Key items from our latest catalog.
Key items from our latest catalog.
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
Alexander Hamilton re: the Funding Act... Washington, Adams & Jefferson... Building a lighthouse at Cape Henry...
Item #718411
October 02, 1790
GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, N.Y., Oct. 2, 1790 Both pages 3 and 4 have two separate documents on carrying into effect the very historic Funding Act of 1790, whereby the new federal government assumed the debts of the individual states incurred during the Revolutionary War.
Most of the front page is taken up with the conclusion of the: "Collection Law" of the United States
... See More
British to attack Philadelphia... John Hancock... Creating battalions...
Item #715771
November 30, 1776
THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, Nov. 30, 1776 (editor's copy) This was a decidedly Tory newspaper, supportive of the British efforts in America. This newspaper ended publication in June, 1778 when the British evacuated the city.
The front page has a very detailed "Twenty Dollars Reward" ad for a runaway slave named Caesar. Page 2 has a report concerning an expedition into the... See More
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
Two Acts of Congress signed by George Washington... Will of Ben Franklin...
Item #705730
May 29, 1790
GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, May 29, 1790 On page 3 beneath a woodcut of an eagle and shield are: "Laws Of The United States Published By Authority" containing: "An Act to prescribe the mode in which the public Acts, Records, and Judicial Proceedings in each state...", signed in type: John Adams, George Washington & Thomas Jefferson, plus a second Act conce... 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
"Jack the Ripper" mentioned twice in the report...
Item #705700
October 20, 1888
THE TIMES, London, England, October 20, 1888 During the last half of 1888 the East End of London, primarily the Whitechapel district, was terrorized by a murderer who came to be known as Jack The Ripper. His infamous & brutal crime spree was reported in newspapers around the world--indeed, most American newspapers from 1888 reported his deeds.
But certainly the very best newspaper to fi... See More
The first convention of clubs: the birth of organized baseball...
Item #705698
January 23, 1857
NEW YORK HERALD, January 23, 1857 The back page has a report which could be considered the birth of organized baseball. And printed the day after the event happened!
The second column has an article headed: "Our National Sports" with subheads: "The Game of Base Ball--Convention of the Various Clubs Of the City and Vicinity--The Laws to Be Codified--Central Park Commissioners ... See More
The first full-fledged Broadway musical...
Item #705696
September 12, 1866
NEW YORK TIMES, Sept. 12, 1866 A terrific and historic issue relating to the first theatrical musical, "The Black Crook".
As Wikipedia notes: "Its significance is being considered the first piece of musical theater that conforms to the modern notion of a "book musical". The book is by Charles M. Barras, an American playwright. The music is mostly adaptations, b... See More
News on the John Brown invasion... Capture of a slave ship...
Item #705682
November 15, 1859
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Nov. 15, 1859 The front page has an article: "Arrival Of A Captured Slaver" concerns the barque Emily, captured on the coast of Africa: "...This is the fourth slaver taken within six months by the African squadron...".
Also on the front page: "The Harper's Ferry Conspiracy--Close of the Trial and Sentence of Prisoners&qu... See More
Woodhull & Claflin open the first women's brokerage firm on Wall Street...
Item #705681
February 05, 1870
NEW YORK HERALD, Feb. 5, 1870 The top of the back page has an intriguing report of a very notable--yet widely unknown--Wall Street "first".
Under the column heads: "THE QUEENS OF FINANCE" "The Palace of the Female Sovereigns of Wall Street--Commodore Vanderbilt as Prime Minister--Establishing the Connections--Telegraphy and Woman's Finesse" is the report of... See More
One of the earliest baseball illustrations to appear in any periodical...
Item #705666
December 27, 1856
PORTERS SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, New York, Dec. 27, 1856 This issue of this once popular sporting journal features one of the earliest baseball illustrations to appear in a periodical.
This simple illustration, which is actually a 3 by 3 inch diagram, shows the position of the players, and is part of an article: "Base Ball" "How They Play The Game In New England".
The diagr... See More
Pennsylvania's President releases the official Proclamation that ended the war...
Item #704114
April 19, 1783
THE INDEPENDENT GAZETTEER OR THE CHRONICLE OF FREEDOM, Philadelphia, April 19, 1783 Over half of the front page is taken up with various dispatches concerning: "The Proceedings of the Federal Army near New Windsor, to Obtain the Redress of their Grievances".
This was called the Newburgh Conspiracy, a plan by Continental Army officers to challenge the authority of the Confeder... See More
Thomas Paine and his "American Crisis" essay #10...
Item #704103
May 02, 1782
THE SALEM GAZETTE, Massachusetts, May 2, 1782 Most of the front page is taken up with a portion of his essay of March 5, 1782, headed "Common Sense To the People of America. On the Expences, Arrangements, and Disbursement for carrying on the War, and finishing it with Honour and Advantage."
This is (a portion of) essay #10 of "The Crisis" which was a collection of ... 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
Coins of the United States... Letter signed by George Washington...
Item #703711
July 04, 1789
GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, July 4, 1789 This newspaper was the "mouthpiece" of the federal government, certainly evident by the considerable reporting on discussions in Congress from this first year of its existence.
Some of the discussion is for creating the Treasury Department.
Most of the front page is: "ON the COIN of the UNITED STATES" which is i... See More
John Hancock, Benedict Arnold, Thomas Jefferson...
Item #703520
January 30, 1781
THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET OR THE GENERAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, Jan. 30, 1781 Page 2 has: "A Proclamation" beginning: "Whereas a resolve...for apprehending all prisoners of war that have been captured by any armed vessels of the United States and have not taken arms against the King of Great Britain..." with further dextral, signed in type by the governor of Mass: John H... See More
Burgoyne on his surrender to General Gates at Saratoga... Washington's Proclamation to deserters...
Item #703518
December 08, 1777
THE BOSTON GAZETTE & COUNTRY JOURNAL, Dec. 8, 1777 The patriotic engraving in the masthead was done by none other than Paul Revere, showing the caged dove of peace being set free over the skyline of Boston by the symbol of liberty.
Certainly the most notable content would be the letter from General Burgoyne to Sir William Howe--found in its entirety on the front page--dated at Alb... See More
Trial of Burgoyne over his surrender at Saratoga...
Item #703517
September 24, 1778
THE CONTINENTAL JOURNAL & WEEKLY ADVERTISER, Boston, Sept. 24, 1778 The entire front page and part of page 2 are taken up with a lengthy & very detailed account of the trial of General Burgoyne concerning his surrender of the post at Saratoga.
The report begins: "That this house will now resolve into a committee of the whole house to consider of the state & condition
... See More
Inaugural addresses of John Adams, and much more...
Item #703229
March 08, 1797
THE HERALD; A GAZETTE FOR THE COUNTRY, New York, March 8, 1797 The front page has an address: "To George Washington" from the Penna. legislature on his retirement from public office, to which he responded with a letter signed in type; Go. Washington.
This is followed by another similar letter to the President, again with his response signed; Go. Washington. Then carrying ove... See More
Surrender of Ticonderoga... Washington's Manifesto...
Item #702512
THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, Sept., 1777 Over 2 1/2 pages are taken up with: "Letter from Gen. Washington to Gen. Sir William Howe" from Middlebrook, June 10, 1777, signed by him in type: Geo. Washington. This is followed by another letter from Washington to Howe, which begins: "The fortune of war having thrown Major-General Prescot in our hands, I beg leave to propos... See More
Two documents from Alexander Hamilton...
Item #701740
January 20, 1790
GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Jan. 20, 1790 Over half of page 2 is taken up with: "Summary View of the Report of the Secretary of the Treasury..." submitted to the House on January 14.
This is a very notable report--this being s "summary view" of a very lengthy document--concerning the topic of public credit. The full document is considered one of the greatest ... See More
Rare war-related newspaper that lasted but three issues...
Item #701624
March 30, 1861
THE PALMETTO FLAG, Philadelphia, March 30, 1861 An exceedingly rare newspaper as only three issues were published, this being issue #1. This is just the second issue of this title we have encountered in our 50+ years.
As the title might hint, this was a newspaper that sympathized with the Southern cause of the war which was just then beginning (Fort Sumter battle was April 12). It's tit... 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
Bostonians respond, patriotically, to the Royal Governor's speech...
Item #701416
February 10, 1773
THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, Philadelphia, Feb. 10, 1773 The entire front page and most of page 2 are taken up with the response of John Hancock, Sam Adams, & others to the Mass. governor's recent speech. It is very patriotic in tone, noting near the beginning: "...We fully agree with your Excellency, that our own happiness, as well as his Majesty's service, very much depends u... See More
On the French Alliance Treaty... George Johnstone & his bribes...
Item #701414
August 19, 1778
THE NEW JERSEY GAZETTE, Trenton, Aug. 19, 1778 New Jersey was the last of the original 13 colonies to have a newspaper. This is the volume 1, number 37 issue.
The entire front page is taken up with reporting and letters between the French & American commissioners concerning the recently-concluded Treaty of Alliance.
Page 2 has a notable "Declaration" from Congress, signed by ... See More
Congress creates Continental Currency... From Lexington & Concord forward...
Item #701118
November 16, 1775
THE NEW ENGLAND CHRONICLE OR THE ESSEX GAZETTE, Cambridge, Nov. 16, 1775 A very significant issue in the financial history of the United States, as the front page reports the first issuance of Continental Currency to support the Revolutionary War. Datelined: "Philadelphia, In Congress, Thursday, June 22, 1775" it reports: "Resolved, That a sum not exceeding two millions of Spa... 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
Neil Armstrong steps on the moon in 1969...
Item #698311
July 21, 1969
WAPAKONETA DAILY NEWS, Ohio, July 21, 1969 A great issue on this significant event as this newspaper is from Neil Armstrong's hometown. Typically issues of this date carried the headline: "Man Walks On Moon" but this hometown newspaper personalized the report honoring their local hero with: "NEIL STEPS ON THE MOON".
This is likely the only newspaper in the country wi... See More
Rare and early title from Honolulu...
Item #668054
December 14, 1844
THE POLYNESIAN, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands, Dec. 14, 1844 One of the earliest newspapers we have offered from Hawaii, and fourteen years earlier than the few of this title we offered in recent years.
The "first series" of this title existed for just 1 1/2 years from 1840 to 1841. It proved unprofitable and was shut down. The editor reestablished the paper under the same titl... See More
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.
An Inside Look
Timothy Hughes Rare &
Early Newspapers…
A special thank you goes out
to the staff of WGRC!
to the staff of WGRC!
History's Newsstand Blog
- Lead-up to a Nation… as reported in the newspapers of the day (October, 1775)…
- The reason I collected it: the Nuremberg trials…
- Announcing: Catalog #360 for November, 2025 – Rare & Early Newspapers…
- They Put It In Print – A U.S. President Seeks Permission…
Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers
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
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
