The Wild West
The term "wild west" conjures many things in the mind—criminal outlaws like Billy the Kid or Jesse James, the California Gold Rush, or the folklore associated with the American frontier. We welcome you to browse our Wild West newspaper inventory or learn more about American Wild West newspapers at our main Wild West page.The Wild West
The term "wild west" conjures many things in the mind—criminal outlaws like Billy the Kid or Jesse James, the California Gold Rush, or the folklore associated with the American frontier. We welcome you to browse our Wild West newspaper inventory or learn more about American <a href="http://www.rarenewspapers.com/entry/wild_west">Wild West newspapers</a> at our main Wild West page.
The Grattan Indian massacre...
Item #713645
September 11, 1854
NEW YORK DAILY TIMES, September 11, 1854
* Grattan Massacre (1st report)
* United States Army
* Lakota Sioux Indians
The front page has an article headed: "Important from Fort Laramie--An Entire Detachment of United States Troops Massacred by the Indians" Early, 1st report coverage on what was known as the "Grattan Massacre". This was the opening engagement of the... See More
19th century San Diego, California...
Item #713508
February 05, 1874
THE WORLD, San Diego, California, Feb. 5, 1874
* Rare Old West publication
* Cave Creek ambush - Apaches
A very early issue from this now-famous Southern California city, this issue published when the population was just 2,300.
The top of page 3 has a report headed: "Arizona" with subhead. (see images)
Complete with all 4 pages in nice condition.... See More
Frank James, El Paso, Yellowstone, burglars...
Item #712624
August 20, 1883
ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Missouri, Aug. 20, 1883 The front page has: "Criminal Calendar - Additional Particulars of the Tragedy at Estancia Ranchm NB.M. - Frank James Trial--A Gang of Burglars Broken Up--Free Fight at a Picnic--The Daily Record".
Inside includes: "El Paso's Ways - The Peculiarities of a Now Thriving Frontier Town--A Place where Border Ruffian and B... See More
A Croatian-American newspaper from Montana...
Item #712360
August 25, 1900
SRPSKO JEDINSTVO, "The First And the Only Slavonian Weekly In Montana", Aug. 25, 1900 Little is known about this unusual newspaper other than the Library of Congress noting this very issue, volume 3, numb er 16, August 25, 1900. Their information is likely based upon this very newspaper. This title is not listed in Gregory's "Union List of Newspapers".
The Montana Hi... See More
Westward expansion confronts the Native American tribes...
Item #712324
August 21, 1867
NEW YORK WEEKLY TRIBUNE, Aug. 21, 1867 The years following the Civil War were years of expansion west, causing the inevitable conflict with the Native American tribes. Such reports were not uncommon in period newspapers. This is one such issue.
The front page has: "The Indian War" with some nice accounts taking about one-third of a column.
Eight pages, staining to the front page ... See More
The Modoc Indian War of 1873...
Item #712036
June 07, 1873
DAILY MORNING CALL, San Francisco, California, June 7, 1873
* Dixon Bridge Disaster - Illinois
* Modoc War - Lava Beds
* Captain Jack fame
The top of the ftpg. has: "THE MODOC WAR" "Details of General Davis's Campaign" "Further Particulars of the Capture of Captain Jack " and more. (see images)
Four pages, never bound, large folio size, good conditi... See More
Early from Salinas, California...
Item #711303
December 25, 1880
THE MONTEREY DEMOCRAT, Salinas City, Monterey County, California, Dec. 25, 1880
* Rare publication
* Old Wild West
An early title from the county seat of Monterey County, just south of San Francisco. Very typical of newspapers from the era with a nice mix of news of the day and advertisements, some illustrated.
Gregory's 'Union List of American Newspapers' notes only 3 in... See More
From Nebraska...
Item #711293
January 24, 1883
THE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS, Nebraska, Jan. 24, 1883
* Home of the Cornhuskers
We seldom encounter Nebraska newspapers from during the Wild West era, but here is one. Lincoln is the capital of Nebraska and this issue is dated from just 16 years after statehood.
Gregory's 'Union List of American Newspapers' notes that the only institution holding any issues of this title is the... See More
An early 1873 wine country newspaper...
Item #710865
October 15, 1873
THE NAPA REGISTER, Napa City, California, Oct. 15, 1873
* Rare old West publication
* From the wine country
Although in the heart of the wine region, for which this city is famous today, its beginnings were centered more on the California Gold Rush of 1849. This city became a refuge for miners during the first severe winter of mining & later became an important center for lu... See More
Early & very nice newspaper from San Diego...
Item #707187
September 26, 1871
SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Sept. 26, 1871
* Rare & early from Southern California
Very early from San Diego--a volume 2 issue--when the population was just 2300, with a nice engraving of the harbor in the masthead. All four pages have various news tidbits of the day, including local, regional, and national reports. A great wealth of advertisements as well, several of ... See More
From the territory of Washington...
Item #706680
March 31, 1881
WASHINGTON INDEPENDENT, Pomeroy, Columbia County, Washington Territory, March 31, 1881
* Very rare old West publication
A volume one issue from this small town in Southeastern Washington, published 8 years before statehood. Various news and ads of the day.
Gregory notes that only 2 institutions have any holdings of this title. This is just one of 2 or 3 issues remaining in our invent... See More
The Big Springs, Union Pacific Railroad robbery...
Item #706230
September 29, 1877
ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Sept. 29, 1877
* Union Pacific Big Springs robbery
* Old West outlaw - train robber Sam Bass
The front page has over a full column taken up with reports of the Big Springs train robbery of the Union Pacific Railroad, with heads including: "Daring Detectives" "How the Western Train Robbers Were Hunted Down" "The Leader Identified in Sp... See More
Great front page early print of Yosemite Valley... The Chicago Fire...
Item #706199
November 01, 1871
THE CUB, San Francisco, California, November, 1871
* Yosemite Valley engraving - illustration
* Sierra Nevada Mountains - California
* The Great Chicago Fire disaster
A curious little newspaper which features an engraving of a bear cub in the masthead. A semi-monthly paper with a great front-page print of: "Yosemite Valley" with a related article. Nice to have this early illustr... See More
Rare Old West isssue.....
Item #706023
June 18, 1876
THE SALT LAKE DAILY HERALD, Salt Lake City, Utah, June 18, 1876
* Rare Old West publication
* Mormons - Utah territory
This 4 page newspaper has news of the day with several interesting advertisements. With newspapers West of the Mississippi being very rare prior to 1900, here is an opportunity to get a issue from the old West back when cowboys, Indians, saloons, gold miners & gunfights... See More
Move the Mormon capital to Fillmore City?
Item #705271
November 22, 1858
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Nov. 22, 1858 Page 3 includes: "Salt Lake Correspondence" which has various news reports from Utah. One item of discussion is whether the seat of government should be in Fillmore City.
Four pages, small, discrete archival mends in the margins, nice condition. Folder size noted is for the issue folded in half.
Shot down in a saloon... Founder of gold in California...
Item #705007
September 22, 1884
ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Sept. 22, 1884
* James W. Marshall - California gold fame
This title always had a wealth of typically Western-themed reports as well as ads.
Page 2 has: "Slain In A Saloon" "A Grandson of Henry Clay Shot by a Louisville Alderman" "Shot Through the Heart--Drunken Ruffians--A Rancher Killed--A Texan Murderer Arrested in Georgia" as... See More
In the "...interests of the pioneers of California..."
Item #704967
July 12, 1879
THE PIONEER, San Jose, California, July 12, 1879 The masthead notes: "Devoted To The Interests Of The Pioneers of California And the Resources of the Golden State."
The masthead is one of the more graphic we have seen, featuring three vignettes: one of settlers traveling, one of a bear, and another of a detailed mining scene.
This title is not recorded in Gregory's "Unio... See More
Great Tombstone newspaper printed ten days before the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral...
Item #704629
October 16, 1881
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH, Cochise County, Arizona, October 16, 1881
* Best Old West title to be had
* Pre Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Few could argue for a more recognizable title from the Old West, nor could any town be more linked to the romance of the West than this one. Tombstone is steeped in Western lore, and the several movies done concerning the gunfight at the O.K. Corral have kept th... See More
Very early from San Diego, and with good content...
Item #704620
October 12, 1871
SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Oct. 12, 1871
* Rare & early from Southern California
Not just a very early newspaper from San Diego (a vol. 2 issue) but with nice content as well, as the front page has column-wide heads: "CHICAGO" "The Latest News--Extent of the Burnt District--The Entire Northern Division Swept Clean--The People Camped on the Prairie".
In... See More
Apaches on the war-path...
Item #704573
June 05, 1867
DAILY ALTA CALIFORNIA, San Francisco, June 5, 1867
* Rare old West publication
The very first title in the Golden State was the "Californian" begun in 1846, followed the next year by the "California Star". These two titles merged and in 1849 the combined enterprise was called the "Alta California", becoming a daily in July. It became the first successful n... See More
The first newspaper published in Modesto, California...
Item #704341
March 11, 1881
STANISLAUS COUNTY WEEKLY NEWS, Modesto, California, March 11, 1881
* Rare Old West publication
An early newspaper from this city in North-central California which when it began in 1868 was the first newspaper in Modesto. In 1881 the population of the town was less than 1000.
Various news events of the day, local, regional and national, with a wealth of advertising.
Four pages, large ... See More
From rough & tumble Deadwood, Dakota Territory...
Item #704260
May 24, 1889
DEADWOOD DAILY PIONEER, Black Hills, (South Dakota) May 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 West... See More
A rare title from the Dakota Territory...
Item #704232
April 02, 1884
THE INTER STATE, Gary, Dakota, April 2, 1884
* Very rare publication
* Deuel County, South Dakota
A very rare territorial newspaper from what is present-day South Dakota, five years before statehood. They refer to themselves as the "Gate City of Dakota" as it is situated at the eastern border of the Territory, very close to Minnesota. At the 2010 census the population of Gar... See More
From rough & tumble Deadwood, Dakota Territory...
Item #704229
June 20, 1882
BLACK HILLS DAILY PIONEER, Deadwood City, Black Hills, Nov. 24, 1878
* 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.
This issue is from the "hey... See More
Great Tombstone newspaper printed 3 months before the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral...
Item #704222
July 26, 1881
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH, Cochise County, Arizona, July 26, 1881
* Best Old West title to be had
* Pre Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Few could argue for a more recognizable title from the Old West, nor could any town be more linked to the romance of the West than this one. Tombstone is steeped in Western lore, and the several movies done concerning the gunfight at the O.K. Corral have kept... See More
Billy the Kid, Pat Garett, Virgil & Wyatt Earp, Frank Stilwell, Johnny Behan...
Item #704204
August 10, 1881
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH, Arizona, August 10, 1881
* Best Old West title to be had
* Pre Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Few could argue for a more recognizable title from the Old West, nor could any town be more linked to the romance of the West than this one. Tombstone is steeped in Western lore, and the several movies done concerning the gunfight at the O.K. Corral have kept this town in ... See More
Follow-up to the Custer Massacre...
Item #704087
July 15, 1876
SPRINGFIELD DAILY REPUBLICAN, Massachusetts, July 15, 1876 Page 5 includes: "The Custer Battle - Sitting Bull Reported Among the Killed".
'The report includes in part; "It is reported from Fort Lincoln that Sitting Bull was among the Indian chiefs killed; also a Whitman named Milburn, Sitting Bull's chief adviser...The wounded are recovering...It is thought Sitting Bu... See More
Founding the Lick Observatory... Property values in Northern California...
Item #702558
March 01, 1876
WELDON & LEONARD'S REAL ESTATE CIRCULAR & PRICE LIST, San Francisco, California, March 1, 1876
* Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton founding
The ftpg. has: "Another Monument" which begins: "When James Lick executed his deed of gift, donating his immense property to various benevolent & scientific societies of this state, he provided that $750,000 should be ... See More
San Jose California... Woodhull, Claflin & Col. Blood trial...
Item #702556
May 24, 1871
SAN JOSE DAILY PATRIOT, California, May 24, 1871
* Rare Old West title from the Santa Clara Valley
* Victoria Woodhull, Colonel James Harvey Blood, Tennie Claflin scandal
In 1850 San Jose became just the 2nd incorporated city in California (Sacramento was first) & was on the Butterfield mail route. The ftpg. is mostly ads with news items & more ads inside, many of which ... See More
The Apache War in Arizona...
Item #702035
November 08, 1879
THE SAN DIEGO UNION, California, Nov. 8, 1879
* Apache Wars in the Southwest
* United States Army
The front page has: "The Apache War", with subhead "Victorious Band Overtaken and Whipped in Mexico by Major Morrow's Command" - being a derailed report from Tucson.
Four pages, some archival strengthening at the margins, a bit fragile but in nice condition.
... See More
From the capital of Oregon in 1877...
Item #701016
February 16, 1877
WEEKLY OREGON STATESMAN, Salem, Feb. 16, 1877
* Rare Old West publication
From the capital of Oregon, this issue has various reports from across the country.
Complete in 8 pages, never bound nor trimmed, toning to a back leaf margin, news agent's stamp in the masthead, good condition.... See More
A newspaper focused on the mining industry...
Item #700921
January 13, 1871
COMMERCIAL HERALD & MARKET REVIEW, San Francisco, Jan. 13, 1871 The focus of this newspaper seems to be on the mining industry, as some of the articles on just the front page include: "Improved Condition of the Miners as a Class" "The Labor Question" "The Blatchley Rock Drill" "Spread of Mining Industry and Bullion Product of the Coast" "Dynam... See More
The Modoc Indian War in California...
Item #700707
April 09, 1873
DAILY MORNING CALL, San Francisco, April 9, 1873
* Modoc War - Lava Beds
* Captain Jack fame
The top of the front page has a column headed: "THE MODOCS" "The Commissioners to make One More Effort to Effect a Peace" "Terms, 'Surrender, and Leave the Lava Bed'--Treachery Feared--Hostile Indians Treated Better than Three Who are Friendly--Proposal t... See More
The Modoc Indian War in California...
Item #700705
March 29, 1873
DAILY MORNING CALL, San Francisco, March 29, 1873
* Modoc War - Lava Beds
* Captain Jack fame
The top of the front page has a column headed: "THE MODOCS" "Another Reconnaissance by General Gilles--The Peace Commission Effecting Nothing--The Indians Ready to Make Peace if they Can Have Their Home on Lost River" with further subheads.
The Modoc War was an armed... See More
Is Jesse James dead or alive?
Item #700277
November 08, 1879
ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Nov. 8, 1879
* Outlaw Jesse James
* False death report
Page 4 has: "The United Bandits" which is a follow-up to a report that Jesse James had been killed. One bit notes: "...has before, fully satisfied that a struggle had taken place...No traces of blood could be seen, however & nothing was learned of the disposition of the remains of the ... See More
Great masthead from Oakland in 1884...
Item #700268
July 19, 1884
OAKLAND WEEKLY TRIBUNE, California, July 19, 1884 See the photos for the nice engraving in the masthead, which features a great view of the skyline of Oakland--at that time!
Various news of the day and a wealth of ads. Single-column headings include: ""The Scollard Trial", "For His Life - The Preliminary Struggle om Behalf of George T. Lynch", "Pacific Gro... See More
First federal prosecution for polygamy in Utah Territory... Brigham Young would be next...
Item #699255
November 04, 1871
SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Nov. 4, 1871 Very early from San Diego--a volume 2 issue--when the population was just 2300, with a nice engraving of the harbor in the masthead.
The back page has a very significant report on Mormon history. The article is headed: "The Mormon Prosecution--Sentence of Hawkins".
This was Thomas Hawkins, the polygamist, his being the very fi... See More
Early from San Diego... Great travelogue: Los Angeles to Anaheim...
Item #699253
November 09, 1871
SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Nov. 9, 1871
* Rare & early from Southern California
Very early from San Diego--a volume 2 issue--when the population was just 2300, with a nice engraving of the harbor in the masthead.
The front page has a wonderful and very detailed travelogue-like depot headed: "FROM LOS ANGELES TO ANAHEIM" with subheads: "Off For Anaheim-... See More
Sitting Bull surrenders...
Item #699131
July 21, 1881
THE WHEELING INTELLIGENCER, West Virginia, July 21, 1881
* Chief Sitting Bull surrenders
* Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux
* Indians chief - holy man
The front page has: "Sitting Bull Surrenders" "The Troublesome Chief Finally Gives Up & Submits to the United States Officers" with the report noting: "...Sitting Bull & about 200 people arrived at exactly 12 o... See More
Issue number one of this San Diego title...
Item #699124
July 25, 1872
DAILY SAN DIEGO WORLD, California, July 25, 1872
* Very rare from Southern California
* Early - volume 1 number 1 issue
This is the earliest of this San Diego title to be found, being the volume one, number one issue. This title only existed through 1877.
Page 2 begins with the "Salutatory" in which the published details the purpose of the new publishing enterprise. ... See More
Apostle Wilford Woodruff's Sermon - Salt Lake City pre-Utah Statehood 1882 Newspaper...
Item #699039
December 18, 1882
DESERET EVENING NEWS, Salt Lake City, (Utah Territory), June 10, 1882
* Mormons - Mormonism
* Wilford Woodruff sermon
The front page has 4 1/2 columns dedicated to: "Discourse by Apostle Wilford Woodruff Delivered In The Tabernacle, May 14th, 1882". The topics include: "Liberty of Conscience", "Man Accountable to God", "The Fall of Adam an... See More
Early Arizona newspaper...
Item #699022
July 09, 1887
PRESCOTT MORNING COURIER, Arizona (Territory), July 9, 1887
* Very rare publication
* Wild Old West
From 25 years before Arizona would become a state. Articles include: "The Opium Habit" "Lynching in Oregon" "Two Men Killed by Caving Earth" and more.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed, new agent's stamp in the masthead, tape at the inside spine, go... See More
A boom & bust mining town in Colorado...
Item #699018
December 11, 1885
WHITE PINE CONE, White Pine, Gunnison County, Colorado, Dec. 11, 1885
* Very rare old West publication
* Ghost town - silver mining
An interesting newspaper from a fascinating town which went through two boom & bust periods.
White Pine began in 1880 as a fledgling mining camp just west of the Continental Divide, boomed in the mid-1880's then went bust by 1893. But in 1930 t... See More
1875 execution of the bandit Vasquez...
Item #699005
March 20, 1875
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, March 20, 1875
* Tiburcio Vasquez execution death (1st report)
* Los Angeles, California outlaw bandit
At the bottom of the front page is: Executions", an inconspicuous report headed: "Last of Vasquez--The Bandit Hanged At San Jose". The report, which describes the execution of the infamous bandit Tiburcio Vasquez., states in part: "The bandi... See More
From Arizona 19 years before statehood...
Item #698773
May 02, 1893
ARIZONA DAILY GAZETTE, Phoenix, May 2, 1893
* Rare old West title
* Maricopa County
This issue is from the Arizona Territory, 19 years before it joined the Union. Varied news reports both local & national with a nice wealth of ads as well, many of which are illustrated.
The front page has: "Killed His Mother--The Act of a Young Man Crazed by Drink" and: "Her Skull... See More
The James-Younger gang rob a train...
Item #698731
July 23, 1881
LIBERAL SENTINEL, Middletown, New York, July 23, 1881
* Outlaw Jesse James-Younger gang
* Rock Island railroad train robbery
Page 2 has a report noting: "A gang of outlaws, supposed to be the James gang, on Friday night captured a train on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific road...robbed the conductor & a passenger..." and a bit more.
The next page has a much more det... See More
From the Arizona Territory...
Item #698720
March 06, 1875
ARIZONA CITIZEN, Tucson, Arizona Territory, March 6, 1875
* Very rare old Western publication
Many years ago we had a reasonable inventory of this title, but today this issue is among our last.
A nice assortment of news articles including: "Removal of the Chiricahuas" "Local; Mining Affairs" "Arizona Railway System" "Rich Ores in Pima County" &q... See More
Newspaper from the ghost town of Crystal, Colorado...
Item #698609
November 10, 1888
CRYSTAL RIVER CURRENT, Crystal, Colorado, Nov. 10, 1888
* Very rare old West ghost town publication
* Abandoned silver mining camp town
A rare newspaper from a bonafide ghost town.
Crystal was a mining camp established in 1881 & after several decades of robust existence, was all but abandoned by1917. Many buildings still stand in Crystal, but its few residents live there only in ... See More
Rare and very early from the "Alaska Territory"...
Item #698596
June 04, 1887
THE ALASKAN, Sitka, Alaska Territory, June 4, 1887
* 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 ten years.
The format of the newspaper is much like other newspapers of the day, being four pages of small folio size (measures 13 by 20 in.)... See More
1877 Truckee, California, near Lake Tahoe...
Item #698592
October 27, 1877
TRUCKEE REPUBLICAN, California, Oct. 27, 1877
* Wild Old West era
* Rare publication
From this town at the "elbow" of California near the Nevada border at an elevation of 5800 ft. Historically well known for the Donner Party tragedy which happened nearby in 1846.
Four pages, nice condition.... See More
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