Historic Newspapers: Civil War Illustrations and Prints

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 5, 1861 through February 9, 1861. This is a six-issue set (part 2) of Harper's Weekly containing the Charles Dickens "Great Expectations" in serialization format.… more

Harper's Weekly dated January 5, 1861. (print only)

This is a double-page print. The print contains the engraving "Seeing The Old Year out -… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Jan. 5, 1861  The full front page is by Winslow Homer & has: 'The Georgia Delegation in Congress' showing 10 men. Also by Winslow Homer is the doublepage centerfold:… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Jan. 12, 1861  Much of front page is taken up with a print of: "Major Anderson, U.S.A., Commanding At Ft. Sumter" with a biography of him. Also in this issue is a dramatic… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 19, 1861  The front page has 4 prints: "Hon. Francis W. Pickens, Governor of South Carolina" "Hon. Judge Magrath, Sec. of State of South Carolina" "Rev. Dr.… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Jan. 26, 1861  The front page shows: "The Prayer at Sumter".
Other prints inside include: "Firing on the 'Star of the West' from the South Carolina Battery on Morris… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Jan. 26, 1861  The front page shows: "The Prayer at Sumter". Other prints inside include: "Firing on the 'Star of the West' from the South Carolina Battery on Morris… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Feb. 2, 1861 The full front page shows "The Seceding Mississippi Delegation in Congress" done by famed artist Winslow Homer, showing among others Senator Jefferson Davis.… more

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, Feb. 2, 1861

* Seceded Charleston, South Carolina

 Half of the front page is taken up with a print captioned: "The Secession Movement - Entrance Hall to a… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York,  Feb. 2, 1861

* Winslow Homer illustration (front page)
* Southern delegation w/ Jefferson Davis

 The full front page shows: "The Seceding Mississippi Delegation in… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY dated February 6, 1861 (print only)

This is a single-page print. The page contains an engraving by Winslow Homer entitled "'Halt of a Wagon Train". This print has a few small… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Feb. 9, 1861  The full front page is a print of: "The Seceding Alabama Delegation In Congress" showing nine men. Text on the men takes over half of page 2.
Other prints… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Feb. 9, 1861 

* Alabama delegation in U.S. Congress prints
* Secession from the Union - pre-Civil War

The full front page is a print of: "The Seceding Alabama… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Feb. 16, 1861  A very nice display issue for Valentine's Day as the entire front page is a handsome print titled: "Saint Valentine's Day" showing 6 vignettes (see).
… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, February 16, 1861 through March 23, 1861. This is a six-issue set (part 3) of Harper's Weekly containing the Charles Dickens "Great Expectations" in serialization format. The set… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Feb. 23, 1861  The front page is taken up with: "Chantrey's Statue of Washington, Now in the State House at Boston, Massachusetts". Prints within include: "Officers'… more

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, Feb. 23, 1861  The front page is taken up with two interesting China-themed prints: "PEKING CAB" and "AMUSEMENTS ON ICE", with related text on page 171.
There… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, March 2, 1861  The full front page is a very nice illustration captioned: "Abraham Lincoln, The President Elect, Addressing The People From the Astor House Balcony".… more

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, March 2, 1861  

* Abraham Lincoln's presidential election victory

Pages 2 and 3 contain an article headed: "United States" which has the latest news… more

FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, March 9, 1861 

* Perhaps the best graphic Lincoln newspaper to be had...

The front page has text on: "Our Portrait of the President" which relates to the… more

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, March 9, 1861  

* Extradition case of John Anderson
* Canada West escaped slave w/ print

“The Fugitive Anderson” on page 3 is about John Anderson, the… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, March 9, 1861  The full front page is taken up with: "President Lincoln Hoisting the American Flag Upon Independence Hall'. Other prints inside include: "City & Garrison… more

THE WORLD, New York, March 12, 1861  The back page has a brief article with a crude design of: "The Southern Flag" with a few details. 
Page 4 has pre-war column heads: "State Of The Nation" "Fort… more

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, March 16, 1861  The front page has a nice print captioned: "The Hon. Jefferson Davis, President of the Southern Confederacy of America" with an article on him… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, March 16, 1861  The entire front page shows: "The Inaugural Procession at Washington Passing the Gate of the Capitol Grounds" which shows Abraham Lincoln & James Buchanan… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, March 23, 1861  The front page is taken up with: "Major Anderson's Command at Fort Sumter" which includes 9 officers, one of whom is "Capt. A. Doubleday".
Other prints… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, March 23, 1861  The front page is taken up with: "Major Anderson's Command at Fort Sumter" which includes 9 officers, one of whom is "Capt. A. Doubleday".
Other prints… more

Harper's Weekly, March 30, 1861 through May 4, 1861. This is a six-issue set (part 4) of Harper's Weekly containing the Charles Dickens "Great Expectations" in serialization format. The set provides… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, March 30, 1861  The full front page is a print titled: "April Fool's Day In New York, Opposite the Astor House". Inside has a page with prints of New Orleans: "View In… more

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, Apr. 6, 1861 

* Great slave auction illustration
* Pre Civil War South - rare

Most of a page is taken up with a print: "The Dandy Slave: A Scene in… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, April 6, 1861  The full front page is a print of: "Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary Of State" taken from a Brady photograph. Inside includes a two-thirds page vertical… more

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, April 6, 1861  Most of a page is taken up with a print: "The Dandy Slave: A Scene in Baltimore, Md." and "Slaves For Sale: A Scene in New Orleans", both showing… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, April 13, 1861  The front page has a print of: "Mrs. General Gaines" as well as a view of "Point Isabella, Texas, with the 'Daniel Webster' sailing with U.S. Troops on… more

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, April 13, 1861  Page 2 has reports headed: "America" with the latest on the Civil War. Of note is text noting: "...the main points of difference between the… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, April 20, 1861  The front page shows: "Hon. Charles F. Adams, U.S. Minister to England" as well as a view of: "The Confederate Batteries Opposite Fort Pickens, Florida".… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, April 27, 1861  The front page shows: "General Thomas Swearing In the Volunteers Called Into the Service of the United States at Washington, D.C." plus there is also text… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 4, 1861  The full front page is taken up with a famous print: "The House-Tops in Charleston During the Bombardment of Sumter" showing men & women viewing the battle in… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 11, 1861  The front page has prints of: "Colonel Ellsworth of the Fire Zouaves" and "Colonel Wilson of Wilson's Brigade" with related text.
Inside has many… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 11, 1861 through June 15, 1861. This is a six-issue set (part 5) of Harper's Weekly containing the Charles Dickens "Great Expectations" in serialization format. The… more

NEW YORK DAILY TRIBUNE, May 12, 1861  

* Confederate pirate flag ?
* Issued by Jefferson Davis 

The black flag used in May 1861 symbolized no quarter given—a warning that no mercy would be… more

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, May 18, 1861  Half of the front page is taken up with an article: "The Secession Of Virginia And The American Civil War". The article carries over to paste 2,… more

NEW YORK ILLUSTRATED NEWS, May 18, 1861  Formatted very much like the more popular 'Harper's Weekly' but considerably more uncommon.
The full front page shows; "Shooting a Rebel Who Was Caught… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 18, 1861  The front page shows: "The 'Lady Davis', Two Guns, Captain Enger, Ship of War of the Southern Confederacy" and "Rhode Island Artillery Landing from the… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 25, 1861  The full front page is a dramatic print: 'Willard's Hotel, Washington, Saved by the N.Y. Fire Zouaves' showing fireman battling the blaze.
Other prints… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, June 1, 1861 The front page is entirely taken up with a print of: "Major-General Benjamin F. Butler, U.S.A." along with a biography of him. Inside has a full page print… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, June 8, 1861  The front page shows: "Uniforms of the Fifth Regiment New York Volunteers, Colonel Duryee, Now at Fortress Monroe". Also in this issue is a Winslow Homer… more

NEW YORK ILLUSTRATED NEWS, June 15, 1861  Formatted very much like the more popular 'Harper's Weekly' but considerably more uncommon.
The front page shows: "Shackles & Handcuffs Used by Slave… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, June 15, 1861  Most of the front page is a three-part print captioned: "Secessionist Prisoner Captured at Alexandria--The Marshall House at Alexandria" with some front… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, June 22, 1861 through August 3, 1861. This is a seven-issue set (part 6) of Harper's Weekly containing the Charles Dickens "Great Expectations" in serialization format. The set… more

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, June 22, 1861  The front page shows: "Wm. Russell, Correspondent of the London Times ". Inside has a satirical print of both sides of the: "Designs for A New Coin For the… more