Historic Newspapers: Key items from our latest catalog.
FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED NEWSPAPER, New York, Dec. 5, 1863 The front page shows: "The War In Tennessee--Lookout Mountain & its Vicinity..." plus other war-related illustrations within, including scenes of Brownsville & Matamoras, Texas and more.
The great, tipped-in (preferred) doublepage centerfold is captioned: "The Consecration of the Great National Cemetery Near Gettysburg, Nov. 19 by Abraham Lincoln...". As an appropriate complement to this centerfold is text on the events at: "The…
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
THE MASSACHUSETTS GAZETTE, Boston, August 31, 1769 printed with THE BOSTON WEEKLY NEWS-LETTER, August 31, 1769 Both newspapers were published by Richard Draper on Thursday. A partnership with John Green and Joseph Russell printed the "Boston Post-Boy & Advertiser" on Mondays.
Both titles are printed on the same sheet of paper (each s single sheet; verified when held to the light) and were meant to be separated for individual sale & distribution. But this pair was not, hence the interesting
…Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
THE CRISIS, Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 14, 1863 This anti-war newspaper insisted slavery should not be abolished, so consequently, much content has an anti-North bias.
Articles within include: "Civil Libery of the Soldiers" "Another Draft" "The Republican & Rebel Allies North & South" "The Coming Congress to Abolish Slavery" "The Morals of Abolitionism" "Lincoln A Shakspearian Critic" includes a letter signed by him: A. Lincoln; "The American Freeman's 'Petition of Right' " "The American Question
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
SPOONER'S VERMONT JOURNAL, Windsor, Dec. 28, 1795 Almost the entire front page is taken up with the President's: "SPEECH" being George Washington's annual state-of-the-union address for the year 1795, a tradition he started in his first administration and which continues to this day.
The "Speech" is prefaced with: "This day, precisely at 12 o'clock, The President of the United States met both Houses of Congress in the hall of the Representatives, and addressed them in the following...".
Page 2…
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
THE CONTINENTAL JOURNAL & WEEKLY ADVERTISER, Boston, Nov. 19, 1778 Page 2 has over half a column concerning the historic duel between Generals Robert Howe and Gadsden, bot notable figures in the Revolutionary War.
The duel stemmed from a dispute over command of Continental troops in South Carolina. Gadsden, a local hero, had taken command during Howe's absence, and when Howe returned, Gadsden questioned the terms of his recall and argued for retaining command. The situation escalated into a…
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
THE SCOTS MAGAZINE, (Edinburgh), June, 1754 Inside has two pages taken up with reports taken: "...from the journal of Major George Washington, sent by the Governor of Virginia, to the commandant of the French forces on the river Ohio...".
This is a great account of Washington's exploits near the Ohio River.
Some snippets include: "Mr. Washington set out on the 31st of October 1753 and reached Will's Creek...he called upon Shingiss, King of the Delaware Indians...One of the chiefs, called the…
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
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…
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
(Added to the June, 2026 catalog (#367) after its initial release - only available on-line.)
MIST'S WEEKLY JOURNAL, London, March 25, 1727 When it comes to notable deaths of the world, they don't get too much better than this.
Page 2 has a simple, yet powerful report noting simply: "Died, Sir Isaac Newton, the greatest Mathematician that the World ever knew."
Isaac Newton was an English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, and author widely recognized as one of the greatest mathematicians and physicists of all time and among the most influential scientists.
Terri…
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
FLAKE'S WEEKLY BULLETIN, Galveston, Texas, July 10, 1864 Although we have had several of this title in the past, we believe this is the first we have offered from during the Civil War.
Among the articles: "Morgan's Raid in Kentucky" "Shenandoah Valley" "From Southern Papers" "The Blockade Runner Isabel Again" "Hunter's Army In the Field" "The Campaign in Virginia" "What Grant is Doing--The Campaign Reviews" and more.
Complete as a single sheet issue, some creases, a few discrete archival mends,…
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
THE ESSEX JOURNAL & NEW HAMPSHIRE PACKET, Newburyport, Massachusetts, March 1, 1776 There were but a few masthead engravings of the 18th century which were created by Paul Revere. The "Massachusetts Spy" is perhaps the most famous, plus there is the engraving in the "Boston Gazette" as well, with these two newspapers being among the most common, in a relative sense. But even these are quite rare.
Revere also created the masthead for the Essex Journal, very few examples of which are found on…
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
The engraving, a prominent device in the masthead of this newspaper, shows a snake cut into various pieces, each with a label of a colony with the implied message that only by each of the separate colonies uniting under a single cause could
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, November, 1776 This issue begins with "Proceedings in the House of Commons..." which includes discussion on the Revolutionary War, including: "...Nothing could have afforded me so much satisfaction as to have been able to inform you...that the troubles which have so long distracted my colonies in North America were at an end; and that my unhappy people, recovered from their delusion, had delivered themselves from the oppression of their leaders, & returned to…
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
PORT HUDSON FREEMAN, Louisiana, July 15, 1863 This is the volume 1, number 1 issue of a title that existed for just two issues, the other dated July 21.
A rare copy of this title published by Union soldiers, this issue announced the capture of Port Hudson, the fall of Vicksburg, and other news, including updates on other Union forces.
The issue is printed on brown necessity paper, wide margins, nice condition.
We believe this is the first of this title we have offered in our 50+ years.
Single…
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
THE PROTESTANT (DOMESTICK) INTELLIGENCE, Or News both from CITY AND COUNTRY, London, England, April 2, 1680 Here is a rare opportunity to purchase a newspaper by Benjamin Harris. Harris was the first newspaper publisher in the colonies, having published "Public Occurrences Both Forreign & Domestick" in Boston in 1690. It lasted for only one issue, and to this day only one issue of that newspaper has been found.
Before emigrating to the colonies, he published this newspaper in London, but he…
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
THE HERALD OF FREEDOM & THE FEDERAL ADVERTISER, Boston, April 10, 1789 This is a very historically significant issue, reporting the official results of George Washington being elected President of the United States.
Page 3 has: "Interesting Intelligence" that includes:"...On the Monday following, (6th inst.) by the arrival of the Hon. Richard H. Lee, from Virginia, a quorum was formed of the Senate of the United States, when they proceeded agreeably to the Constitution, and made choice of the…
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
THE CHARLESTON MERCURY, South Carolina, April 13, 1861 When it comes to collecting historic events it is desirable to find a newspaper printed as close to the place or event as possible. Here is a Charleston newspaper reporting the opening battle of the Civil War at Fort Sumter. They don't get much better.
The top of a front page column has heads: "Bombardment of FORT SUMTER!" "Splendid Pyrotechnic Exhibition" "Fort Moultrie Impregnable" "The Floating Battler & Stevens' Battery a Success" "…
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
The report includes the various correspondence between Generals Lee and Grant as they negotiated the terms of the surrender.
As seen in the photos the heads include: "VIRGINIA ! " and "LEE SURRENDERS" both in larger-than-normal type. Also: "The Rebellion Ended!" "Official Correspondence" "Gen. Lee Desirous of 'Peace' " and more.
Always one of
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
THE FREEMAN'S JOURNAL: of the NORTH AMERICAN INTELLIENCER, Philadelphia, May 9, 1781 Page 3 has a report from New York on the celebration of the British victory at Guilford Court House, North Carolina: "Last Saturday...a feu de joie was fired here, by all the troops in garrison, in consequence of the victory obtained by the British troops over the rebel army at Guilford court house...the 15th of March last...".
Also a letter from General Baron Steuben from Virginia noting in part: "...I…
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
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…
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
(Added to the June, 2026 catalog (#367) after its initial release - only available on-line.)
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…
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
(Added to the June, 2026 catalog (#367) after its initial release - only available on-line.)
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…
Item from our most recent catalog - #367 - released for June, 2026
(Added to the June, 2026 catalog (#367) after its initial release - only available on-line.)
If you are searching for a newspaper from a specific date, please note that we have a vast selection available for purchase by using the date picker on our gifts and birthday newspapers page.