Historic Newspapers: Search Results

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. It 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…

HOUSEHOLD WORDS, London, England, Dec. 14, 1850

* Charles Dickens publication

This 24 page issue is in nice condition and measures 6 x 9 inches. This was a weekly journal which was conducted by Charles Dickens as noted in the masthead. This magazine has mainly literary reading (stories, poems etc.), some by Charles Dickens himself.

Background: The historical significance of Household Words lies in its role as a bridge between the high-brow Victorian literary world and the emerging mass-market…

HARPER'S NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE, New York, December, 1851 

* Herman Melville's Moby-Dick
* Early novel review - The Whale
* First introduction to the public 

Near the back of the issue is "Literacy Notices" which discusses "A new work by Herman Melville, entitled Moby Dick; or, the Whale, has just been issued by Harper and Brothers... Moby Dick is the name of an old White Whale; half fish and half devil; the terror of the Nantucket cruisers...This huge sea monster has a conflict with one…

THE ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE, Salem, Ohio, May 11, 1850  

* Rare Anti Slavery publication - slaves
* Emancipation of the enslaved - abolition 
* Over 10 years prior to the Civil War 

The motto printed in the masthead reads: "No Union With Slaveholders", which sets the tone for the newspaper's theme. This is one of the less common anti-slavery newspapers we have encountered.
This issue has a wealth of fine, anti-slavery-themed articles including: "Colored Children Entitled to the Benefits of…

THE ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE, Salem, Ohio, April 27, 1850  

* Rare Anti Slavery publication - slaves
* Emancipation of the enslaved - abolition 
* Over 10 years prior to the Civil War 

The motto printed in the masthead reads: "No Union With Slaveholders", which sets the tone for the newspaper's theme. This is one of the less common anti-slavery newspapers we have encountered.
This issue has a wealth of fine, anti-slavery-themed articles including a poem: "To Slaveholders & Their Allies" by John. G.…

THE FLORIDIAN, Tallahassee, Florida, Nov. 4, 1848 

* Rare antebellum publication
* 12 years prior to Civil War outbreak

Nineteenth century newspapers from Florida are uncommon, particularly those from before the Civil War. Here is such an issue from the capital city of Florida, three years before the Civil War.
Over half of the ftpg. has various political Acts and documents signed in type by the President: James K. Polk. Various content within including: "Fillmore's Abolitionism…

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Oct. 11, 1849  Page 3 has over a full column of reports from California, mostly focused on the Gold Rush. Subheads include: "Placer Intelligence" "A Trinity River Expedition" "Successful Gold Diggings" with details; "The Mines" "Improvements at San Francisco" and more.
A wealth of fine reading from during the height of the Gold Rush mania.
Four pages,very nice condition.

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Aug. 8, 1849 

* Wagon trains heading West
* California gold rush era

Page 3 has a terrific report headed: "From the Western Plains" which provides a sense of the romance, at least in hindsight, of the wagon trains heading west.
But the truth was much more dangerous. A few bits include: "...advices from the Plains have been received...left Fort Kearny...were meet & surrounded by a band of Cheyennes and Sioux...robbed them of almost every…

ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, Nov. 15, 1851  Pages 3 and 4 contain an article on a famous case involving the San Francisco Committee of Vigilance, headed: "Californian Lynchings". Included as well is a print captioned: "Lynching In San Francisco".
In 1851, San Francisco was a city in chaos, its population swelling due to the Gold Rush and its streets rife with crime and lawlessness. The official legal system was overwhelmed, often viewed as corrupt and incapable of maintaining order,…

John Paul Jones'

GLEASON'S PICTORIAL, Boston, Massachusetts, Aug. 2, 1851  The front page has a half-page engraving of a cricket club: "The Eleven Of New England.", which includes the names of the club members and various officials. Included is a related article.

The inside has a half-page engraving of the "Laying Of The Corner Stone At The Capitol." Also present are: "Deck of the Ship Niantic, At Sea", "Opheleton Female Seminary", "Statue of Stephen Girard", "Noble's Island, Portsmouth, N.H.",…

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Dec. 2, 1848  Page 3 has a report headed: "From California" which includes in part: "...fully confirms the most glowing accounts heretofore received in the States of the richness & extent of the gold region...the gold is found from the tops of the highest mountains to the bottom of the rivers..." with more. An early report on the California Gold Rush.
Four pages, nice condition.

SATURDAY EVENING POST, Philadelphia, June 30, 1849  The front page has a print of: "Louis Kossuth", the President of Hungary, with related text.
But the better content is on page 2 with almost a full column headed: "California" with some fine content on the early period of the Gold Rush, including at least two letters. The photos do not show the full report.
Page 2 has a nice print headed: "Biography for Mr. Polk" with related text.
Four pages, large folio size, never bound nor trimmed, 3…

SATURDAY EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Oct. 6, 1849  Page 3 has about half a column headed: "The Gold Region - Life In California" which offers some interesting content.
Four pages, large folio size, never bound nor trimmed, 3 folds with mild fold & margin wear. Generally good. Folder size noted is for the issue folded in half.

WECLI FONETIC ADVOCET, Sinsinati, Novembur, Ogust 30, 1850  [Weekly Phonetic Advocate, Cincinnati, Ohio]  This is one of the more curious newspapers of the 19th century.
During this time there was a movement afoot to create a new mode of writing & spelling: to spell words as they sounded, phonetically. Obviously it never caught on, but it did result in this unusual newspaper which is almost entirely written phonetically. This newspaper lasted a bit over 3 years.
The front page: "The Spelling…

THE DAILY DELTA, New Orleans, Oct. 2, 1850  Newspapers from the pre-Civil War South are rather difficult to find. Here is one from Louisiana.
The front page has most of a column headed: "Important News from Deseret, Now Utah Territory--Indian Fight--The California Emigrants".
Among the many ads is one on the front page headed: "Slaves! Slaves!! Slaves!!!" which notes in part: "The subscribers are prepared to receive, on consignment, for sale in this market, any number of slaves, having one of…

DAILY EVENING TRANSCRIPT, Boston, Dec. 5, 1848 

* Very early California gold rush reporting - 49ers 

 California Gold Rush reports from 1848 are rather rare but we've found some through the years, such as this one.
A bottom corner of the front page has: "Gold Mines of California" noting: "These mines are represented as very productive & of immense value...making rapid fortunes by gathering gold..." and a bit more.
Page 2 has: "Guano Versus Gold" which includes: "...several vessels are up for…

THE ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE, Salem, Ohio, August. 3, 1850  

* Rare Anti Slavery publication - slaves
* Emancipation of the enslaved - abolition 
* Over 10 years prior to the Civil War 

The motto printed in the masthead reads: "No Union With Slaveholders", which sets the tone for the newspaper's theme. This is one of the less common anti-slavery newspapers we have encountered.
Among the articles: "To the Members of the Western Anti-Slavery Society" "Lynch Law" "Cause of the Slave in Ellsworth" "Parker…

THE ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE, Salem, Ohio, August. 10, 1850  The motto printed in the masthead reads: "No Union With Slaveholders", which sets the tone for the newspaper's theme. This is one of the less common anti-slavery newspapers we have encountered.
Among the articles: "Tale of Cruelty" "Things In Kentucky" "An Incident of the Slave Trade" "Fugitive Slaves" "Abolitionists & the Bible" "Woman's Rights" "The Flying Fugitives" and more.
Page 3 has an interesting article beginning: "The Mormon…

THE ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE, Salem, Ohio, August. 24, 1850  The motto printed in the masthead reads: "No Union With Slaveholders", which sets the tone for the newspaper's theme. This is one of the less common anti-slavery newspapers we have encountered.
Among the articles: "Our Western Anti-Slavery Tour" "The Abolitionists Respected at the South" "Africa" "Southern Slavery, by an Eye-Witness" "An Incident of Slavery" "Cuba & the Slave Trade" "An Important Case" "Woman's Rights Convention" and…

HARPER'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE, New York, volume for May thru November, 1851 

* Herman Melville’s masterpiece, Moby-Dick introduced

The “Town Ho’s Story” appears on pages 659-665 in the October issue. It was the first appearance of any part of the great novel Moby Dick and became chapter 54 in the book. A publisher’s note on page 659 says: “From The Whale, the title of a new work by Mr. Melville, now in the press of Harper and Brothers, and now publishing in London by Mr. Bentley.”
The chapter…

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 8, 1850 

DAILY EVENING STANDARD, New Bedford, Massachusetts, Feb. 21, 1851  Two articles take most of a page 2 column: "The Boston Slave Hunt" with an interesting account. it notes in part: "It is amusing to witness the wry faces...over the unsuccessful efforts...at negro catching. So long a time had elapsed since a really serious attempt had been made to catch a negro in the city of the Puritans...But as good luck would have it, the negro would not stay caught. He had tasted the blessings of freedom &…

THE GREENSBOROUGH PATRIOT, (now spelled Greensboro) North Carolina, July 12, 1851  The back page has a document from the President concerning the sale of land in Illinois with descriptive text. It is signed in type: Millard Fillmore.
Four pages, great condition.

THE GREENSBOROUGH PATRIOT, (now spelled Greensboro) North Carolina, July 5, 1851  Page 2 has: "The Mormons" which is a brief item mentioning Jeremiah chapt. 17 vs. 5-6 in reference to the Mormons at Salt Lake City. Also a report: "Salt Lake" which focuses on the high percentage of salt in the lake, noting: "...One fan hardly get his whole body below the surface...".
The back page has two documents from the President concerning the sale of land in Illinois & Missouri with descriptive text. Each…

SANDUSKY WEEKLY REGISTER, Ohio, Sept. 29, 1851

* Erie County
* Uncommon title

This 4 page newspaper has news of the day with a few advertisements. Located in Northern Ohio, Sandusky is situated along the shores of Lake Erie.
Complete, measures 26 x 19 inches, several folds with a little wear, generally in nice condition.

BOSTON MUSEUM, July 27, 1850   The front page has a large sketch/likeness of the newly sworn-in president, Millard Fillmore, the last member of the Whig Party to serve as POTUS. Included is an lengthy article which includes his 1842 resignation speech when he left Congress.
An inside notice announces that Harvard Professor John White Webster's request for a commutation of his death sentence was denied. He was executed a few days later. Note: This case was immortalized on both television and…

THE FLORIDIAN, Tallahassee, Oct. 6, 1848 

* Rare antebellum publication

This issue from Tallahassee, the capital of Florida, includes many articles and advertisements: "Gen. Taylor's Northern Platform" "Extract of a Speech Delivered in 1827 by Henry Clay of Kentucky" "General Taylor & the Proviso" "New Game of Ride and Tie"  "Taylor & Texas" and a wealth of other political reports.
Nineteenth century newspapers from Florida are uncommon, particularly rare are those from before the Civil…

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 12, 1849

* President Zachary Taylor
* Inauguration - inaugural 

Page 3 has reports headed: "The President's Inaugural which begins: "The brevity and perspicuity of President Taylor's Inaugural Address are so striking that it would seem to be almost superfluous to make a single remark upon it...".
This is followed by: "The Inaugural" with more on his address, then yet a third report relating to it. Also: "Interview With the President". Great to…

GLEASON'S PICTORIAL DRAWING-ROOM COMPANION, Boston, May 17, 1851  The front page shows: "Packet Ship Isaac Webb, of New York." Inside prints include: "Encounter with a Whale" "Race Course on Long Island" "Scene at the Revere House" "Castle Garden, New York" "Gen. Winfield Scott" and "Jenny Lind" which includes an article on her. She was promoted by P. T. Barnum as the "Swedish Nightingale" was was a huge sensation in America at the time. 
Also: "Giovanni Belletti" "Interior of Castle Garden,…

GLEASON'S PICTORIAL DRAWING-ROOM COMPANION, Boston, May 17, 1851  The front page shows: "Packet Ship Isaac Webb, of New York." Inside prints include: "Encounter with a Whale" "Race Course on Long Island" "Scene at the Revere House" "Castle Garden, New York" "Gen. Winfield Scott" and "Jenny Lind" which includes an article on her. She was promoted by P. T. Barnum as the "Swedish Nightingale" was was a huge sensation in America at the time. 
Also: "Giovanni Belletti" "Interior of Castle Garden,…

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Dec. 7, 1848  

* Gold discovered in California
* Official government report
* Pre 49ers- Forty-Niners

Beginning on the front page and taking all of page 2 and most of page 3 is  the: "President's Annual Message" to the nation, in which is a rather lengthy & detailed report on the discovery of gold in California.
Although there were earlier newspaper reports of gold discovery, this was the first "official" announcement by the government and did…

SATURDAY EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Nov. 29, 1851  

* Very early San Francisco city view print 
* California gold rush era & Sacramento 

The front page has a great & very early: "View Of San Francisco From the Foot of Telegraph Hill" with a related article on the city which: "...has now a population of about 40,000, with over 100 miles of streets laid out...".
Additionally the back page has a great: "View Of Sacramento City, From the River" with descriptive text.
Four pages, a very…

THE SATURDAY EVENING POST, Philadelphia, April 19, 1851  

* Early of Honolulu Harbor
* Kingdom of Hawaii - print
* Sandwich - Hawaiian Islands

The nice & quite detailed print at the top of the front page is captioned: "The Port Of Honolulu, In The Sandwich Islands", now known as Hawaii. There is a nice article on it as well beginning: "It is not many years since Honolulu was regarded as one of the Cannibal Islands, and missionaries were sent thither to tame the savage natures of its…

DAILY HERALD, Newburyport, Massachusetts, April 25, 1849  This issue has many reports concerning the Gold Rush of 1849, with the front page beginning with a quite detailed letter which is prefaced with: "From Mexico" "...the following letter...who went out to California in command of a company of adventurers, taking the Mexican route...his narrative contains much interesting and valuable information." What follows is the letter.
Page 2 begins with: "Sufferings of California Emigrants", then…

THE NATIONAL ERA, Washington, D.C., Aug. 2, 1849  Page 3 has nearly 2 columns of reporting headed: "Late & Important From California" with a wide range of news from the Far West. In fact, this is one of the lengthier reports from Calif. we have seen from this era.
A few bits include: "...Gold hunting is carried on with as much success as ever...emigrants are continually arriving..." with a bit more on the gold mining. Then a great deal on the political situation there, and so much more…

SATURDAY EVENING POST, Philadelphia, July 28, 1849  Page 3 has: "From California" with the latest news, bits including: "...New towns were being laid out in different spots around the bay & building lots, in wilderness sites, were selling from $1500 to $2000 each...San Francisco was full of people & it is not an uncommon thing for 20 to 30 individuals to occupy one small apartment...The gold dust this season had not been dug out very freely...News has just been received that six men in 20…

SATURDAY EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Sept. 29, 1849  Page 2 has: "California" with the latest news, bits including: "...has been one of the fortunate 'hunters' having accumulated during his short sojourn in California between 11,000 and 12,000 dollars worth of the 'stuff'...".
Much more on the gold rush with subheads: "The Climate and Soil" "The California Camp" "New Process For Collecting Gold Dust" and more.
Four pages of very large size paper measuring 25 by 33 inches, folded three times,…

SATURDAY EVENING POST, Philadelphia, March 29, 1851  The top of the front page features a nice print of: "Pyramid Lake, Oregon" which would seem to be one of the earlier prints of it to be found in any periodical. Beneath the print is very descriptive text.
Four pages, large folio size, 3 folds, mild wear at the folds & margins, good condition. Folder size noted is for the issue folded in half.

Background:Pyramid Lake in Oregon is a small, serene alpine lake located in the Mount Hood…

SATURDAY EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Sept. 22, 1849

* California gold rush - 49ers
* Steamship "Empire City"

 Page 3 has: "From California" with the latest news, bits including: "...The Empire City brings over $600,000 in species and gold dust...An attack had been made by a party of rowdy Americans in San Francisco...emigrants from Missouri...are now arriving daily...In the gold diggings, many of the placers are becoming exhausted but new ones are being continually discovered. About an…

SATURDAY EVENING POST, Philadelphia, March 24, 1849  Page 3 has: "The Gold Region" with the latest from the California gold rush. A few bits include: "...Emigrants were flocking in by the thousands...by next August 1200,000 persons would have entered California...almost every one not engaged in gold digging was preparing to go to the mines in the Spring...At San Francisco real estate had advanced 500 per cent within 12 months...As to the profits of gold digging, accounts vary...Parties can…

SATURDAY EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Oct. 20, 1849  Page 2 has: "From California" with the latest news, bits including: "...The Sacramento still yields a good dividend of something like ten to fifteen dollars a day to all industrious laborers...The Feather River, where the finest gold has been found, is yet a favorite stream among the diggers...About 3,000 persons are now engaged there...The Ayuba River is said to be the surest place for making  money...The dry diggings on Wood's Creek have…

SATURDAY EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Aug. 4, 1849  Page 3 has: "From California" with the latest news, bits including: "...The Crescent City brings $230,000 in specie...that probably $300,000 would cover all the gold dust on board...one opinion among the passengers with regard to the gold in California; it is still found in great quantities...There was no sickness at the mines..." with much more on the latest.
This article takes over three-quarters of a column with a great wealth of…

SATURDAY EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Feb. 3, 1849  The top of page 3 has a column headed: "Mode Of Extracting Gold From the Ore"  being a timely article given the recent discovery of gold in Calif. But the article begins with: "...The metallic grains found in the sands of rivers in California do not require to be subjected to a metallurgic process."
Page 3 begins with: "California" being rather lengthy and includes two accounts of the gold diggings, plus more.
Four pages of very large size…

ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, Feb. 17, 1849  The most interesting print is a nearly half page view captioned: "Construction Of The Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge--Basket Ferry & Temporary Towers". This was the very first bridge over Niagara Falls, this print showing the early stages of the construction showing the: "...basket ferry and temporary towers". This print is the same shown in a website on its construction. See the web for the interesting back story on this the first rope spanned…

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Jan. 8, 1850 

* Mormons - Mormonism
* Early Salt Lake City, Utah

The front page has: "From The Valley Of Salt Lake" which is an early report on the Mormons at their new home. Bits include: "...states that the Mormon colony at the Valley of the Salt Lake was in a prosperous and happy condition. The crops had been abundant...The Mormons uniformly treated the emigrants in a hospitable manner...The Mormons were forming a new colony in the Sand Pitch…

WECLI FONETIC ADVOCET, Sinsinati, O., Octobur 12, 1850

* Rare publication

[Weekly Phonetic Advocate, Cincinnati, Ohio]  This is one of the more curious newspapers of the 19th century.
During this time there was a movement afoot to create a new mode of writing & spelling: to spell words as they sounded, phonetically. Obviously it never caught on, but it did result in this unusual newspaper which is almost entirely written phonetically. This newspaper lasted a bit over 3 years.
The front…

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Nov. 3, 1849  A page 3 article begins: "Vessels For California" which gives the details of the large number of ships leaving from the East and bound for California. The first sentence sets the stage: "The trade between the Atlantic cities & the Pacific has increased to such an extent that but few persons are likely to form a just conception of its amount...".
Page 2 has a very lengthy article: "Railroad To The Pacific - Mr. Benton's Speech in the…

THE BATTERY, Washington, Aug. 10 1848  

* Great political themed masthead engraving
* Supporting Zachery Taylor for president

This was a campaign newspaper supporting Zachary Taylor for President and Millard Fillmore for Vice President.
In the era before radio, television, and the internet it was not uncommon for political parties to create short-lived newspapers to support their candidate and publicize their political platform. Such newspapers were short-lived; once the election was…