coronation of King George III...
Item #689557
September 29, 1761
THE LONDON CHRONICLE: or, UNIVERSAL EVENING POST, London, Sept. 29, 1761
* George III of the United Kingdom
The front page begins the report on the coronation of King George III. "This day his Majesty King George the Third, and Queen Charlotte, were crowned in the abbey church of Westminster, with the ceremonies accustomed upon that great and glorious solemnity...". The artic... 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
Scathing comments about Callender...
Item #685598
September 01, 1802
AURORA GENERAL ADVERTISER, Frankford, Sept. 1, 1802
* President Thomas Jefferson
* James Callender squabble
Note that this issue was published in nearby Frankford to escape the Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia.
This is a significant issue on the James Calendar/Thomas Jefferson controversy (see information at the bottom). After having been denied a lucrative federal position by Jeffers... See More
One of the earliest 17th century newspapers you will find...
Item #689694
September 10, 1639
GAZETTE, Paris, France, Sept. 10, 1639 (date is in the imprint at the bottom of the back page).
* Earliest of newspapers to be had
This extremely early newspaper is filled with news reports with datelines from throughout Europe, including Rome, Frankfort, Cologne & elsewhere. There are no advertisements.
This was the very first regular newspaper published in France, started in 163... See More
Quite rare & early account of a baseball game with women players...
Item #683490
August 16, 1868
NEW YORK HERALD, Aug. 16, 1868
* Rare & Early Women's baseball
* Bloomer Girls - baseball pioneers
* Elizabeth Cady Stanton reporting
Page 3 under the heading: "The National Game" has a few accounts of "Base Ball Notes" one of which is the earliest newspaper report we have seen of a baseball game with women players.
The report notes: "Mrs. Cady Stant... See More
The Siege of Ninety-Six and more military events in South Carolina...
Item #696741
August 28, 1781
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, August 28, 1781
* Siege of Nintey Six - South Carolina
* General Nathanael Greene defeat
* American Revolutionary War
Half of page 2 is taken up with a letter from Major General Greene 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 event... See More
The first full-fledged Broadway musical...
Item #675111
September 12, 1866
NEW YORK TIMES, Sept. 12, 1866
* "The Black Crook" opening premiere
* Very first musical theatre performance of the first ever modern day musical!
* Niblo's Garden - Broadway - New York City
A terrific and historic issue relating to the first theatrical musical, "The Black Crook".
As Wikipedia notes: "Its significance is being considered the first ... See More
The early "scoop" on Abe Lincoln...
Item #687930
May 24, 1860
NEW YORK TRIBUNE, May 24, 1860
* Great Abraham Lincoln description
* Recent nomination for president
Abraham Lincoln rose to a certain level of national prominence in 1858, but more-so in 1860 when on May 18 the Republican Convention nominated him to be their candidate for the presidency.
Page 4 contains a fascinating article headed: "Mr. Lincoln's Abilities
... See More
* Great Abraham Lincoln description
* Recent nomination for president
Abraham Lincoln rose to a certain level of national prominence in 1858, but more-so in 1860 when on May 18 the Republican Convention nominated him to be their candidate for the presidency.
Page 4 contains a fascinating article headed: "Mr. Lincoln's Abilities
A notable event in the history of religious freedom in America...
Item #682626
December 26, 1724
THE POST-BOY, London, Dec. 26, 1724
* Clergyman John Checkley trial
* Religious freedom in America
This early title typically has little if any American content, but this issue is an exception. The back page has: "By a letter from New-England we have advice that on the 10th of November last came on the trial of Mr. John Checkley before the Superior Judges, upon an appeal from a ... See More
Notable pair of issues on the Maryland "Jew Bill" including its passage...
Item #682691
March 05, 1825
NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, May 29, 1819 and March 5, 1825
* Maryland Jew Bill w/ passage
* Jewish religion rights
* Jews to hold public office (MD)
A fine pair of issues on the passage of the Maryland "Jew Bill".
May 29, 1819 issue: Certainly the best content is full text of the speech presented by of H.M. Brackenridge in the Maryland House of Delegates when the Jew ... See More
Deaths of Joseph Haydn and Thomas Paine...
Item #684914
GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, July, 1809* Deaths of Joseph Haydn and Thomas Paine
The obituary listing inside includes: "At New York, the notorious Thomas Pain [sic]; whose death is an admonitory event; may the lesson that it inculcates be impressive..." & more. The opposing page has: "In Guppendorff, aged 76, Joseph Haydn, the celebrated composer... ju... See More
Prints of Victoria Woodhull, Susan B. Anthony, and Tennie Claflin...
Item #689014
February 04, 1871
FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, Feb. 4, 1871
* Women's - Woman's suffrage pioneers
A terrific issue on the suffrage movement, as an inside page is entirely taken up with a print captioned: "Washington, D.C. -- The Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives Receiving a Deputation of Female Suffragists, January 11th - A Lady Delegate Reading Her Argument i... See More
Grenada Confederate newspaper... Battle of Antietam...
Item #691873
October 15, 1862
THE MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL, Grenada, Mississippi, Oct. 15, 1862
* Very rare Confederate publication
* Publisher on the run
* Battle of Antietam
If the title and city of publication seem to be in conflict, they are not. This newspaper had a fascinating history during the Civil War. Memphis was a Confederate stronghold up through the Battle of Memphis on June 6, 1862, at which time the Y... See More
Capture of New Orleans, in a Confederate newspaper...
Item #684457
April 28, 1862
DAILY RICHMOND EXAMINER, Virginia, April 28, 1862
* Capture of New Orleans - Louisiana
* Union troops (enemy) enter city
* From the capital of the Confederacy
Not only is this a great Confederate newspaper, but it is from the capital of the Confederacy.
Certainly the most significant content would be the breaking news report on page 2 headed: "Capture of New Orleans By The Ene... See More
Return of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, with details...
Item #681183
November 04, 1806
THE BALANCE & COLUMBIAN REPOSITORY, Hudson, New York, Nov. 4, 1806
* Lewis and Clark Expedition
* Safe return - homeward bound
Page 7 has a nice report concerning the Lewis & Clark Expedition noting their safe return, with some accounting of their experiences.
It is prefaced with: "The National Intelligencer announces the arrival of the captains Lewis and Clarke, with th... See More
Lincoln's second inaugural address: 'With malice towards none...'
Item #683525
March 07, 1865
SACRAMENTO DAILY UNION, California, March 7, 1865
* Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration (historic)
* "With Malice Toward None, With Charity For All"
* End of Civil War & assassination nears
Page 2 has a very historic report headed: "Inauguration Day at Washington" which is primarily taken up with the: "Inaugural Address of President Lincoln". I... See More
First election of Abraham Lincoln...
Item #683569
November 09, 1860
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Nov. 9, 1860
* Abraham Lincoln is elected President
* From our nation's capital
Perhaps the best newspaper to have with news on any Presidential election, being from the nation's capital.
Page 2 has a report headed: "The Presidential Contest" which begins: "Abraham Lincoln is the next President of the United Stat... See More
Brigham Young's Proclamation of martial law... Much more Mormon reporting...
Item #690286
November 18, 1857
NEW YORK HERALD, Nov. 18, 1857
* Mormons - Mormonism
* Governor Brigham Young
* Proclamation of martial law
* Utah War declaration
Page 6 contains one of the more historic documents in Mormon history, with the report headed: "The Mormon War" which has a report from military officers on the situation: "...confirming the destruction of the supply trains...".
This ... See More
One of the earliest 17th century newspapers you will find...
Item #675381
February 23, 1641
GAZETTE, Paris, France, February 23, 1641 (date is in the imprint at the bottom of the back page).
* Earliest of newspapers to be had
This extremely early newspaper is filled with news reports with datelines from throughout Europe, including Naples, Rome, Nuremberg, Frankfort, Amsterdam, Cologne, with the back two pages containing reports from France. There are no advertisements.
This... See More
Sherman's Christmas present to President Lincoln and the nation...
Item #688778
December 26, 1864
NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Dec. 26, 1864 An historic issue reporting the fall of Savannah to the Union forces, with one of the more notable quotes part of the headlines, with ftpg: "CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH" "Hardee's Army Make Their Escape" "150 Guns, 13 Locomotives, 190 Cars & 33,000 Bales of Cotton Taken" "and more.
The most historic part of the report is Sherman... See More
Two full page Winslow Homer prints...
Item #688997
December 23, 1865
FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, Dec. 23, 1865
* Rare Winslow Homer prints
There are many prints within but certainly the two most significant are the full page prints by Winslow Homer, captioned: "Thanksgiving Day--Hanging Up the Musket" and the other: "Thanksgiving Day--The Church Porch". A small stain in the caption of each, otherwise very nice.
Other p... See More
Woodhull & Claflin open the first women's brokerage firm on Wall Street...
Item #673569
February 06, 1870
NEW YORK TIMES, Feb. 6, 1870
* Historic 1st female Wall Street brokerage opens
* Victoria Woodhull and Tennessee Claflin sisters
* "The Bewitching Brokers" shatters tradition
The top of the back page has an intriguing report of a very notable--yet widely unknown--Wall Street "first".
Under the column heads: "WALL STREET AROUSED" "The Female Brokers... See More
Timely report of the death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart...
Item #675460
December 01, 1791
THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, December, 1791
* Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart death (1st report)
* Musical composer - Classical music era original
Presented inconspicuously among other death reports is a brief yet very notable report on the death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, ending with a prophetic comment: " At Vienna, Wolfgang Mozart, the celebrated German composer. ... See More
Lincoln's last public speech and last proclamation...
Item #682496
April 12, 1865
NEW YORK HERALD, April 12, 1865
* Civil War is over speech
* Abraham Lincoln's last public speech
* Presidential proclamation 128
* Just 2 days before his assassination
This issue was printed just 2 days prior to Lincoln's assassination, with the front page containing what is noted as Lincoln's last speech.
The front page heads include: "OUR VICTORIES" ... See More
Congressmen sworn in & Congress begins...
Item #686051
April 15, 1789
THE MASSACHUSETTS CENTINEL, Boston, Apr. 15, 1789
* 1st United States Congress begins
* Congressmen & speaker are sworn in
A terrific issue on the very first days of work for the new federal Congress.
See the photo for the page 2 report from New York mentioning that the Speaker & other members of the House are sworn into office, with a printing of a portion of their o... See More
Newspaper appearance of a Walt Whitman poem...
Item #652163
March 22, 1850
SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, June 22, 1850
* Walt Whitman - American poet
* 2nd Appearance of "Resurgemus"
A very notable issue for any literary collector as the front page contains at the head of the first column the second newspaper appearance of Walt Whitman's poem "Resurgemus" signed by him in type at its conclusion: Walter Whitman. The very first appearance was on... See More
Surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga...
Item #671586
December 08, 1777
EDINBURGH EVENING COURANT, Scotland, Dec. 8, 1777
* Battles of Saratoga - New York
* General John Burgoyne surrenders
Certainly the most significant content is the page 2 report on the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, a very much-needed victory for the American cause. Some of the reporting includes: "...arrived in town express...we are sorry to say that Government have re... See More
Interment of Abraham Lincoln reported in his hometown newspaper...
Item #680774
May 05, 1865
ILLINOIS STATE JOURNAL, Springfield, May 5, 1865
* Abraham Lincoln's funeral & burial
* The very best title to be had
* An extremely rare opportunity here
Obviously a very damaged newspaper (see photos) however this is a newspaper from Lincoln's hometown, with coverage of his funeral & interment, and from the city where Lincoln was buried.
Although the front page has... See More
Unrecorded issue from Colorado...
Item #690238
August 21, 1880
THE SOUTHWEST, Animas City, Colorado, Aug. 21, 1880
* Very rare old West publication
* La Plata County - Durango
A quite rare title that printed in this town before moving to their new location of Durango in September. Gregory's 'Union List of American Newspapers' does not even have a listing for this title in Animas City. This is the volume 1, number 44 issue.
Various ar... See More
From rough & tumble Deadwood, Dakota Territory...
Item #683040
July 24, 1889
DEADWOOD DAILY PIONEER, Black Hills, (South Dakota) July 24, 1889
* Rare publication
* Famous wild West town
* "Wild Bill" Hickok fame
This city would arguably be--along with Tombstone & Dodge City--one of the more famous of all the towns from the rough & tumble days of the Old West, and only rarely do such issues come to light. It attracted larger-than-life Old Wes... See More
Guy Carleton on leaving America... The need to determine a permanent site for Congress...
Item #687368
September 27, 1783
THE PROVIDENCE GAZETTE & COUNTRY JOURNAL, Rhode Island, September 27, 1783
* General Guy Carleton
* Evacuation of New York
* Site for United States Congress ?
The entire front page and part of page 2 are taken up with a great letter on the need to determine a site for the federal government.
A few bits include: "Several writers have lately addressed the public shewing the n... See More
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