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.
Col. Fremont's disastrous fourth expedition...
Item #696647
March 29, 1849
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 29, 1849
* John C. Fremont
* Fatal 4th expedition
The top of the front page has a nicer account headed: "Col. Fremont--A Distressing Report" which is concerning his fateful fourth expedition in the West during which his party was caught in a snowstorm in Colorado causing loss of ten of his men & 130 of his pack mules. Near... See More
Latest news from the Gold Rush...
Item #696645
August 10, 1849
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Aug. 10, 1849
* California Gold Rush
* 49ers - mining - miners
Page 3 has a variety of reports under: "From California" which has the latest reports concerning the Gold Rush, a few bits noting: "...Gold is plenty, large quantities being brought every day from the placers...The quantity was thought inexhaustible...The healt... See More
Work of the 'Hole In The Wall Gang' with rare mention of 'Butch Cassidy' (well, almost)...
Item #696633
August 31, 1900
THE BETHLEHEM TIMES, Pennsylvania, Aug. 31, 1900 The top of page 3 has column heads: "BANDITS GOT $100,000" "Thrilling Hold Up of Union Pacific Express Train" "Money Belonged to Uncle Sam" "it Was En Route for Manila to Pay American Soldiers--Famous Outlaw Band the Robbers--Now Fighting Desperately to Escape".
The report is datelined from "Table ... See More
The Apaches and the Sioux...
Item #696616
August 19, 1880
THE MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL, Tennessee, Aug. 19, 1880 Among the front page articles are: "Crime & Criminals" "Oklahoma - Arrival of Captain L. D. Payne at Fort Smith Under Rest" "After the Apaches" "Hostile Sioux Surrendered" and much more.
Four pages, large folio size, good condition. The folder size noted is for the issue folded in half.
Early & very nice newspaper from San Diego...
Item #696445
October 22, 1871
SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Oct. 22, 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 w... See More
From the year it became a state...
Item #695899
August 23, 1912
TUCUMCARI SUN, New Mexico. Aug. 23, 1912
* Rare Southwest publication
A quite uncommon title from this small New Mexico town in Eastern New Mexico, great to have from the year New Mexico became a state.
The front page has a photo of the county court house and jail.
Tucumcari, located on the old Route 66, has an interesting history and has been mentioned often in popular culture (Rai... See More
Uncommon title from the very top of California...
Item #695602
April 30, 1892
SCOTT VALLEY NEWS, Fort Jones, California, April 30, 1892
* Rare old West publication
* Siskiyou County
This small town has a population of just 839 and is located at the very top of California. It was once a military outpost--hence the name--protecting the various mining communities in the vicinity. It appears to be just the second issue of this title we have offered in our 47 years.... See More
Utah, pre-statehood...
Item #695599
December 18, 1872
DESERET EVENING NEWS, Salt Lake City, (Utah Territory), Dec. 18, 1872
* Mormons - Mormonism
* Pre Statehood
Various news of the day from the capital of the Mormons, and from 24 years before Utah would become a state. A great wealth of ads as well.
Sixteen pages, 11 by 16 pages, just as it came off the press so never bound nor trimmed & folding out to one large sheet, great cond... See More
Famous title from San Francisco...
Item #695598
August 31, 1878
DAILY EVENING POST, San Francisco, California, Aug. 31, 1878
* Old West publication
A typical newspaper of the day from this famous city.
Complete in 8 pages, never bound nor trimmed so it folds out to one large sheet. The folder size noted is for the issue folded in half. Nice condition.
Uncommon title from this California gold rush town...
Item #695590
October 16, 1875
WEEKLY TRINITY JOURNAL, Weaverville, California, Oct. 16, 1875
* Rare old West publication
A rare issue from this town in Northwest California.
Weaverville is a historic California Gold Rush town. Located at the foot of the current Trinity Alps Wilderness Area, Weaverville was once home to approximately 2,000 Chinese gold miners and had its own Chinatown. Logging and tourism were the... See More
From Anaheim, long before Disneyland...
Item #695588
February 23, 1878
ANAHEIM WEEKLY GAZETTE, California, Feb. 23, 1878
* Very rare old West publication
* Orange County - home of Disneyland
Although now famous as the home of Disneyland, this town in Orange County was settled by Germans and there remains a German influence in the city, founded in 1857, including a few items in this issue.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed, news agent's stamp at th... See More
Mining camp newspaper from over 100 years after its boom...
Item #695585
February 23, 1905
THE GOLDFIELD REVIEW, Columbia, Goldfield Mining District, Nevada, Feb. 23, 1905
* Rare ghost town publication
* Suburb of Goldfield
* Gold mining hey day era
This is the first of this title we've discovered. It is the volume 1, number 18 issue.
Goldfield was the scene of the biggest gold bonanza in the United States since the Alaskan Gold Rush.
At the peak of the
... See More
* Rare ghost town publication
* Suburb of Goldfield
* Gold mining hey day era
This is the first of this title we've discovered. It is the volume 1, number 18 issue.
Goldfield was the scene of the biggest gold bonanza in the United States since the Alaskan Gold Rush.
At the peak of the
Uncommon from Northern California...
Item #695584
July 11, 1883
SEMI-WEEKLY TOCSIN, Red Bluff, California, July 11, 1883
* Rare Old West publication
From Northern California, mid-way between Sacramento and the Oregon border.
* Rare Old West publication
From Northern California, mid-way between Sacramento and the Oregon border.
Red Bluff was originally known as Leodocia, but was renamed to Covertsburg in 1853. It got its current name in 1854. Located at the head of navigation on the Sacramento River the town flourished in the mid to late 19th cen
... See More
Corvallis, Oregon...
Item #695579
March 06, 1885
THE CORVALLIS GAZETTE, Oregon, March 6, 1885
* Rare old West publication
An uncommon title from this Western Oregon city. Among the articles: "A Bright Outlook for the Pacific Coast" "The Boundary Line Between British Columbia and Alaska" "In The Little Rockies" "Excitement In Rochester" "Jumping On Moving Trains" and more.
Eight page... See More
Articles on the Comstock Lode mines...
Item #695578
July 06, 1875
DAILY STOCK REPORT, San Francisco, July 6, 1875 Although there is stock-related content, there is also much about mining.
Articles include: "Scarcity of Water at Gold Hill and Virginia (City)" "A Visit to the Mahogany Mine" "Owners Visiting Mines" and: "Sketches of Early Days in Virginia City".
Four pages, nice condition.
From Mendocino County in Northern California...
Item #695574
June 28, 1879
MENDOCINO DEMOCRAT, Ukiah, California, June 28, 1879
* Rare Old West publication
A quite rare title from this little community sitting on the scenic cliffs overlooking the Pacific north of San Francisco, now a popular tourist town and artist's community. It is also the fictional "Cabot Cove" of the popular television series "Murder, She Wrote". In recent years i... See More
Early newspaper from San Jose...
Item #695569
January 18, 1880
DAILY MORNING TIMES, San Jose, California, Jan. 18, 1880
* Rare old West publication
This is a volume 2 issue of this newspaper that existed under this title for about 6 years. Gregory notes only two institutions have any holdings of this newspaper.
Eight pagers, never bound nor trimmed, news agent's stamp above the masthead, great condition.... See More
Much on the Comstock Lode mines...
Item #695568
January 10, 1879
WEEKLY STOCK REPORT, San Francisco, Jan. 10, 1879
* Rare financial mining mines publication
* Comstock Lode - Virginia City, Nevada
Contrary to what the title would suggest, much of the content is about mining, and more specifically the famous Comstock Lode.
Articles include: "The Comstock" "Latest Official Mining News for the Week Ending Jan. 2, 1879" which take... See More
Fascinating & horrific report of a family's capture, & the father's escape...
Item #694606
March 20, 1877
THE DAILY MEMPHIS AVALANCHE, Tennessee, March 20, 1877 The front page has half a column taken up with a fascinating report: "Stranger Than Fiction" "The Story of a Beggar's Capture by the Indians and Escape". A few bits include: "...in the spring of 1875 with his wife and family he left for the Black Hills...wended their way across the plains & over the lones... See More
Classic Old West train robbery report on the front page...
Item #694580
September 26, 1893
THE DAILY JOURNAL, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Sept. 26, 1893 The front page has two-thirds of a column headed: "TRAIN ROBBERS SHOT" "They Held Up a rain Full of Armed Detectives" "Two Killed Three Captured" "The Train Was A Dummy Sent Out in Expectation of an Attempt at Robbery--All of the Rob beers Residents of St. Joseph, Mo."
The article is quite d... See More
The historic Oklahoma Land Rush...
Item #694579
September 18, 1893
THE DAILY JOURNAL, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Sept. 18, 1893
* Oklahoma land rush
* Boomers and Sooners
* Cherokee Strip
The front page has 1 1/3 columns headed: "IT WAS A MAD SCRAMBLE" "Wild Rush of Boomers Into the Cherokee Strip" "A Number of Persons Killed" " 'Sooners' Get the Corner Lots in Perry--Between Noon and Twilight 100,000 Clai... See More
Famed poet Walt Whitman is near death (or so they thought)...
Item #694576
October 27, 1891
THE DAILY JOURNAL, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Oct. 27, 1891 The front page has a half column report headed: "WALT WHITMAN DYING" "The 'Good Gray Poet' is Fast Approaching Dissolution" "Stricken With Paralysis" "It is Slowly Nearing the Heart and the End May Come at Any Moment--The Poet Has Chosen the Spot Where His Body Is to Lie".
Actua... See More
A daring train robbery: take them 'dead or alive'...
Item #694575
September 02, 1891
THE DAILY JOURNAL, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Sept. 2, 1891
* Cotopaxi train robbery - Colorado
* Denver & Rio Grande railroad
* Royal Gorge - Arkansas River
The front page has a half column report headed: "DARING TRAIN ROBBERS" "Seven Masked Men Stop an Express and Overpower the Messenger" "They Get Off With $3,600" "The Fight Was Likely While... See More
Frederick Douglass is resigning as ambassador to Hayti...
Item #694574
August 11, 1891
THE DAILY JOURNAL, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Aug. 11, 1891
* Frederick Douglass resignation
* Ambassador to Haiti - Hayti
* Abolitionist - social reformer
The top of page 3 has a print of: "Frederick Douglass" and a report headed: "Ministerial Changes" "Fred Douglass Resigns--Shannon Minister to Costa Rica--Grubb Coming Home".
The report i... See More
Dalton Gang robs its last train...
Item #694573
July 16, 1892
THE DAILY JOURNAL, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1892 The front page has a half column report headed: "DARING TRAIN ROBBERS" "They Whipped a Sheriff's Posse and Stole Over $50,000" "The Dalton Gang Did It" "When the Train Stopped a Pitcher Battle Took Place--The Robbers Threatened to Dynamite the Express Messenger and He Opened His Doors".
O... See More
Death of the President, as reported out West...
Item #693196
September 21, 1881
THE DESERET NEWS, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, Sept. 21, 1881
* President James A. Garfield assassination death
This was the very first newspaper to publish in Utah, having begun in 1850.
Page 8 has all columns black-bordered and a report: "Death Of President Garfield" and also: "Full Particulars".
Complete in 16 pages, never bound nor trimmed so it folds out... See More
The 'Black Jack' Ketchum Gang robs a train...
Item #692518
September 09, 1897
HELENA WEEKLY HERALD, Montana, Sept. 9, 1897
* Tom Edward 'Black Jack' Ketchum gang
* Twin Mountain - New Mexico train robbery
The top of the front page has a report headed: "TRAIN ROBBED" "Two Masked Robbers Hold up Passenger Train Near Twin Mountain, Colorado" "The Brutally Use Express Messenger and Force Him to Open the Safe" "Supposed to... See More
Lengthy & descriptive on early California...
Item #692465
August 03, 1849
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Aug. 3, 1849 Page 2 has a simply terrific & very lengthy letter on California, taking nearly two columns it is headed: "A Mexican View Of California" "California Seen by a Mexican--Description of the Country--Its Physical, Agricultural, Commercial, and Mineralogical Characteristics".
This is perhaps the best description... See More
An ad for the O.K. Corral... In a Tombstone newspaper...
Item #692358
April 30, 1886
THE DAILY TOMBSTONE, Pima County, Arizona, April 30, '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 titl... See More
From 1872 Red Bluff, California...
Item #692306
January 20, 1872
THE SENTINEL, Red Bluff, California, Jan. 20, 1872
* Rare Old west title
This is from 4 years before the city would be incorporated. Located in Northern California, there is much news of the day both local & national. Many advertisements as well.
Complete in 4 pages, nice condition.
Tombstone Epitaph shortly after the gunfight at the OK Corral...
Item #691509
December 04, 1881
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH, Arizona, Dec. 4, 1881
* Best Old West title to be had
* Post 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 po... See More
With a small broadside "leaflet" issue...
Item #691353
March 05, 1892
THE MERCURY, Coronado, San Diego County, California, March 5, 1892
* Uncommon title
* Hotel del Coronado fame
A very rare newspaper from this island community in San Diego Bay, famous for the Hotel del Coronado which is its prime feature. Indeed, a pg. 2 item notes: "A visit to San Diego without seeing the Hotel Del Coronado would be like going to Washington without seeing ... See More
Uncommon title from Vallejo, California...
Item #690694
December 27, 1873
THE PEOPLE'S INDEPENDENT, Vallejo, California, Dec. 27, 1873
* Rare Old West publication
A quite scarce newspaper from this town in the northern portion of the San Francisco Bay. It was named after Don Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, the famed California general and statesman. He was a leading proponent of California's statehood and one of the first members of the California ... See More
Early newspaper from Portland, Oregon...
Item #690690
August 12, 1874
DAILY EVENING NEWS, Portland, Oregon, Aug. 12, 1874
* Rare publication
* Wild Old West era
An early newspaper from Portland with a wide range of news reports, various tidbits, and a wealth of ads. Page 2 has: "An Indian War" and "General Hardie on the Modoc War" among other items.
Four pages, nice condition.... See More
A rare territorial newspaper... An Indian fight & a stagecoach robbery...
Item #690686
July 30, 1881
THE DILLON TRIBUNE, Beaverhead County, M.T. (Montana Territory), July 30, 1881
* Very rare publication
* Wild Old West era
A quite rare newspaper from the Territory of Montana, it not becoming a state until 1889. Thisis the volume 1, number 24 issue.
Dillon was founded in the Beaverhead Valley as a railroad town in 1880 by Union Pacific Railroad President Sidney Dillon. The town'... See More
From rough & tumble Deadwood, Dakota Territory...
Item #690673
July 07, 1886
BLACK HILLS DAILY TIMES, Deadwood, Dakota, July 7, 1886
* 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 "heyday"... See More
A rare title from the Dakota Territory...
Item #690671
November 14, 1883
THE INTER STATE, Gary, Dakota, Nov. 14, 1883
* Very rare publication
* Deuel County, South Dakota
A very rare railroad town, territorial newspaper from what is present-day South Dakota, six 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 po... See More
Early from Oakland...
Item #690669
October 13, 1869
OAKLAND DAILY TRANSCRIPT, California, Oct. 13, 1869
* Rare Old West publication
Quite early from this city across the bay from San Francisco. It was not incorporated as a city until 1852. News of the day and a great wealth of ads, with page 2 including: "The Negro Vote in the South" and: "Assaulting Chinamen" and more.
Four pages, minor binding indents at the blank... See More
Rare and very early from the "Alaska Territory"...
Item #690553
July 31, 1886
THE ALASKAN, Sitka, Alaska Territory, July 31, 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 39 issue of this title.
The format of the newspaper is much like other newspapers of the day,... See More
From the Mormon capital...
Item #690552
December 07, 1881
THE DESERET NEWS, Salt Lake City, Utah, Dec. 7, 1881
* Mormons - Mormonism
This is from 15 years before Utah would become a state. Nearly a full page of: "Remarks by Prest. George Q. Cannon". Other items include: "War Incidents - Bravery of General Kane's Bucktails" "Marvelous Adventures of a Legislator Among Indians" "A Desperado Arrested -... See More
A "cute" little Colorado Springs newspaper...
Item #690550
April 09, 1892
THE EDGEWOOD SUN, Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 9, 1892
* Rare publication
I wouldn't use the term "cute" to describe many newspapers but I think it fits here.
Six pages & measuring just 5 1/2 by 7 1/2 inches, it has advertisements, promotional & news tidbits, and various witticisms. A volume one issue of a little paper that lasted for just 2 1/2 years.... See More
What the death of Jesse James has meant to the "romance" of Western outlaws...
Item #690436
May 07, 1883
NEW YORK TIMES, May 7, 1883 Page 4 has a lengthy & interesting editorial headed: "The Growing Crop of Bandits" which begins: "The death of Jesse James and the disintegration and overthrow of his band of distinguished robbers were very naturally regarded by railway travelers & bankers as events of great importance..." with much more on the career of Jesse James and... See More
First of this title we have offered...
Item #690308
March 07, 1901
THE FARMINGTON HUSTLER, New Mexico, March 7, 1901
* Rare territorial issue
* San Juan County
A quite scarce title, in fact the first we have discovered. This lasted but two years before merging with the Times to become the "Farmington Times-Hustler". "Union List Of Serials" notes that no institution in the country has any issues from this year.
Farmington is... See More
Report of the death of Jesse James...
Item #690277
April 05, 1882
BOSTON EVENING TRANSCRIPT, April 5, 1882
* Outlaw Jesse James assassination
Page 2 has a brief & quite inconspicuous report reading: "Great satisfaction is expressed in western Missouri over the shooting of Jesse James, the noted bandit. It is said that the shooting was the result of an agreement between Ford and Governor Crittenden to the effect that James was either to be ca... 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
Santa Barbara...
Item #690140
July 20, 1875
THE DAILY NEWS, Santa Barbara, California, July 20, 1875
* Rare Old West publication
Uncommon from this famous town, and a volume 1 issue. Various news & ads of the day, four pages, great condition. "#88" inked in the upper corner.
Very graphic masthead... Great article on the Bear Flag Revolt...
Item #689717
May 24, 1879
THE PIONEER, San Jose, California, May 24, 1879
* Rare Old West publication
* Santa Clara Valley
* Nice masthead for display
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 ... See More
Rare mention of Kit Carson...
Item #689679
September 04, 1863
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE, Sept. 4, 1863
* Kit Carson fights the Navajo Indians
Page 5 has a brief but notable report headed: "Victory of Kit Carson Over the Indians" about the defeat of a group of: " ...Navajoe Indians beyond fort Canby..." by part of the 1st New-Mexican Regiment led by Kit Carson.
Quite rare to see a report mentioning this famous Old West scout and explor... See More
Jesse James & the Rock Island Railroad robbery...
Item #689667
July 19, 1881
BOSTON EVENING TRANSCRIPT, July 19, 1881
* Outlaw Jesse James-Younger gang
* Rock Island railroad train robbery
* Winston, Daviess County, Missouri
Page 2 begins with a quite lengthy account of what was the infamous Rock Island Railroad robbery by the James Gang.
It is headed: "The Great Train Robbery" and begins: "Charles Murray...was the messenger of the U.S. Expres... See More
Early and rare newspaper from Tucson...
Item #689615
November 21, 1875
ARIZONA CITIZEN, Tucson, Pima County, (Arizona Territory), Nov. 21, 1875
* Very rare publication
A very early & rare title from Southern Arizona published 37 years before Arizona would become a state.
Among the articles: "Arizona Indian Affairs" "Local Mining Affairs" "Growing 'Cheeky' If Not Rich" "Mohave Items" and more.
Four pag... See More
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Full Contact Information
