Historic Newspapers: Abraham Lincoln

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Nov. 20, 1863  It would be difficult to argue for a more notable or desirable newspaper from the Civil War. Combine the complete text of the historic Gettysburg Address by President Abraham Lincoln, with this famous newspaper published by Horace Greeley, a Lincoln supporter, with the content being on the front page, and the combination makes for one of the best newspapers one could own from the Civil War era.
The top of the front page has column heads: "The Gettysburg

JAMESTOWN JOURNAL, EXTRA, Jamestown, New York, April 15th---9 A. M.

• Terrific Abraham Lincoln assassination broadside
• First edition just after the announcement of death

Within the world of newspaper collecting, both major reports and graphic headlines are primary in determining collectability. Other factors are important as well, but the more notable the event and the "flashier" the graphic appeal, the more desirable the item.
Broadsides tend to dominate such items. They were printed very

EVENING STAR, Washington, D.C., April 15, 1865

• Abraham Lincoln assassination (historic 1st report)
• It is BEST to have reports from the city where it occurred

Terrific to have this first report of Lincoln's assassination in a newspaper from the city where it happened. This is the first of this issue we have offered.
The top of the front page has a column with heads: "ASSASSINATION OF THE PRESIDENT" "Attempted Murder Of Secretary Seward And Sons". The report begins: "Last evening at 10:30 p.m.,

THE NEW YORK HERALD, April 15, 1865

• Abraham Lincoln assassination (1st report)
• Ford's Theater - John Wilkes Booth

This issue would rank among the most famous of all Lincoln assassination newspapers, as almost all issues found on the market today are one of the many reprint editions that have turned up for decades.
This is the genuine issue. And better yet it is the "3:00 a.m. Special Edition" as identified by the Library of Congress:
3:00 a.m. Special edition. 8 pages. The first, second, and

NEW YORK SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, Feb. 28, 1860

• Historic Abraham Lincoln address
• Cooper Institute Union speech
• Launched into national prominence

The front page has over five columns devoted to coverage of this famous speech which is headed: "NATIONAL POLITICS" "A Speech Delivered at the Cooper Institute Last Evening, by Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois".
At this point Lincoln had not declared himself a presidential candidate, and this was his first opportunity to establish his platform before an eastern

THE DAILY REBEL, Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 18, 1863

• Very rare Confederate publication
• Second Battle of Winchester, Virginia

An extremely rare broadside newspaper and a great title for a Confederate newspaper.
This is the vol. 1 number 270 issue of a title that began August 1, 1862. This issue is dated from just prior to the Confederate invasion of the North and the Battle of Gettysburg.
This is a folio size newspaper having 4 pages, however, as we have seen in a few other newspapers the

THE FIRST MINNESOTA, Berryville, Virginia, March 11, 1862

• First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment
• Extremely rare Berryville, Virginia camp publication

A fascinating & very rare newspaper published under circumstances very similar to what would happen with the Daily Citizen of Vicksburg in early July, 1863.
The following is credited to Tim Russo, who did much research on this newspaper:
As I research my screenplay for a film about the charge at Gettysburg of the First Minnesota, it’s hard

THE EVENING BULLETIN, Providence, Rhode Island, Nov. 20, 1863

• Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address"
• Historic American Civil War speech
• Edward Everett's "keynote" on battlefield

At the dedication of the cemetery at Gettysburg Edward Everett was the featured speaker, and all of pages 4, 5 & a portion of page 6 are taken up with his very lengthy speech.
Lincoln's talk was not the focus of the ceremony, but history would prove his speech would be perhaps the most famous by any President of the

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Sept. 23, 1862

• Emancipation Proclamation
• President Abraham Lincoln
• Freedom for enslaved - slaves
• Best publication to be had (very rare)

Page 2 begins with the Emancipation Proclamation, from the city where it was issued.
The Emancipation Proclamation was a presidential proclamation that changed the federal legal status of more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans in the designated areas of the South from slave to free. As soon as a slave escaped

FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED NEWSPAPER, New York, Dec. 5, 1863

• President Abraham Lincoln's famous speech
• Gettysburg Address at battlefield cemetery
• Very rare period engraving at the location

The front page shows: "The War In Tennessee--Lookout Mountain & its Vicinity..." plus other war-related illustrations within, including scenes of Brownsville & Matamoras, Texas and more.
The great, tipped-in (preferred) double page centerfold is captioned: "The Consecration of the Great National Cemetery Near

WASHINGTON WEEKLY CHRONICLE, D.C., April 22, 1865

• Abraham Lincoln assassination (1st report)
• Ford's Theater - John Wilkes Booth
• From our nation's capital

Truly a terrific issue, for being a weekly newspaper this was the first report of this event in this title, and better yet it is from the city where the assassination happened. A notable--and very uncommon--graphic on the front page is the black-bordered cameo print of Abraham Lincoln, with all columns on all 8 pages black-bordered in memory of

NEW YORK WEEKLY TRIBUNE, September 27, 1862

• Emancipation Proclamation
• President Abraham Lincoln

Page 2 contains the full texts of the Emancipation Proclamation, perhaps the most significant Presidential pronouncement of the entire Civil War wherein Lincoln declared all slaves free.
Headed: "A Proclamation By the President of the United States" the document begins at the bottom half of the first column and takes the top half of the second column and is signed in type by the President: Abraham

THE NEW SOUTH, Port Royal, South Carolina, Oct. 4, 1862  This newspaper was established in March of 1862 after its capture by Union forces during the early part of the Civil War. Issued in a "military command", the newspaper sought to provide mostly military reports and other items. It is also interesting that a Union newspaper was published in South Carolina considering the state remained a Confederate stronghold until near the end of the war. This is issue #8.
Certainly the prime content is

NEW YORK WEEKLY TRIBUNE, Nov. 28, 1863

• President Abraham Lincoln's famous speech
• Gettysburg Address at battlefield cemetery

Page 3 contains a report headed: "The Gettysburg Ceremonies" "Description of the Battle-Field and Consecration Exercises" as well as one of the most memorable speeches ever given by a President.
The article takes nearly two columns and contains much reporting on the ceremonies in Gettysburg, less than 5 months after the pivotal battle fought there. Included also is the

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, July 6, 1863

• Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
• Most historic battle of the Civil War
• Great reporting - Among the best to be had

A terrific issue reporting the result of the very historic Battle of Gettysburg, with nearly two-thirds of the front page's first column taken up with related heads, atop of which is a nice patriotic emblem.
They include: "THE GREAT VICTORY" "The Rebel Army Totally Defeated" "Its Remains Driven Into the Mountains" "It is There Surrounded and Hemmed

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 26, 1860  This issue has become one of the most desired pre-Civil War issues of this famous illustrated newspaper, as it did much to propel Abraham Lincoln to national prominence and is one of relatively few published portraits of Lincoln without his beard.
This issue announces, in a very dramatic way, the selection of Lincoln as the Republican candidate for President of the United States with the large front page portrait of him. A somewhat unknown in national

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Aug. 25, 1862

• Famous Abraham Lincoln letter
• "A Prayer of Twenty Millions" reply
• Tribune publisher Horace Greeley

On page 4 is one of the more famous letters from Abraham Lincoln, being his reply to Horace Greeley's editorial of August 20, "A Prayer of Twenty Millions", which urged emancipation.
Lincoln replies in his letter with his famous quote: "My paramount object...is to save the Union, and it is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without

THE CRISIS, Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 7, 1863

• President Abraham Lincoln
• Emancipation Proclamation
• Spiteful editorial by Democrats

A terrific issue, as the front page contains a printing of Lincoln's famous Emancipation Proclamation by which he freed the slaves in the slave-holding states, signed by him in type: Abraham Lincoln.
But the notable content is not the document but the terrific editorial which precedes it.
This being a pro-South newspaper, despite being printed in the North, the editor

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, April 29, 1865

• The same issue (title and date) found in the time capsule under the (former) statue of Robert E. Lee on Dec. 28, 2021

The front page has a large and dramatic illustration of "J. Wilkes Booth" plus a lengthy article headed: 'The Murder Of The President' making this a nice display issue.
Inside articles are headed: "Abraham Lincoln" "President Johnson" "Mr. Seward" "Great Pan Is Dead" and "The Folly of Crime". A small illustration captioned: "Plan of the

DAILY RICHMOND EXAMINER, Virginia, July 17, 1863

• Battle of Gettysburg
• Eyewitness account

Not only is this a nice newspaper from the Confederacy, but it is from the Confederate capital.
The front page has various war-related content, including items headed: "The News" and a lengthier report: "Spies In The South" and other related items, but certainly the prime front page content is the report headed: "The Invasion of Pennsylvania--The Battle Of Gettysburg--The Retreat To Hagerstown"  which

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Nov. 10, 1860  This is a terrific issue for display as the entire front page is taken up with a nice Winslow Homer illustration of Abraham Lincoln, beardless (see), captioned: Hon. Abraham Lincoln, Born in Kentucky, February 12, 1809."  Certainly one of the more desirable issues from the Lincoln era, from before he became president.
Other  good content as well with the doublepage centerfold containing a print captioned: "Reading the Returns of the Presidential

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 6, 1865  This issue remains one of the most desired of the Civil War era, if not the 19th century, as much of it deals with the assassination and funeral of President Abraham Lincoln.
The entire front page is a print captioned: "President Lincoln At Home" showing him reading a book to his son. This very image was made into a postage stamp by the United States Post Office.
An inside page has a dramatic full page print captioned: "Scene at the Death Bed of President

DAILY RICHMOND EXAMINER, Virginia, July 11, 1863

• Battle of Gettysburg
• Rebel account

The front page includes: "Charleston" "Yankee Agents In England" "The Courts" "City Intelligence" "Prisoners" "Sale of Negroes in Georgia" with a list of names, ages and prices--fascinating; "Another Attack On Charleston" "Our Army in the North" and other items.
But the prime content on the front page would be two reports, one headed: "From General Lee's Army" which has reports on his army's retreat back to

NEW YORK WEEKLY DAY-BOOK CAUCASIAN, April 22, 1865

• Abraham Lincoln assassination (1st report)
• Ford's Theater - John Wilkes Booth
• In a pro-white publication

A decidedly racist newspaper which began well before the Civil War & lasted a few years after. As such their reporting on war events provides a contrasting perspective beyond most other Northern newspapers.
With this issue, all factious leanings and biased commentary is set aside to report the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The entire front

THE CRISIS, Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 24, 1862

• Emancipation Proclamation
• President Abraham Lincoln
• Rare pro-Confederate publication

Given the focus of this controversial newspaper, being supportive of the Southern cause while publishing in the North, it is particularly noteworthy that this issue contains on page five the Emancipation Proclamation whereby President Lincoln would free the slaves on January 1 of the coming year.
The introductory subheads would be of no surprise as well: "The

SOUTHERN ILLUSTRATED NEWS, Richmond, June 20, 1863

• Rebel General P.G.T. Beauregard
• Very rare Confederate publication

A very rare publication from the Confederacy which seldom comes to the collector market. Although much of the content was literary in nature, there are news reports and a few illustrations.
The front page is entirely taken up with a large portrait of: "Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard" with a nice biography of him found on page 4.
Also on page 4 is a report headed "The Times" which

CHARLESTON COURIER, South Carolina, April 20, 1865

• Abraham Lincoln assassination (historic 1st report)
• From the origin of the American Civil War (rare)

Keep in mind that Charleston fell to Union forces on February 18 and after that date was in Union control. So this is the volume 1, number 47 issue in the "new series" as noted.
Availability of paper must still have been a concern, for as can be seen in the photos the dimensions of the paper are larger than the print area, resulting in a very

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Oct. 23, 1858

• Abraham Lincoln & Stephen Douglas
• The Great Debates of 1858 (last one)
• Alton, Madison County, Illinois

Keeping in mind that this was from the period of the Lincoln/Douglas debates, page 4 has a report from Springfield headed: "Illinois Politics" which talks of Stephen Douglas.
Taking over a full column on page 6 is a fine report on the last of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates, this one at Alton, Illinois. 
A few excerpts from the report include: "The last great

NEWARK DAILY ADVERTISER, New Jersey, April 3, 1865

• Fall of Richmond, Virginia (early report)
• The end of the Civil War is imminent ?
• Abraham Lincoln assassination nears

This is a stand-alone "Extra" edition with a same-day report of the capital of the Confederacy.
The front page has column heads: "EXTRA" "VICTORY ! " "Richmond Captured This Morning" "City Reported On Fire" 'Enthusiastic Reception of Our Troops" "Petersburg Evacuated by the Enemy" "Gen. Grant Moving for the Danville Road" "Large

Here is a unique opportunity for a pair of issues--one Yankee and the other Confederate--of the identical date of July 22, 1861 both reporting on the First Battle of Bull Run, one from the New York Tribune and the other from the Confederate capital of Richmond, titled the Daily Dispatch, providing a perspective of how the news was reported with all the "spin" & biases that were rampant on both sides of the border. As you see, both sides claimed victory:

TRIBUNE:  The top of page 5 begins with

CLEVELAND MORNING LEADER, Ohio, March 6, 1865

• Abraham Lincoln's inauguration
• Inaugural address on the ftpg.
• Closing weeks of the Civil War

The front page has a stack of column heads on both Lincoln's second inauguration as President, as well as the latest reports on the Civil War's final weeks.
They include: "Inauguration Day" "President Lincoln's Address" "Celebrations of the Day Thro' out the Country" "Official War Bulletin" "Sheridan Captures Early!" "News From Rebel Papers' and much more.

THE LITCHFIELD ENQUIRER, Connecticut, Nov. 8, 1860

• Abraham Lincoln elected president
• America about to change

Page 2 begins with one of the nicest stack of column heads on Lincoln's first election we have seen. They included: "VICTORY ! VICTORY !! " "Great Republican Victory!" " 'Old Abe' the Next President!!" "Secession And Fusion Simmered Down!" "Disunion and Dry Goods Below Par!" "Douglas Doomed!" "The North West Swept by the Whirlwind!" "The Union Safe!!" "The Final Triumph of the Right!"

NEW YORK HERALD, April 21, 1865

• Rare 1st-page mentions of Synagogue services
• Re: Abraham Lincoln's assassination & funeral
• Black mourning borders on all eight pages

Perhaps the most noteworthy coverage is the front-page details regarding various services being held at local synagogues - which includes the congregations at "B'nai Israel," "Bikur Cholim U-Kadisha Synagogue," and "Shaari [Shaare] Zedek" with each synagogue draped in mourning black.
It is quite unusual to find front page mentions of

THE WEEKLY HERALD, New York, March 11, 1865

• President Abraham Lincoln inauguration
• Second inaugural address in full text

The front page features a large Civil War map headed: "CAPTURE OF THE REBEL GENERAL EARLY. Sheridan's Ne Movement Up the Shenandoah--It Success--The Race for Lynchburg--Tightening of the Lines Around Richmond." Much related report on the war events as well.
But the prime content is the report on Lincoln's second inauguration, with front page column heads: "WASHINGTON" "Second

THE JOURNAL & COURIER, Little Falls, New York, April 20, 1865

• Abraham Lincoln assassination (1st report)
• Ford's Theater - John Wilkes Booth

Being a weekly newspaper this issue has the first report of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. All columns on all pages have wide, black mourning rules.
The front page has: "The Great Calamity" which is an essay on Lincoln. Also on the front page: "The Nation's Grief" which is a sermon on Lincoln.
Page 2 has over 1 1/2 columns taken up with the details

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Nov. 14, 1863

• Actor John Wilkes Booth
• Ford's Theatre performance
• Rare appearance w/ advertisement
• President Abraham Lincoln's assassin

A terrific issue with one of the more ironic twists of history, and only to be found in a newspaper from Washington, D.C.
The front page has an advertisement headed: "FORD'S NEW THEATRE" which begins: "The last appearance of the distinguished young actor, M. J. Wilkes Booth is announced for this evening..." with much

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 terrific double page centerfold captioned: "Portrait of Abraham Lincoln, President elect of the United States of America, With Scenes & Incidents in His Life."
The large central portrait shows Lincoln beardless, and surrounding it are 18 smaller prints of Lincoln's earlier life.
This large print is tipped-in

NEW YORK TIMES, Nov. 9, 1864

• Abraham Lincoln elected president (2nd term)
• 1st report plus Civil War reporting

This issue has a great front page, as it is taken up, in its entirety, with the election results for the presidency. Among the great first column heads are: "VICTORY ! " "Glorious Result Yesterday" "Election of Lincoln and Johnson" "Terrible Defeat of McClellan" "The Union Triumphant" "New York for Lincoln and Fenton" "Heavy Union Gains" "The Vote of the City" and more.
The majority of

NEW YORK SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, May 15, 1860

• Abraham Lincoln gaining recognition
• At the Chicago Republican Convention

This issue is one of those so desired by collectors, when innocent reports--often inconspicuous amongst the jumble of lengthier articles--wold only find relevance in the passing of years.
Keep in mind that at this point, the Republican National Convention in Chicago had yet to formally begin (May 16-18) and Abraham Lincoln was pretty much an unknown in the world of national

THE CRISIS, Columbus, Ohio, March 8, 1865

• Abraham Lincoln's inauguration
• Inaugural address on the ftpg.
• Closing weeks of the Civil War - pro-Confederate title

Among the front page reports is: "Inauguration of President Lincoln--His Address" which contains his address in full, ending with the immortal words: "With malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right...".
Page 4 has an editorial headed: "Lincoln's Inaugural", critical of him as

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 3, 1863  The full front front page is an illustration of "Santa Claus in Camp", this being the very first representation of Santa Claus by Thomas Nast in this publication. Inside the doublepage centerfold has two large illustrations of "Christmas Eve, 1862.", by Thomas Nast.
A full page illustration has two 1/2 pg. prints of: "The Attack on the Rebel Works at Fredericksburg by the Centre Grand Division of the Army of the Potomac, on December 13, 1862" and