Historic Newspapers: Key items from our latest catalog.

THE NEW YORK TIMES, A very notable pair of issues dated Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 1927 reporting Babe Ruth tying the home run record (his own), then breaking it the next day, a record that would stand until Roger Maris hit 61 in 1961.

September 30: The sports page has a banner headline announcing: "Fans Acclaim Ruth as He Hits Two Homers and  ties Own Record; Cards Lose". The first column heads include: "Ruth Hits 2, Equals 1921 Homer Record" "Slams 58th in First Frame, then Gets 59th in Fifth with

THE FREEMAN'S JOURNAL OR THE NORTH-AMERICAN INTELLIGENCER, Philadelphia, Feb. 20, 1782  The top of page 3 features a: "PROCLAMATION", signed in type by: George Washington. It mentions in part: "Whereas there is good reason to believe that there are many deserters from the Continental army...finding themselves deluded by false promises, would willingly return to their colours...Therefore, from motives of humanity...I have thought fit to issue this my proclamation offering free pardon to all

This broadside (single sheet, printed on one side only) is headed: "ADDRESS of the late GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON, To the Citizens of the United States, on declining a re-election to the Office of President".
It is signed in print at its conclusion: "George Washington. United States, 17th Sept. 1796."
Washington penned this farewell address to the nation in 1796, at the end of his second term as President. He announces his intention to decline a third term in office and reflects on the current

A PERFECT DIURNALL Of Some PASSAGES & PROCEEDINGS Of and in relation to the ARMIES In ENGLAND and IRELAND", London, January 28, 1649  (1650 by today's calendar)  Printed just beneath the title is: "Licensed by the Secretary of the Army Under His Excellency the Lord Fairfax."
Lord Fairfax was a general for Parliament during the English Civil War, fighting against Charles I, but he would be overshadowed by his subordinate, Oliver Cromwell.
As the title suggests this newsbook had a strong focus on

THE HONOLULU SUNDAY ADVERTISER, Hawaii, December 7, 1941  With this date one would expect a report on the bombing of Pearl Harbor, as 3 editions of the Star-Bulletin published.
But this was the edition on the newsstands early in the morning. Just another ordinary day, despite ominous banner headlines: "FR PLANS MESSAGE TO EMPEROR AS FAR EAST TENSION MOUNTS" with related subheads.
Not surprisingly, this edition was never saved. There would have been no reason. But for the collection this is a

THE BLACK RANGE, Chloride, Sierra County, New  Mexico, Nov. 12, 1886  A very rare ghost town newspaper! An Englishman named Harry Pye discovered silver in the canyon where Chloride is now located. He staked a claim in 1881. A tent city grew up nearby and then a town, originally called Pyetown, then Bromide. The name "Chloride" was finally selected after the high-grade silver ore found there.
During the 1880s, Chloride had 100 homes, 1,000-2,000 people, eight saloons, three general stores,

GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, August 29, 1789  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 the Congress. Eleven days later, it was submitted to the states for ratification. But as the people began to examine the document, they came to share the sentiments of those who advocated that the Constitution include a set of specific guarantees--among them,

KA NONANONA (The Ant), Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaiian Kingdom. July 25, 1843. Buke (Vol.) 3, Pepa (No.) 5. 
An extraordinary and historically important issue of one of Hawaii's earliest Hawaiian-language newspapers, published only six days before the restoration of Hawaiian sovereignty following the British occupation known as the Paulet Affair. 
Edited by Rev. Richard Armstrong, Ka Nonanona was among the earliest newspapers printed for Native Hawaiian readers and occupies a foundational place in

FREDERICKTOWN FREE PRESS, Ohio, October. 18, 1879  This would rank among the more unusual newspapers we have discovered, as it is printed on orange cloth. The print quality is very good and the quality of the material is very good as well. The text of pages 1 and 4 is printed only, with pages 2 and 3 left blank, likely due to the technical difficulty of printing inside.
We find no mention of the reason for this curiosity, so we can only assume it was an experiment by a printer who wondered if

THE BOSTON CHRONICLE, Sept. 11, 1769  The front page begins with the list of the five points of historic Boston Non-Importation Agreement.
The merchants of Boston, taking into consideration the deplorable situation of the trade, and the many difficulties it presents for the American colonists, and the large sums collected by the officers of the customs for duties on goods imported, the heavy taxes levied to pay the debts contracted by the government in the French & Indian War, decided to act

MENARDVILLE RECORD, Texas, Dec. 5, 1889  This is a very rare newspaper, as Gregory believes it existed only in 1889-1890. Only the Bancroft Library had issues but they were deaccessioned years ago. This issue is one of them. According to Gregory's "Union List of American Newspapers" there are no other institutional holdings of this title.
This is the volume 1, number 16 issue. In 2020 the census noted a population of 1300 for Menardville.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed, a few minor archival

THE INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Boston, July 26, 1781  A nice feature of the masthead is a great engraving taken after one done earlier by Paul Revere, showing a patriot soldier with a sword in one hand and a scroll reading "Independence" in the other.
The front page has a letter from LaFayette to General Greene concerning actions with the British in the Battle of Spencer's Ordinary. The front page has two desertion notices as well.
Page 2 begins with: "...an account of the

GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Dec. 26, 1789  A page 3 report from Boston dated December 16 concerns the ratification of the Constitution by all of the states, except Rhode Island which did not participate in the Constitutional Convention.
The report reads in full: "The Twelve States of America, convened in Federal Convention, which proposed the Constitution, have now all adopted, ratified and confirmed it. The Edifice may now be declared complete--and on its completion we cordially

THE POLYNESIAN, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands, March 1, 1845  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 title in May, 1844. Two months later it became the "Official Journal of the Hawaiian Government" and remained so until

THE AMERICAN MUSEUM, Philadelphia, June, 1790  This title was one of just a small number of successful American magazines of the 18th century.
Among the articles are: "Extracts from the Last Will & Testament of his Excellency Benjamin Franklin" which takes nearly 4 pages and includes the "Codicil" with many particulars (see); "Remarks on the State of American Manufactures & Commerce" which takes nearly 6 pages; "Notes on the State of Pennsylvania" "On Maple Sugar" "Diligence, Industry,

THE OBSERVATOR'S TRYAL AND DEFENCE THIS GOOD DAY, London, Nov. 4, 1704  A very rare newspaper to say the least, as it is not listed in Crane & Kaye, nor can anything be found about this title on the internet.
The Observator was published by John Tutchin beginning in 1702. It was vocal in its denunciations of Queen Anne and her Tory ministries. The paper was written in dialogue form, where "Observator" and "Countryman" speak to one another.

In December, 1703, The Observator was arraigned for

NEW YORK HERALD, October 4, 1863  Although almost every President since George Washington has issued a proclamation for a "day of thanksgiving", typically celebrated in November but at other times of the year as well, it was Abraham Lincoln who formalized Thanksgiving Day to be celebrated the fourth Thursday of every year and making it a national holiday.
On page 4 is the complete text headed: "The National Thanksgiving Day" "A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America"