The Rare Newspaper's Top Collectibles
The following are some of the best and most desirable issues to be found. Welcome to the "Best of the Best" !The Rare Newspaper's Top Collectibles
The following are some of the best and most desirable issues to be found. Welcome to the "Best of the Best" !
The Constitution of the United States... One for the best of collections...
Item #709556
October 01, 1787
CONNECTICUT COURANT, Hartford, Oct. 1, 1787
* Historic United States Constitution
* Constitutional Convention - Congress
* President George Washington signs
Here is one of the more historic and desirable newspapers to be had on the creation of the government of the United States--The Constitution of the United States was approved by Congress. This, along with the Declara... See More
A landmark issue in American history: Washington's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation...
Item #703723
October 07, 1789
GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Oct. 7, 1789 The front page begins with arguably one of the most significant Presidential Proclamations of the post-Revolutionary War era: Washington's Thanksgiving Day proclamation dated October 3, 1789. An extremely notable Proclamation to have on the front page of the newspaper that was the mouthpiece of federal government.
In issuing his Thank... See More
The premier issue on the birth of the Texas oil industry...
Item #698385
January 11, 1901
THE HOUSTON DAILY POST, Texas, January 11, 1901
* If ever there was a single newspaper which heralded the birth of the oil industry in America, this is it.
Although discoveries were made in various locations long before this date, this discovery--to be known as Spindletop--marked the emergence of the oil industry at a time when the automobile and other industries were experiencing rapid grow... See More
The Bill of Rights...
Item #703267
October 06, 1789
THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET & DAILY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, October 6, 1789
* Ratification of the "Bill of Rights" - Congress
* United States Constitution - Amendments
Arguably the most significant documents of late 18th century in American history would be the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. This issue contains the latter, printed i... See More
Famous "Unite Or Die" engraving in the masthead...
Item #705418
April 05, 1775
THE PENNSYLVANIA JOURNAL; AND THE WEEKLY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, April 5, 1775
* Benjamin Franklin's "Unite Or Die" cartoon
If there was one graphic that represented the spirit of the Revolutionary War, it would have to be the ubiquitous segmented snake with the famous "Unite Or Die" caption. The engraving, a prominent device in the masthead
... See More
* Benjamin Franklin's "Unite Or Die" cartoon
If there was one graphic that represented the spirit of the Revolutionary War, it would have to be the ubiquitous segmented snake with the famous "Unite Or Die" caption. The engraving, a prominent device in the masthead
Rare piece of political Americana: the birth of Gerrymandering...
Item #715496
Terrific broadside: "Natural And Political History of THE GERRY-MANDER! In Two Chapters.....With Cuts."Information from dealer Barry Lawrence Ruderman notes:
"Rare political broadside featuring the first political cartoon in American history to visualize and satirize gerrymandering, one of the most enduring distortions of democratic representation.
This sheet pairs two woodcu
... See More
The Articles of Confederation...
Item #718994
April 29, 1778
THE NEW JERSEY GAZETTE, Trenton, April 29, 1778
* The Articles of Confederation (historic)
* American Revolutionary War
This was the very first newspaper in New Jersey, having begun in December, 1777. This is issue number 22.
There are only a handful of documents in American history which can be considered cornerstones in the creation of our national government, which would include ... See More
Causes & Necessity of Taking Up Arms: consumes the entire front page...
Item #700583
July 29, 1775
THE PROVIDENCE GAZETTE & COUNTRY JOURNAL, Rhode Island, July 29, 1775 In the world of American Revolutionary literature and manuscripts three bodies of work stand out: 1) Thomas Paine's Common Sense; 2) the Declaration of Independence; and 3) the earliest of the Revolutionary trinity: The Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms.
All of the front page and a bit of page 2 are taken up ... See More
King Philip's War: the first war in America...
Item #699467
August 19, 1675
THE LONDON GAZETTE, England, August 19, 1675 The significance of what is known as "King Philip's War" is lost with most Americans, but the event cannot be over-stated.
This was America's first war, and the only newspaper in existence to report it was this title. As Wikipedia notes, this was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day New England an... See More
"The North Star" becomes "Frederick Douglass' Paper"...
Item #698970
September 08, 1854
FREDERICK DOUGLASS' PAPER, Rochester, New York, Sept. 8, 1854
* Extremely rare publication
We are pleased to offer this exceedingly rare--and highly desirable--newspaper by the famed Frederick Douglass. This weekly title is the continuation of his newspaper "North Star" which began in 1847.
Among the articles: "The Results of Emancipation" "The Fugit... See More
Exceedingly rare 1566 newsbook... Over 450 years old...
Item #690168
August 21, 1566
Only rarely have we had the great pleasure to offer the earliest of "newspapers" to our customers, being the German newsbooks dating from the 1500's.
The title reads: Newe zeitung vom XXI Augusti auss Wien anno 1566" which translates, literally, to "New Newspaper from August 21, from Vienna in the year x66". These "newsbooks", as they were called, were the p... See More
Philadelphia printing of the Constitution of the United States...
Item #696414
THE COLUMBIAN MAGAZINE, Philadelphia, September, 1787 * Philadelphia printing of the Constitution of the United States
This title, along with the "American Museum", has the honor of being the first magazine to print the Constitution of the United States. Both publications were from Philadelphia, the city where the Constitution was created.
Comments from the Library Company ... See More
Gage's account of Lexington & Concord on the front page...
Item #719591
June 07, 1775
THE CONNECTICUT JOURNAL & THE NEW-HAVEN POST-BOY, June 7, 1775 Simply a terrific issue, as I believe this to be the first newspaper we have offered which not only contains General Gage's official account of the Battle of Lexington & Concord, but it appears in its entirety on the front page.
Over two-thirds of the front page is taken up with a very historic report headed: "A... See More
The legendary "called shot" home run by Babe Ruth, in a Chicago newspaper...
Item #707386
October 02, 1932
CHICAGO SUNDAY TRIBUNE, October 2, 1932
* Babe Ruth's called shot (first report)
* New York Yankees World Series (game 3)
* Chicago Cubs - Wrigley Field
* Best title to be had - very rare
This could well be the most desired newspaper in baseball history. This edition reports the famous Babe Ruth "called shot" home run in the 1932 World Series.
As a bit of background, ... See More
The near-final version of the Bill of Rights, printed just ten days before the final version...
Item #703727
September 23, 1789
GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, September 23, 1789
* U.S. Senate version of the "Bill of Rights"
* United States Constitution - Amendments
Printed in their entirety on the front page are the twelve proposed Amendments to the Constitution, to be known as the Bill of Rights. But note this version is slightly different from the final version that would appear in the Oc... See More
"The North Star" becomes "Frederick Douglass' Paper"...
Item #697755
May 20, 1852
FREDERICK DOUGLASS' PAPER, Rochester, New York, May 20, 1852
* Extremely rare publication
We are pleased to offer this exceedingly rare--and highly desirable--newspaper by the famed Frederick Douglass. This weekly title is the continuation of his newspaper "North Star" which began in 1847.
Much of page 2 is taken up with: "The Annual Meeting of the American Anti-Sl... See More
The historic Funding Act of 1790... Alexander Hamilton...
Item #713731
August 07, 1790
(A 4-issue set) GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Aug. 7, 11, 14, and 28, 1790
The 4-issue set of Gazette of the United States from August 7, 11, 14, and 28, 1790, covers several key historical events and historic developments from the early U.S. government, focusing on the United States Funding Act of 1790 (which flowed from Alexander Hamilton's Treasury Report).
• Unite... See More
Battle of Lexington & Concord...
Item #701395
May 11, 1775
PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, May 11, 1775
* The Battles of Lexington and Concord
* Start of American Revolutionary War
This is a gem of an issue, as it is what all serious collectors seek for their Revolutionary War collection: an American newspaper with a terrific report on the famous battles at Lexington and Concord.
This page 3 report, datelined from Salem, April 25, begins:... See More
Wonderful broadside on the surrender of Robert E. Lee...
Item #717945
April 07, 1865
JAMESTOWN JOURNAL, EXTRA, Jamestown, New York, April 7, (1865) Within the world of newspaper collecting, both major reports and graphic headlines are primary in determining collectability. Other factors are important as well, but the more notable the event and the "flashier" the graphic appeal, the more desirable the item.
Broadsides tend to dominate such items. They were pri... See More
Election of Patrick Henry sets the stage for his famous speech... So much more...
Item #699033
March 17, 1775
THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE (with Supplement), Williamsburg, Mar. 17, 1775
* Very rare Colonial Virginia publication
* Election of Patrick Henry
This newspaper was published by Alexander Purdie, a distinction to be made since there were three newspapers of this title printed in Williamsburg during the early period of the Revolutionary War.
The entire front page is a terrific letter: "T... See More
House of Representatives' version of the Bill of Rights...
Item #703196
August 29, 1789
GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, August 29, 1789
* U.S. Congress version of the "Bill of Rights"
* United States Constitution - Amendments
* Presidents George Washington & John Adams
This is a very significant issue, as page 2 contains an early version of the historic Bill of Rights.
As a brief history, the Constitution was signed in September 1787 and sent to t... See More
"The North Star" becomes "Frederick Douglass' Paper"...
Item #689770
June 17, 1852
FREDERICK DOUGLASS' PAPER, Rochester, New York, June 17, 1852 We are pleased to offer this exceedingly rare--and highly desirable--newspaper by the famed Frederick Douglass. This weekly title is the continuation of his newspaper "North Star" which began in 1847.
Douglass was perhaps the most famous 19th century African-American abolitionist who escaped from slavery and then ri... See More
Very significant & rare "pillar cartoon" issue, putting the Constitution into effect...
Item #701466
February 13, 1788
THE MASSACHUSETTS CENTINEL, Boston, Feb. 13, 1788
* United States Constitution
* Ratification of the states
* Pillar illustration - cartoon
This is one of the most desired & elusive issues of this title to be had, as it contains one of the cherished "pillar cartoons". The only other newspaper we have discovered that used the pillar cartoons is the Independent Chronicle,... See More
The Gettysburg Address on the front page... One of the very best...
Item #684899
November 20, 1863
NEW YORK TIMES, Nov. 20, 1863
* President Abraham Lincoln
* Gettysburg Address at battlefield cemetery
It would be difficult to argue for a more notable or desirable newspaper from the Civil War. Combine the complete text of the historic Gettysburg Address by President Abraham Lincoln, with this venerable title, with the content being on the front page, and the combination makes for o... See More
A very rare American newspaper that existed for just seven issues...
Item #703276
June 25, 1776
THE AMERICAN GAZETTE; OR THE CONSTITUTIONAL JOURNAL, Salem, Massachusetts, June 25, 1776
* Very rare Revolutionary War publication
* Volume 1 Number 2 issue - great year to have
This is the volume one, number two issue of a very rare newspaper. Its rarity would seem to be sufficient for its desirability, as it existed for only seven weekly issues, from June 18 thru July 30, 1776... See More
Rare Lincoln's assassination report, in a Washington, D.C. newspaper...
Item #696929
April 15, 1865
EVENING STAR, Washington, D.C., April 15, 1865
* Abraham Lincoln assassination (historic 1st report)
* It is BEST to have reports from the city where it occurred
Terrific to have this first report of Lincoln's assassination in a newspaper from the city where it happened. This is the first of this issue we have offered.
The top of the front page has a column with heads: "ASS... See More
Very significant & rare "pillar cartoon" issue... Massachusetts ratifies the Constitution, in a Boston newspaper...
Item #703264
March 01, 1788
THE MASSACHUSETTS CENTINEL, Boston, March 1, 1788
* United States Constitution
* State of New Hampshire
* Pillar illustration - cartoon
This is one of the most desired & elusive issues of this title to be had, as it contains one of the cherished "pillar cartoons". The only other newspaper we have discovered that used the pillar cartoons is the Independent Chronic... See More
Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown, in an American newspaper...
Item #687288
December 20, 1781
THE SALEM GAZETTE, Massachusetts, December 20, 1781
* Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown
* American Revolutionary War ending
This issue contains one of the most historically significant letters from the Revolutionary War, being Cornwallis' official announcement of his surrender to Washington at the Battle of Yorktown.
The report begins on the front page no less, prefaced wit... See More
North Carolina secession report in a North Carolina newspaper...
Item #688320
May 22, 1861
THE DAILY JOURNAL, Wilmington, North Carolina, May 22, 1861
* North Carolina secession
* American Civil War
Certainly the most notable report is the pg. 2 news headed: "Secession Of North Carolina!" "One of The Confederates States" "North Carolina Free--Lincoln's Military Despotism Repudiated" which also includes the two "Ordinance" reports ... See More
Constitutional Convention begins & Washington is elected its President: a day after report...
Item #686699
May 26, 1787
THE INDEPENDENT GAZETTEER; OR THE CHRONICLE OF FREEDOM, Philadelphia, May 26, 1787
* Constitutional Convention begins
* George Washington elected president
An exceedingly historic issue as this newspaper reports the formal beginning of the Constitutional Convention--terrific to have in a newspaper from the city where these notable proceedings were held.
As such, this is likely the ... See More
"The Swedish Intelligencer" by Butter and Bourne...
Item #705721
January 01, 1633
THE SWEDISH INTELLIGENCER, "The Third Part" as well as: "The Fourth Part", London, 1633 A very rare newsbook by the famed publishing team of Nathaniel Butter and Nicholas Bourne who are credited with being the founders of the English language periodical format, having published: "The Continuation of Our Weekly News" in 1624, taken from like-publishers in Germany... See More
George Washington's inauguration and inaugural address... And a very rare eye-witness account...
Item #685616
THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE OR MONTHLY MUSEUM, Boston, May, 1789 * President George Washington
* Inauguration - inaugural address
* In a American publication (rare)
Rarely are we able to offer an American imprint with a period report of Washington's inauguration and inaugural address. Great to have this text in this famous magazine published by perhaps the most renowned printer of... See More
Fascinating Confederate newspaper, created from the ashes of the burned city of Columbia...
Item #701896
April 08, 1865
COLUMBIA PHOENIX, South Carolina, April 8, 1865
* American Civil War ending
* Extremely rare Confederate
* Post burning of Columbia
This is one of the more intriguing newspapers from the South during the Civil War. Not only was it printed during the closing days of the Civil War, but due to the shortage of newsprint this issue was printed on short and uncommonly wide news... See More
Early report on the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, and so much more...
Item #687095
November 06, 1781
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, Nov. 6, 1781 Certainly the most notable content is an early report of the capture of Cornwallis at Yorktown.
The page 2 report notes in part: "The General is happy in congratulating this army on the following authentic & interesting intelligence, received from the southward. That on the 15th instant two of the enemy'... See More
America's first successful newspaper...
Item #689552
April 17, 1740
THE BOSTON WEEKLY NEWS-LETTER, "New England", April 10-17, 1740
* Among the earliest of American newspapers to be had
This very rare title was the first successful newspaper in the colonies, having begun in 1704 and lasting until the British occupation of Boston in 1776. It was only preceded by "Public Occurrances Both Foreign and Domestick" which published just a s... See More
The first issue of this Revolutionary War title we have offered...
Item #687322
February 23, 1779
THE ROYAL AMERICAN GAZETTE, New York, February 23, 1779
* American Revolutionary War
* Extremely rare publication
* Loyalist - support to the British cause
This is an exceedingly rare title, in fact the very first we have offered. It was published by Alexander and James Robertson, beginning in January, 1777 and existed until some tim in 1783.
Brigham's "History & Bib... See More
One of the more rare Revolutionary War titles... Battle of Bunker Hill... Patrick Henry... so much more...
Item #687318
October 06, 1775
STORY & HUMPHREYS'S PENNSYLVANIA MERCURY & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, October 6, 1775
* Battle of Bunker Hill
* Revolutionary War
* Very rare publication
Certainly one of the more scarce titles from during the Revolutionary War. This is the volume 1 number 27 issue of a newspaper that existed only from April 7 to December 22, 1775, publishing a total of just 38 i... See More
Washington's Farewell Address...
Item #703206
September 29, 1796
UNITED STATES CHRONICLE, Providence, Rhode Island, Sept. 29, 1796
* President George Washington
* Farewell Address (retirement)
If there was a list of the most historic utterances of the post-Revolutionary War era, this issue would have to rank the top.
All of pages 1 and 2, and nearly a column of page 3 are taken up with an address: "To The People of the United Stat... See More
The most famous of all Lincoln assassination newspapers...
Item #701640
April 15, 1865
THE NEW YORK HERALD, April 15, 1865
* Abraham Lincoln assassination (1st report)
* Ford's Theater - John Wilkes Booth
This issue would rank among the most famous of all Lincoln assassination newspapers, as almost all issues found on the market today are one of the many reprint editions that have turned up for decades.
This is the genuine issue. And better yet it is the &quo... See More
Death of Ben Franklin...
Item #704390
April 24, 1790
GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, April 24, 1790
* Benjamin Franklin death (1ST REPORT)
Our records indicate it has been over 12 years since we have been able to offer a newspaper with some report on the death or funeral of Ben Franklin. Such issues have been very elusive.
The back page has a very notable--and early--report headed datelined at "Philadelphia, April 20, 1790... See More
Rare issue of the Oxford Gazette... Death toll from the Great Plague...
Item #697267
December 28, 1665
THE OXFORD GAZETTE, England, Dec. 28, 1665
* Earliest & Rarest of newspapers to be had
* Great Plague of London - epidemic deaths
This is an extremely famous--and rare--title being the predecessor of the famous "London Gazette", the oldest continually published English language newspaper in the world. This is the #13 issue.
Because of the Plague at this time, the Royal ... See More
Lincoln steps upon the national stage... The Cooper Union speech...
Item #703677
February 28, 1860
NEW YORK SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, Feb. 28, 1860
* Abraham Lincoln address
* Cooper Institute Union speech
* New York City
The front page has over five columns devoted to coverage of this famous speech which is headed: "NATIONAL POLITICS" "A Speech Delivered at the Cooper Institute Last Evening, by Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois".
At this point Lincoln had not declared... See More
Four documents signed by George Washington... Significant pronouncement by Franklin on slavery...
Item #701210
November 25, 1789
GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Nov. 25, 1789
* Benjamin Franklin re. slavery - slaves
* Newly elected President George Washington
It contains: An Address to the Public" by Benjamin Franklin as President of the: "Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and the Relief of Free Negroes, Unlawfully Held in Bondage".
This is an extremely notewor... See More
Lincoln is assassinated... One of the most desired titles... An early edition...
Item #701567
April 15, 1865
NEW YORK TIMES, April 15, 1865 Not only this event, but this title remains one of the most desired by collectors; a very significant event in American history reported by one of the most respected newspapers in the country.
The first column heads tell it all: "AWFUL EVENT" "President Lincoln Shot by an Assassin" "The Deed Done at Ford's Theatre Last Night" ... See More
Rare title with a Paul Revere engraving, still with original wrappers...
Item #711660
July 01, 1774
ROYAL AMERICAN MAGAZINE, Boston, July, 1774
* Exceedingly rare periodical just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War
* Masthead engraving by Paul Revere with outer wrappers (rare)
The quite famous and extremely rare magazine published by Isaiah Thomas. This is the first of the title we have offered in many years.
As noted in Wikipedia, it was a short-lived monthly published in Bo
... See More
Perhaps the best Cornwallis surrender issue we have offered...
Item #687093
November 13, 1781
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, Nov. 13, 1781
* Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown
* American Revolutionary War ending
A terrific issue as not only does it contain a fine account of the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, but it consumes the entire front page, carries over to take most of page 2, with additional information on page 3 as well.
The front p... See More
1775 Battle of Bunker Hill...
Item #704104
October 12, 1775
NEW ENGLAND CHRONICLE OR ESSEX GAZETTE, Cambridge, Mass., Oct. 12, 1775
* Battle of Bunker - Breed's Hill
* Charleston, Boston, Massachusetts
* General Thomas Gage account
Certainly a terrific issue as page 3 begins with a letter, signed in type by: Tho. Gage, in which he gives his account of the historic Battle of Bunker Hill, dated June 25 just 8 days after the battle.
I... See More
With the desired Ben Franklin imprint...
Item #703537
July 19, 1753
THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, Philadelphia, July 19, 1753
* Most famous of newspapers
* Benjamin Franklin (very rare)
In the imprint at the bottom of the back page is the much desired Benjamin Franklin imprint, noted as: "Printed By B. FRANKLIN, Post-Master, and D. HALL at the New Printing Office, near the Market". Franklin would later dissolve his involvement with this news... See More
Last issue published before his presses were destroyed by the Sons of Liberty...
Item #687444
November 23, 1775
RIVINGTON'S NEW-YORK GAZETTEER; or, the CONNECTICUT, HUDSON'S RIVER, NEW-JERSEY, and QUEBEC WEEKLY ADVERTISER, New York, Nov. 23, 1775
* American Revolutionary War
* Extremely rare publication
* James Rivington - spy publisher
James Rivington, the famous printer of this newspaper, had an interesting career.
He began this newspaper in 1773 initially with an impartial sta... See More
On Billy the Kid's death in almost a "hometown" newspaper...
Item #689457
July 23, 1881
THE LAS VEGAS DAILY OPTIC, New Mexico, July 23, 1881
* Outlaw Billy the Kid shot dead
* Pat Garrett - Old West lawman
* In a area publication, very rare
This was essentially the "backyard" of the famed outlaw Billy the Kid, so it is significant that there are two articles concerning his recent death (killed by Pat Garrett on July 14 in nearby Fort Sumner, New Mexico).
The... See More
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P.O. Box 3636
Williamsport, PA 17701
Phone: 1-570-326-1045
E-mail: info@rarenewspapers.com
Hours
Weekdays, 7:30 - 4 (ET)
Full Contact Information
