Skip to main content
Home Item #655133
John Wilkes Booth appears at Ford's Theater...   The date Lincoln attended the performance!
7 photographs · click to enlarge ⤢ Open zoom view

John Wilkes Booth appears at Ford's Theater... The date Lincoln attended the performance!

Item # 655133 ·
Sorry, but this item is no longer available. Please be in touch at info@rarenewspapers.com if you would like to be placed on a want list or are interested in a potential alternate issue.

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Nov. 9, 1863

  • Abraham Lincoln attends Ford's Theatre (day of)
  • Actor John Wilkes Booth performs

A terrific issue with one of the more ironic twists of history, and only to be found in a newspaper from Washington, D.C.
Near the top of the front page is a great article headed: "Ford's New Theatre" which includes in part: "...announced for performance to-night, with J. Wilkes Booth as Raphael...In his personification of the romantic young sculptor, Mr. Booth concentrates many of his best qualities as an artist. The part is exceedingly picturesque & engaging, but Mr. Booth, by his earnestness, his vigorous grasp of genius, & his fervor of style, invests it with an interest beyond the author's ideal & claims in the result the most brilliant honors of his art..." with more on Booth. 
As if this was not sufficient, page 3 has an advertisement headed: "FORD'S NEW THEATRE" which has two mentions of the name J. Wilkes Booth (see).
Booth appeared on the stage at Ford's Theatre for two weeks from Nov. 2-15, 1863. Abraham Lincoln attended this very performance advertised here, on November 9 ! Booth would only appear one more time at Ford's Theatre, that being a single performance on March 18, 1865, less than a month before the fateful event of April 14, 1865.
Page 2 has: "Consecration Of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg" which Lincoln would give his famous address in just 9 days.
Four pages, folio size, very nice condition.

Category: Yankee
No Longer Available
100% Authentic: Original printing, never a reproduction.