Historic Newspapers: Bonus Catalog Items (newly added)

GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Aug. 7, 11, 14, and 28, 1790 (a 4-issue set) 

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).

• United States Funding Act of 1790: This act, passed on August 4, 1790, was a critical piece of legislation where the new…

John Hancock signature... A few weeks prior to his most famous...

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. 
But the content is nice as well, particularly given that this issue was printed just 9 days before the Declaration…

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 5, 1841  

* President William Henry Harrison inauguration
* Inaugural address - best title to be had (rare)

Perhaps the best newspaper to be had on the inauguration of William Henry Harrison as the nation's ninth President, this being the premier newspaper from the nation's capital. 
Most of page 2 is taken up with: "THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS of Gen. William Henry Harrison, March 4, 1841, On entering Upon the Duties of the office of…

THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, February 13, 1776   Any newspaper dated 1776 is quite desirable, but even more so issues printed in Philadelphia.
The entire front page is taken up with a lengthy letter to the publisher which begins: "I cannot recall an idea to my mind more amazingly absurd & stupid than the idea of Lord North's second attempt to gull the colonists into a belief of his inclination to hold out to them terms of a safe and amicable reconciliation with Great Britain..."…

NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, May 29, 1819 and March 5, 1825  

* Precursor to the Jew Bill - extremely historic
* Equal rights for Jews - voting
* Henry Marie Brackenridge's speech

A 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 Bill was under consideration. The text of Brackenridge's speech is headed: "Religious Liberty" and…

THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, Feb. 24, 1776  The front page has half a column taken up with 2 desertion reward ads, with much detail. Over a column is taken up with the verbatim cross-examination of Governor Penn of Pennsylvania, which carries over to take one-third of page 2. A few questions & answers include: "...Q. In what estimation was the Congress held? A. In the highest veneration imaginable by all ranks and orders of men...what other forces had the Provincials of Pennsylvania…

THE VILLAGE VOICE, New York, April 13, 1961 

* Bob Dylan - Robert Allen Zimmerman
* Very 1st public performance advertisement
* Gerde's Folk City music venue in Greenwich Village

An exceedingly significant newspaper which offers witness to the birth of the music career of the legendary Bob Dylan. And perhaps no better title exists for this content. Indeed, this notice may only have appeared in the Village Voice.
First, it is worth noting that "The Village Voice" was an American news and culture…

THE WESTMINSTER MAGAZINE, London, July, 1776  Certainly a very uncommon title from the 18th century, formatted much like the more common 'Gentleman's Magazine" or the era.
An inside page has a great document headed: "American United Colonies, In Congress, May 15, 1776" which is a statement concerning the lack of ability to give allegiance to the King and the desire to authorize each of the 13 colonies to form a new provincial government. It is signed in type by the President: John Hancock.
This…

BOSTON DAILY JOURNAL, April 14, 1865  This is one of those fascinating newspapers that "reports" one of the great ironies in American history.
This was the date when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated while attending a performace of "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Page 3 of this newspaper has an advertisement for the Boston Theatre, noting: "This (Friday) Evening Benefit and Positively Last Night of EDWIN BOOTH who will appear as Sir Edward Mortimer..."To-Morrow…

CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE, Oct. 28, 1920  When it comes to reports on the infamous "Black Sox" World Series scandal of 1919, it would be difficult to find a better newspaper for such content.
The top of page 15 has a one column head: "SOX SECRETARY DENIES KNOWING OF SERIES FIXING" with the text beginning: "The management of the White Sox last night denied it had positive proof last year that the eight indicted players had sold out to gamblers..." with more.
Complete in 20 pages, address stamp above…

EXTRAORDINAIRE, Paris, France, March 7, 1635 with the date at the top in Roman numerals but then also dated at the bottom of the back page: "7 Mars, 1635".

* Earliest of newspapers to be had

This "extraordinary" issue was done for a singular purpose, as defines most "extraordinaries" produced since then.
This issue published simultaneously along with the "Gazette" of Paris, the very first regular newspaper published in France which started 10 years previous in 1631 by Théophraste Renaudot but…

THE VILLAGE VOICE, New York, March 3, 1987 

* re. Andy Warhol's death
* Pop artist movement 

As most might be aware "The Village Voice" was an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. It introduced free-form, high-spirited, and passionate journalism into the public discourse a tradition it maintained throughout its 60+ year history.
The top of the ftpg. has a teaser notice concerning the famed pop artist Andy Warhol.
Page 3 has a photo showing…

ARIZONA CITIZEN, Tucson, Pima County, A.T. [Arizona Territory] July 3, 1875  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 and ads. The back page has a full column: "Letter From Col. Hodge - Description of the Country About San Carlos and on the Way to Camp Apache".
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed, some minor margin tears, good condition.

THE NEW YORK HERALD, January 27, 1888

* Walt Whitman's "To Those Who've Fail'd"
* 1st appearance - quite rare

Page 6 has Walt Whitman's "To Those Who've Fail'd," which was a piece written exclusively for the New York Herald. The entire text reads:

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES, June 10-12, 1985 (3-issue set)

* The L.A. Lakers beat the Boston Celtics to win the NBA basketball title
* The Lakers finally bury the Garden Ghost
* Hometown (Los Angeles) newspaper

The win, the parade, the presentation: After decades of futility, the front page has: "Lakers Defeat Celtics for Title; Parade Tuesday", which tells of the Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Boston Celtics to win the NBA Championship. Also included are the issues from the following two days, one…

THE WASHINGTON POST, Washington, D.C., August 9, 1974 

* President Richard Nixon resigns
* Best publication to be had

Arguably the most desired newspaper containing major political reports of the last 100 years would be the revered Washington Post. And few political events of the last century would be more significant than the resignation of a sitting President: unprecedented in the 230 year history of the nation's highest office.
The front page features a bold, banner headline reading simply:…

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Dec. 10, 1840  Taking almost the entirety of page 2 is the President's annual state-of-the-union address, signed in type at its conclusion by: M. Van Buren. It is headed: "MESSAGE Of The President of the United States...".
As was typical with this annual tradition, President Van Buren reviewed the events of the year addressing the broad scope of work which concerned the nation in 1840.
Additionally, page 3 has a half column editorial on it, headed: "The…

Much on George Whitefield... Methodism...

(2) BOSTON EVENING TRANSCRIPT, November 21 & 26, 1887  The front page of the issue from the 21st has,"Fire Record," which provides an account of the devastating fire in Bridgeport, Connecticut at the winter quarters of P.T. Barnum's "Greatest Show On Earth." The issue of the 26th includes a follow-up report on page 1 which mentions the death of the famed rhinoceros, along with a more detailed account of the fire on page 5. See images for details. Great to have these reports from a major city…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, Jan. 26, 1990 

* Ava Gardner death (1st report)
* Movie - film actress & singer
* Best title to be had ?

The bottom of the ftpg. has an article headed: "Ava Gardner, Sultry Film Star, Dies at 67 in London." and includes a photo of her. The article carries over to page 22 where there are 2 more photos of her, with husbands Mickey Rooney and Frank Sinatra.
Great to have this report in a newspaper from the capital of the entertainment industry.
The complete first section with pages…

GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, November, 1798  Inside has an interesting letter which begins: "I was an eye-witness of the death of Marie Antoinette. The accounts given of that melancholy event are generally true. She was dressed in a white dimity jacket & petticoat..." with much more detail including: "...Her head was shown to the people, of whom I think 20,000 were assembled; it was then thrown into the basket with her body..." (see).
Near the back are news reports including over half a page…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Nov. 1, 1879  The full ftpg. is a Thomas Nast political cartoon showing Blacks & captioned: "The Next Debut - Now Let General M.C. Butler, of South Carolina, Show How Bulldozing Is Done."
Prints inside include a halfpg: "The Avery Institute, Charleston, S.C."; a fullpg: "International Cricket Match at Phila." "The Ute War--Colored Troops Fighting their Way into the Beleaguered Camp" & halfpg. on 'The Ute War' plus much more.
Sixteen pages, never bound nor trimmed,…

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Oct. 20, 1849 

* California Gold Rush
* 49ers - mining - miners

Page 3 has a terrific, nearly full column report headed: "The California Gold Region" which has much detail and fascinating accounts. Its begins: "It is now nearly two years since the discovery of the gold mines in this country...". there is too much fine content to detail here--see the photos.
Page 3 has: "Overland Travel To California" which has: "This gold excitement has caused an…

THE NEW YORK TIMES, June 8, 1981

* MX Missile System takes a hit
* Local resistance in Utah and Nevada
* Historic impact on the Cold War's arms race

The front page has: "Public Mood in Utah and Nevada Turns Sharply Against MX Plan", which tells of the historic impact of a grass roots movement among local conservative farmers, environmentalist, and beatniks - an odd cross-section of local, rarely united, people, whose resistance to the governments planned effort in the Great Basin region is

GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, October, 1798  Inside has a number of naval reports of encounters with the French & others. Included is a report beginning: "On this morning of the 7th inst. I fell in with and captured an American snow, which had been taken by a French privateer on the 4th, and, in consequence of the information given me by the American master, went in pursuit of the enemy..." with more.
But the prime content in this issue is the of Sir Horatio Nelson's victory over French at the…

THE NEW YORK TIMES, June 7, 1868  Page 3 has an article related to the 1st official Memorial Day which includes a touching letter from a young girl who had lost her father during the war, addressed to Col. Leaming: "Will you please put this wreath upon some rebel soldier's grave? My dear papa is buried at Andersonville, and perhaps some little girl will be kind enough to put a few flowers on his grave," signed in block type, "JENNY VERNON." It is interesting to note that they did find one…

THE NEW YORK TIMES, February 25, 1931

* National Prohibition Act held valid
* Eighteenth Amendment argument
* Dry law to continue in the U.S.

The front page has a one column heading: "DRY LAW HELD VALID BY SUPREME COURT; RULING IS UNANIMOUS" with subheads. (see) First report coverage on the United States v. Sprague Supreme Court decision with complete text on page 21.
Other news, sports and advertisements of the day. Complete in 52 pages, this is the rare rag edition that was produced on very high…

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, April 23, 1765  The top of the frontpage has a report headed: "America" with a Savannah, Georgia, dateline. It reports on the various funds for the orphan house in Georgia, one of his causes.
Whitefield (also Whitfield) was an English Anglican minister and preacher who was one of the founders of Methodism and the evangelical movement. He spent much time evangelizing in the Southern colonies of America. 
The back page has an item from Savannah concerning…

NEW-YORK TIMES, Sept. 23, 1870  Page 3 has: "Base-Ball The Championship Contest--Mutual vs. Atlantic--The Mutuals Win the Champion Pennant --Score 10 to 4". The summary (see) mentions that there was: "...a very large gathering of spectators on the Union Grounds...despite the fact that the admission fee was double the usual charge." Also says there was the largest gathering of fence peepers ever seen at a baseball match, and because there was such an interest in the game: "...the telegraph…

GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES & PHILADELPHIA DAILY ADVERTISER, March 7, 1798  The capital of the United States was in Philadelphia at this time while the District of Columbia was under construction.
Most of page 2 have a wealth of reporting from Congress. The front page has an ad for a recently published book: "Observations on Certain Documents...The History of the United States for the year 1796, in which the Charge of Speculation Against Alexander Hamilton, Late Secretary of the Treasury, is…

CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE, Nov. 8, 1928

* Mount Etna volcano eruption
* Mascali, Sicily, Italy lava disaster

The front page has a one column heading: "Fiery Finger of Etna Wipes Out 2 Towns" (see images) 
Complete with 44 pages, rag edition in great condition.

Background: The November 1928 eruption of Mount Etna stands as a pivotal moment in volcanology and Italian history, primarily due to the systematic destruction of the town of Mascali, which remains the only entire municipality erased by the…

RELIGIO PHILOSOPHICAL JOURNAL, Chicago, Nov. 27, 1875  A quite uncommon title which, as noted in the decorative masthead, is "Devoted To Spiritual Philosophy". This interesting newspaper was begun in 1865 by an association of dozens of the leading spiritualists of the day.  Its masthead is a graphic depiction of the progressive, free-religious views of the association showing "Harmonial Philosophy" shedding its light on the Bible, Koran, Zend-Avesta and Shaster, surrounded by scenes of…

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, March 14, 1798  The front page features two Acts of Congress, each signed in script type by the President: John Adams, and in block type by the Vice President: Th. Jefferson, one for defraying expenses for a treaty with Indians.
Also on the front page is a Mass. Act signed in script type by the governor: Increase Sumner.
Page 2 has an: "Important Message" signed in script: John Adams.
Four pages, archival strengthening at the blank spine, damp staining to the lower…

THE REHEARSAL OF OBSERVATOR, London, England  Nov. 11, 1704  A variant title --& earlier date--of the newspaper titled "The Rehearsal" and much less common. This is issue #15. In the masthead is the topic of the day: "The Method of the Dissenters Towards Peace & Union".
A single sheet newspaper printed on both sides measuring 8 by 13 1/2 inches, various foxing, nice condition.
 

SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN, Massachusetts, Nov. 8, 1865 

* Samuel Bowles' serialized travelogue : "Across The Continent"'

Over half of the front page is taken up with a portion of the Samuel Bowles book: "ACROSS THE CONTINENT" "Letters From Mr. Bowles--No. 29" "Our Farewell to Frisco--Dinner & Ball...A final Review of the Mining Questions...Latest News from the Mines--Copper and Quicksilver--The Petroleum Questions--Oil vs. Wine--Through the Golden Gate". Fascinating reading from just after the end…

MASONIC MIRROR, Philadelphia & New York, Sept. 1, 1858  In the dateline is: "Devoted To The Diffusion Of Masonic Intelligence, Fine Arts, Literature, News, etc."
This little newspaper published for the Masons has a very graphic, Masonic-theme engraving in the masthead. Some masonic content but other items as well.
Twelve pages, 8 1/2 by 11 1/4 inches, great condition.

SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Jan. 3, 1872  Very early from San Diego--a volume 2 issue--when the population was just 2,300, 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 which are illustrated.
Four pages, 11 3/4 by 17 3/4 inches, printed on high-quality newsprint, very nice condition.

PHILADEPHIA DAILY NEWS, Aug. 9, 1974 The front page tells it all with the huge type proclaiming: "IT'S OVER" with the large photo of President Richard Nixon hugging his daughter, Julie Eisenhower. A significant front page on the resignation of Nixon from the presidency. Some of the interior leaves are missing so this is not a complete issue, but it is essentially the front page which gives this issue displayablility and historic value. Very nice condition, tabloid-size measuring about 12 by 15…