The Best of the Best
The Best of the Best
Great Thomas Nast Santa Claus...
Item #173054
December 29, 1866
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Dec. 29, 1866 The front page has a lengthy poem with a related print titled: "The Setter's Christmas Eve". Inside contains a full page: "Hauling Home the Christmas Boughs"; halfpg: "Scene of the Holy Nativity, Bethlehem" & "The Wise Men Following the Star in the East". Also: a halfpg: "John Surratt"... See More
"Proud Music of the Sea Storm" -by Walt Whitman - submitted by Ralph Waldo Emerson...
Item #652371
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY, February, 1869* Walt Whitman's "Proud Music of the Sea Storm" - 1st appearance
* submitted to The Atlantic Monthly on behalf of Whitman as a favor
Pages 199-203 have Walt Whitman's, "Proud Music of the Sea Storm," which, according to the Walt Whitman Archive, has the distinction of being a poem submitted to The Atlantic Monthly by Ralph Wal... See More
Great on the Thomas Sims fugitive slave case in Boston...
Item #696676
May 10, 1851
GLEASON'S PICTORIAL DRAWING-ROOM COMPANION, Boston, May 10, 1851
* Thomas Sims - Negro
* Fugitive slave case
This was perhaps America's first successful illustrated newspaper, existing from 1851 thru 1859. It set the format for other more successful titles to emulate, most notably Frank Leslie's Illustrated (1855) and Harper's Weekly (1857). All were modeled after the... See More
Robert Smalls and The USS Planter...
Lincoln repeals Hunter's controversial order emancipating slaves...
Item #712776
May 20, 1862
NEW YORK WORLD, May 20, 1862
* General David Hunter's Emancipation order
* Abraham Lincoln rebuffs (nullifies)
* Robert Smalls & companions to be compensated
The front page begins with column heads: "PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION" "Gen. Hunter's Proclamation Void" "The Power of Declaring Slaves Free Belongs to the President" "An Appeal To... See More
With the word "Confederate" in the title...
Item #701936
June 01, 1864
THE DAILY CONFEDERATE, Raleigh, North Carolina, June 1, 1864
* Very rare rebel publication
It is always desirable to find a newspaper having the word "Confederate" in the title. Here is one.
There is a wealth of war reporting, some articles including: "An Appeal to the People of the Confederate States" "Treason" "From the Enemy's Lines--Grant... See More
Imports, exports... Yankee Doodle...
Item #687381
March 06, 1769
THE PENNSYLVANIA CHRONICLE & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, March 6, 1769
* Early Yankee Doodle song mention
* Importation - exportation tensions
The front page has an interesting article about: "...George being now master of the ceremonies made the music play just as he pleased; and one night...he swore he would exhibit to the company a dance which had never been attem... See More
Much debate on the value of the Revolutionary War...
Item #715063
March 02, 1778
EXTRA SUPPLEMENT TO THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, March 2, 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.
An unusual "Extra" edition, with the entire front page taken up with a report ... See More
Great Thomas Nast Santa Claus print...
Item #701732
December 24, 1881
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 24, 1881
* Thomas Nast Santa Claus wood block engraving
The full front page is a great Santa Claus print by the famed artist Thomas Nast: "Caught!" showing Santa with a child's arms around him.
Thomas Nast is credited with creating the modern version of Santa Claus. The doublepage centerfold is also a nice Thomas Nast Christmas pri... See More
Not found in Gregory…
Item #701786
November 28, 1851
THE PACIFIC, San Francisco, California, Nov. 28, 1851
* California Gold Rush era
* Rare Old West publication
A very scarce title, in fact not only is the first we have located in our 48 years but it is not listed in Gregory. This is the volume 1, number 15 issue.
"A Religious and Family Newspaper" as noted at the top, with Rev. J. W. Douglas as the proprietor. But there ar... See More
Reference to the Stamp Act...
Item #701127
March 23, 1767
THE PENNSYLVANIA CHRONICLE & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, March 23, 1767
* Rare pro British Colonial publication
* American taxation - re. stamp act
Over 1 1/2 columns of the front page are taken up with: "Dr. Franklin's Pieces in Behalf of North America", signed in type: Homespun.
Also on the front page is a letter mentioning: "...I know not with what ... See More
'Official' report of the gold discovery in California...
Item #705603
December 07, 1848
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Dec. 7, 1848 Beginning on the front page and taking all of page 2 and most of page 3 is the: "President's Annual Message" to the nation, in which is a rather lengthy & detailed report on the discovery of gold in California.
Although there were earlier newspaper reports of gold discovery, this was the first "official"... See More
Inauguration & inaugural ceremonies of President Buchanan, in a Washington newspaper...
Item #689660
March 05, 1857
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 5, 1857
* President James Buchanan
* Inauguration - inaugural address
* Best title to be had (rare as such)
A terrific issue in which to find the inauguration and inaugural address of President James Buchanan.
Almost the entirety of the first two columns on page 3 are taken up with the: "Inaugural Address". If is prefac... See More
News of Cornwallis' surrender... Benedict Arnold & the Battle of Groton Heights...
Item #686426
THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, November, 1781* Revolutionary War
* Cornwallis' surrender
* Gen. Benedict Arnold
* Battle of Groton Heights
Near the back is a section headed: "American News" which has a "Copy of a Letter from Brig. Gen. Arnold to his Excellency the Commander in Chief, dated Sound off Plumb Island, Sept. 8, 1781" which takes over an entire pa... See More
Early, colonial America almanac...
Item #702540
January 01, 1767
* 18th century American almanac
* Colonial era - Nathaniel Ames
"An Astronomical Diary Or Almanack..." for the year 1767, printed in Boston by Nathaniel Ames. An early almanac in 24 pages.
Wear at the margins as is typical of almanacs as they were heavily used throughout the year. Remnants of older tape at the spine, 4 by 6 1/2 inches.... See More
Yankees capture the Confederate capital... War nears its end...
Item #696928
April 04, 1865
NEW YORK SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, April 4, 1865
* Fall of Richmond VA Virginia
* Civil War nearing the end
One of the middle columns of the front page announces one of the more significant events of the Civil War with: "VIRGINIA ! " "GLORIOUS NEWS ! " "Richmond Is Ours!" "Evacuation of Petersburg!" "Tremendous Fighting!" "Lee's E... See More
Detailed review of Les Misérables...
First printing of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Chiefly About War Matters"...
Item #652426
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY, (Boston), July, 1863 * Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Chiefly About War Matters"
* an original, contemporary printing - 1st appearance
signed with the pen name "A Peaceable Man"
* same year review of Victor Hugo's, "Les Misérables"
When one thinks of Nathaniel Hawthorne, most minds are rightfully immediately drawn to his mas... See More
First printing of "Barbara Frietchie", by John Greenleaf Whittier...
Item #659697
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY, (Boston), October, 1863 This literary magazine contains the first publication of the famed poem by John Greenleaf Whittier: "Barbara Frietchie". It is a story of a very patriotic old woman in Frederick, Maryland, who would defy General Jackson as his troops entered town. The most famous line would have to be: "Shoot, if you must, this old gray head; But s... See More
Sloat takes command of California during the Mexican War.. Mormon War has ended?
Item #688638
September 26, 1846
NILES' NATIONAL REGISTER, Baltimore, Sept. 26, 1846
* Commodore John D. Sloat
* Mexican-American War
* Claims California for U.S.
* Illinois Mormon War ending
* Nauvoo, Hancock County
Inside has a very historic article headed: "The Pacific Squadron - Commodore Sloat Takes Possession of California". The letter reports that Commodore Sloat has taken possession of Calif... See More
Four century set of the London Gazette...
Item #661817
January 01, 1671
THE LONDON GAZETTE, England. A collection of four issues of this--the world's oldest continually published English language newspaper--each one hundred years apart. Issues are dated 1671, 1771, 1871 and 1971.
Interestingly, the format of this title did not change much over the years save for the number of pages increasing with the years. The 4 issue collection comes in a custom-made 4 s... See More
One of the best Kennedy assassination newspapers to be had...
Item #649296
November 23, 1963
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, Nov. 23, 1963 A quite rare & extremely desirable newspaper with a first report on John F. Kennedy's assassination, from the city where it happened.
The two-line, bold banner headline proclaims: "KENNEDY SLAIN ON DALLAS STREET" with subhead: "Johnson Becomes President", plus a rather large photo of "John F. Kennedy" and a sma
... See More
The two-line, bold banner headline proclaims: "KENNEDY SLAIN ON DALLAS STREET" with subhead: "Johnson Becomes President", plus a rather large photo of "John F. Kennedy" and a sma
Washington's third state-of-the-union address... Ben Franklin...
Item #685647
THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE, Boston, November, 1791 * President George Washington
* State of the Union Address
* re. Benjamin Franklin's death
The most notable content is the lengthy & historic state-of-the-union address of President Washington, which takes nearly 3 pages, headed: "Speech of the President of the United States to Both Houses of Congress" and is ... See More
Printed on the run... Three General Orders...
A Memphis newspaper printed in Atlanta...
Item #687583
January 12, 1864
THE MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL, Atlanta, Georgia, Jan. 12, 1864
* A very rare Confederate title
* Publisher on the run - a Memphis newspaper printed in Atlanta
* Three General Orders and more
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--see the information at the bottom of this listing.
Among the ... See More
Death of famed actress Jean Harlow...
Item #702902
June 08, 1937
SAN FRANCISCO CHRTONICLE, California, June 8, 1937
* Actress Jean Harlow death (1st report)
* 1930's sex symbol - Blonde bombshell
The top of the front page has a photo headed: "HER UNPLAYED ROLE - Death Rewrote Her Script", which is followed by the related article: Death Ends Career of Jean Harlow. She was 26 years old. The article includes in part: "Jean Harlow, t... See More
Washington, the Constitution, Amendments, Hamilton's report...
Item #704740
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM, (Philadelphia), October, 1789 Included is a lengthy: "...Report of the Secretary of the Treasury..." which takes 4 1/2 pages & signed in type by: Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury. This report is: "...in obedience to the order of the House of Representatives, of the 17th of September, 1789" concerning the indebtedness o... 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
Thomas Jefferson's inaugural address...
Item #702705
March 14, 1805
BOSTON GAZETTE, March 14, 1805
* President Thomas Jefferson
* Inauguration - inaugural address
Page 2 has the lengthy: "President Jefferson's Speech" which is his inaugural address, introduced with: "This day, at 12 o'clock, Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States, took the oath of office & delivered the following Inaugural Speech..." which tak... See More
Rare same-day report on the death of King George II...
Item #698260
October 25, 1760
THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, Oct. 25, 1760
* George II of Great Britain death
* Early, same day report (rare)
Only to be had in a London newspaper is this very rare, same-day report of the death of the king.
At the top of the back page is a heading: "Postscript" with news recently received, the text noting: "This morning about seven o'clock, departed this life, a... See More
Two Civil War maps: front page and back page...
Item #704622
February 13, 1862
NEW YORK HERALD, Feb. 13, 1862
* Battle of Roanoke Island w/ map
* Ambrose Burnside & Louis M. Goldsborough
Taking close to half of the front page is a great map: "Brilliant Operations At Roanoke Island -- Scene of General Burnside and Commodore Goldsborough's Victories--Roanoke Island & Elizabeth City." The map and reports take all of the front page and conclud... See More
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