Historic Newspapers: Black Americana

FREDERICK DOUGLASS' PAPER, Rochester, New York, Sept. 8, 1854  

* Extremely rare publication

We are pleased to offer this exceedingly rare--and highly desirable--newspaper by the famed Frederick Douglass. This weekly title is the continuation of his newspaper "North Star" which began in 1847.
Among the articles: "The Results of Emancipation" "The Fugitive Slave Act--Proposition For Its Repeal" "What Becomes of the Free Colored People" "Colored Emigration Convention" "Aid To Fugitives"…

FREDERICK DOUGLASS' PAPER, Rochester, New York, May 20, 1852 

* Extremely rare publication

We are pleased to offer this exceedingly rare--and highly desirable--newspaper by the famed Frederick Douglass. This weekly title is the continuation of his newspaper "North Star" which began in 1847.
Much of page 2 is taken up with: "The Annual Meeting of the American Anti-Slavery Society". Page 3 has a: "Letter of Frederick Douglass to Gerrit Smith, Esq., Respecting Lewis Kossuth" signed in…

FREDERICK DOUGLASS' PAPER, Rochester, New York, June 17, 1852  We are pleased to offer this exceedingly rare--and highly desirable--newspaper by the famed Frederick Douglass. This weekly title is the continuation of his newspaper "North Star" which began in 1847.
Douglass was perhaps the most famous 19th century African-American abolitionist who escaped from slavery and then risked his freedom by becoming an outspoken antislavery lecturer, writer, and publisher.
Among the various articles in…

THE BOSTON WEEKLY NEWS-LETTER, "New England", April 10-17, 1740 

* Among the earliest of American newspapers to be had

This very rare title was the first successful newspaper in the colonies, having begun in 1704 and lasting until the British occupation of Boston in 1776. It was only preceded by "Public Occurrances Both Foreign and Domestick" which published just a single issue in 1690 before being suppressed & destroyed by the Royal Governor of Massachusetts Bay (the only surviving…

GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Nov. 25, 1789  

* Benjamin Franklin re. slavery - slaves
* Newly elected President George Washington

It contains: An Address to the Public" by Benjamin Franklin as President of the: "Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and the Relief of Free Negroes, Unlawfully Held in Bondage".
This is an extremely noteworthy address as it is Franklin's strongest moral statement on the subject of slavery.
Franklin did not speak out…

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…

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…

THE NEW ENGLAND CHRONICLE OR THE ESSEX GAZETTE, Cambridge, Nov. 16, 1775 

* Creation of Continental Currency 
* American Revolutionary War funding
* re. Battles of Lexington & Concord 

A very significant issue in the financial history of the United States, as the front page reports the first issuance of Continental Currency to support the Revolutionary War. Datelined: "Philadelphia, In Congress, Thursday, June 22, 1775" it reports: "Resolved, That a sum not exceeding two millions of…

THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, Nov. 30, 1776 

* Rare Revolutionary War era title
* Tory issue from Pennsylvania
* Great year to have (1776)

(editor's copy) This was a decidedly Tory newspaper, supportive of the British efforts in America. This newspaper ended publication in June, 1778 when the British evacuated the city.
The front page has a very detailed "Twenty Dollars Reward" ad for a runaway slave named Caesar. Page 2 has a report concerning an expedition into the western…

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE London, September, 1773

* Phillis Wheatley poem & biography
* Famous Woman servant turned poet

  Near the back is a printing of a poem titled: "On Recollection" which was written by the famed black poetess Phillis Wheatley. This piece also includes a brief biography of her.
Phillis Wheatley was the first published African American poet and the first African-American woman whose writings helped create the genre of African American literature. Born in Gambia, she…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, September 20, 1873  Certainly the prime feature of this issue is the much desired Winslow Homer doublepage centerfold: "Snap the Whip".
Front page features a 1/2 page illustration entitled: "The New School Mistress." Inside is a full page illustration of "Saved!" A article "The Northwestern University" with accompany illustrations. Full page illustration of "The Fete Napoleon at Chiselhurst - Reception of the Visitors by the Ex-Empress Eugenie in the Garden of…

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…

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, June 22, 1773

* Phillis Wheatley's London arrival
* Famous Woman servant turned poet

Certainly the most notable report is found on the back page, which contains: "Last Thursday the celebrated negro girl Phillis, the Poet, whose extraordinary talents have lately been taken notice of in the News Papers, arrived in London from Boston in New England. She had a letter of recommendation from a merchant at Boston to a bookseller in London, and is shortly to be…

THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, Oct. 21, 1775

* Ethan Allen captured
* American Revolutionary War

The front page includes a letter: "To the King" which references the American situation & includes: "...Let then, royal Sire, the liberty of England and America be ever in your heart, then shall the people be free, and America shall yet be happy in the full enjoyment of her rights...". Also on the front page is: "A Plan for Reducing the Rebellious Colony of New England & for the…

ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, Nov. 29, 1856   The most notable item within this issue is the very nice full page print captioned: "Slave Sale, Charleston, South Carolina, From A Sketch By Eyre Crowe", which depicts the sale of over a dozen slaves.
This woodcut print of Eyre Crowe's painting remains one of the most desired on the slave trade as only rarely are such large prints s found in period newspapers. There is also a related article on the following page. 
Complete in 16 pages, both the…

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, March 9, 1857 

* Historic Dred Scott Decision
* Famous former slave case

Page 5 has nearly 2 1/2 columns taken up with a report on the historic Dred Scott Decision, a landmark decision of the Supreme Court in which the Court held that the Constitution was not meant to include American citizenship for black people, regardless of whether they were enslaved or free, and so the rights and privileges that the Constitution confers upon American citizens could not apply to…

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…

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…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, June 2, 1860  The prime print in this issue is the three-quarter page illustration captioned: "The Slave Deck on the Bark 'Wildfire' Brought Into Key West on April 30, 1860." This print shows a huge number of slaves crammed on the deck. The balance of the page is related text on this slave ship, plus the facing page has additional text and 4 related illustrations including those captioned: "An African" "The Only Baby Among the Africans" and "The Barracoon at Key West…

NILES WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore  

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., May 26 and 28, 1836 (a two-issue set)

The May 26th issue has much of the contentious dialogue in The House of Representatives regarding the resolution which, if passed, would prevent any discussion in the chamber on the subject of slavery. The 3rd column of page three has mention of John Quincy Adams’ declaration: "Am I gagged?" This is his famous declaration (more than a question) which led to the house rule being nicknamed "The Gag Rule". While…

New Orleans slave sale document: A part-printed, part-handwritten document headed "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. State of Louisiana" for the sale of a slave.
The full text can be seen in the photos, however portions include: "...he does...grant, bargain sell, assign, convey, transfer and deliver...Unto Sean Nontanee...of this city...purchasing for himself, his heir and assigns, a negro woman named Mathilde, aged about twenty-five years, slave for life and the lawful property of the said Mrs.…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, November 24, 1883  The entire front page is one of the more desirable of the entire 60 year run of this newspaper, being a fine portrait of: "Frederick Douglass", with a related article on him on an inside page.
But there are other nice prints in this issue as well, including a full page: "Autumn Leaves" by Howard Pyle; a print of: "The Late J. Marion Sims, M.D."; a very nice double page centerfold: "Evacuation Day One Hundred Years Ago---The Continental Army…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Nov. 16, 1867  Historic & significant full front page Thomas Nast illustration: "The First Vote" shows an African-American man voting. During the Reconstruction South voting rights for free Blacks came slowly with obstacles such as poll taxes, literacy requirements, etc. This very historic print shows a proud African-American--with others in line behind him--voting for the first time. A very notable & famous Civil Rights-themed print.
Other prints in this issue…

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 provides more than a 10% discount over purchasing the issues individually.

This set would look great displayed in one of our 17 inch by 14 inch display cases which can be viewed at www.rarenewspapers.com/folders.aspx (or by returning to the home page and selecting "storage and display options".

…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, March 18, 1865  The entire front page is taken up with a very nice engraving captioned: "President Lincoln Taking the Oath At His Second Inauguration, March 4, 1865" showing just that. A great display issue as such.
An inside page has an article: "The President's Inaugural" which includes the text of his second inaugural address, which includes in part: "...so still it must be said, 'The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.' With malice toward…

THE FREE SOUTH, Beaufort, South Carolina, Jan. 10, 1863  

* Rare Union occupation publication

On November 7, 1861, the Union Navy seized control of Port Royal Harbor in South Carolina, securing a beachhead for a new kind of journalism--the occupation newspaper. Whereas many of the homegrown South Carolina newspapers defended secession and championed the military victories of the Confederate States Army, the Republican newspapers that sprang up in Beaufort County aimed to bolster the…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, August 8, 1863  Certainly one of the more desired issues of the Civil War with the nice content on the Battle of Gettysburg. The front page has 2 prints: "Saluting the Old Flag at Port Hudson" and "The Formal Surrender of Port Hudson". Inside a 1/4 pg: "Siege of Vicksburg--Huts on the Hill-side"; a full page has two prints: "Port Hudson From the Opposite Bank of the River" and "The Union Forces Entering the Breast-Works to Take Possession of Port Hudson".
The…

Robert Smalls leads fellow slaves to freedom... The USS Planter...

NEW YORK WEEKLY TRIBUNE, May 24, 1862 

* General David Hunter order
* Emancipation of slaves
* Abraham Lincoln rebuffs
* Robert Smalls - born in slavery
* Leads fellow slaves to freedom

Page 2 begins with: "Gen. Hunter Overruled".  This concerns the controversial situation where Hunter pronounced slaves free in Florida, Georgia & South Carolina, previous to Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation
President Lincoln did not rescind Hunter's order because he was against emancipating the…

 NEW YORK TIMES, May 20, 1862 

* General David Hunter's Emancipation order
* Abraham Lincoln rebuffs (nullifies)
* Robert Smalls & companions to be compensated

Page one has: "Gen. Hunter's Order Repudiated by the President" followed by: "He Pronounces it Void and of No Effect" "The Policy of the Administration Reiterated." The pronouncement is signed in type: Abraham Lincoln.
This was the controversial situation where Hunter pronounced slaves free in Florida, Georgia & South Carolina,…

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 set provides more than a 10% discount over purchasing the issues individually.

This set would look great displayed in one of our 17 inch by 14 inch display cases which can be viewed at www.rarenewspapers.com/folders.aspx (or by returning to the home page and selecting "storage and display…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 28, 1888  The entire front page is taken up with one of the best 19th century baseball prints to be found, showing a batter, catcher & umpire captioned: "A Ball Or A Strike--Which?" drawn by T. de Thurstrup.
There are also many other prints within this issue including a fullpg. with 6 vignettes: "View of Town & Country in Honduras'"; a small print of "The Palais Bourbon"; a halfpg: "Sketches in the French Chamber of Deputies" and another full page with 2 prints…

THE HERALD OF THE UNION, Wilmington, North Carolina, March 4, 1865  

* Rare Union occupation publication
* Final weeks of the American Civil War
* Last Atlantic port of the Confederacy 

This is a Union occupation newspaper, as Wilmington fell to the Yankee forces in February, 1865, being the last Atlantic port to fall to the Northern forces. This is the volume 1, number 5 issue. Our records indicate this is the first of this title we have ever offered.
There are a wealth of column…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 4, 1863  Half of the front page is taken up with a somber print: "Execution, by Hanging, of Two Rebel Spies, Williams and Peters, In the Army of the Cumberland" with text as well.
The best print in this issue is the half page: "Raid of Second South Carolina Volunteers (Col. Montgomery) Among the Rice Plantations on the Combahee, S.C."  Although she is not mentioned by name, this was the work of the remarkable Harriet Tubman.
Known as the Combahee River Raid,…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Nov. 7, 1874  The full front page is a Thomas Nast political cartoon: "A Tammany Rat", but certainly the most significant print in this issue is another full page Thomas Nast political cartoon titled: 'The 3rd term Panic' which shows the Republican elephant for the first time. Thomas Nast was the creator of both the Republican elephant and the Democratic donkey, as well as the modern version of Santa Claus.
Other prints include a doublepage centerfold of: "German…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 2, 1864  Certainly the prime content in this issue is the very nice front page illustration of: "The Rebel General Robert Edmund Lee" with a short biography on him as well.
Other prints include a fullpg. of 5 scenes in Georgia including Resaca, Woodlands, Kingston & Adairsville. Another page shows: "Fighting Johnny Logan" and "The Late Rev. Gordon Winslow" and a halfpg: "General Sherman's Campaign--General Hooker's Escort Charging Through the Woods".
Great &…

NEW YORK WORLD, May 20, 1862 

* General David Hunter's Emancipation order
* Abraham Lincoln rebuffs (nullifies)
* Robert Smalls & companions to be compensated

The front page begins with column heads: "PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION" "Gen. Hunter's Proclamation Void" "The Power of Declaring Slaves Free Belongs to the President" "An Appeal To The Border States" "Gradual Abolition of Slavery Urged" "How the Proclamation is Received".
The related text takes most of the first column, headed:…

GLEASON'S PICTORIAL DRAWING-ROOM COMPANION, Boston, May 10, 1851  

* Thomas Sims - Negro
* Fugitive slave case

This was perhaps America's first successful illustrated newspaper, existing from 1851 thru 1859. It set the format for other more successful titles to emulate, most notably Frank Leslie's Illustrated (1855) and Harper's Weekly (1857). All were modeled after the British title London Illustrated News which began in 1842.
This is the volume 1, number 2 issue. Most of the front…

Harper's Weekly, November 24, 1860 through December 29, 1860. This is a six-issue set (part 1) of Harper's Weekly containing the Charles Dickens "Great Expectations" in serialization format. The set provides more than a 10% discount over purchasing the issues individually.

This set would look great displayed in one of our 17 inch by 14 inch display cases which can be viewed at www.rarenewspapers.com/folders.aspx (or by returning to the home page and selecting "storage and display…

DAILY RICHMOND EXAMINER, Virginia, July 8, 1863 

* Battle of Gettysburg Coverage and more 
* Rare Confederate title from rebel capital

Not only is this a nice newspaper from the Confederacy, but it is from the Confederate capital.
A great issue on the events surrounding the Battle of Gettysburg, with reaction of nearby cities, the retreat & pursuit of the Confederates,  reports on the events immediately following Gettysburg, and more.
The front page includes: "The Defense of Richmond"…

Detailed review of Les Misérables...

THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY, (Boston), July, 1863 

* Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Chiefly About War Matters"
* an original, contemporary printing - 1st appearance
signed with the pen name "A Peaceable Man"
* same year review of Victor Hugo's, "Les Misérables"

When one thinks of Nathaniel Hawthorne, most minds are rightfully immediately drawn to his masterpiece, "The Scarlet Letter," which was very critical of Puritanical New England morays and hypocrisy. However, his pen also took a shot at…

THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER OR THE PHILADELPHIA MARKET-DAY ADVERTISER, February 14, 1778  

* Revolutionary War Tory original
* Rare Pro British issue from America

This was a strongly Tory (supportive of the British cause) newspaper which began in 1775 and closed shop in May of 1778 when the British evacuated Philadelphia.
The entire front page is taken up with ads, one of which is for the printing of: "Common Sense".
Page 2 has numerous reports which relate to the Revolutionary War, bits…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, October 4, 1862  Page 3 contains the complete and historically significant printing of the Emancipation Proclamation signed in type by the President: Abraham Lincoln, & headed: "The Abolition of Slavery--A Proclamation". There is also a nice page 2 editorial concerning the Emancipation Proclamation headed: "Slavery Practically Abolished" which takes 1 1/2 columns.
Also within the issue is a nice full ftpg: "General McClellan Entering Frederick, Maryland"; nice…

Published by Charles Dickens... a 6 issue set...

Harper's WEEKLY, January 23 - March 5, 1864  This is a six issue set of Harper's Weekly issues containing all 6 installments of "A White Hand and a Black Thumb", by Henry Spicer, originally published by Charles Dickens' in All the Year Round.  The set provides more than a 10% discount over purchasing the issues individually.  The individual issues are described as: 

Slaves being liberated...
Jan. 23, 1864 Full ftpg: 'Suffering in a Snow storm on the Michigan Central'. Nice fullpg: 'Colored…

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Dec. 16, 1857  Page 6 has 2 1/2 columns taken up with a terrific, and very uncommon report on the Underground Railroad.
Because it was a secretive operation it is very difficult to find period accounts of its operation. This article specifically has "underground railroad" noted in the heads, which include: "Under-Ground Railroad Report" "Forty-Four Passengers In Two Weeks" "Great Panic and Indignation Meeting" "Enormous Rewards Offered".
Near the beginning is: "As usual,…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, March 2, 1895  Certainly the prime content in this issue is not just the page 6 article: "Death of Frederick Douglass" which takes over three-quarters of the first column, but the related illustration of him appearing on page 4 which takes one-third of the page, captioned: "Frederick Douglass, Died Feb. 20, 1895" (see).
The full front page is a political cartoon by W. a. Rogers captioned: "The Strike Against Strong. Walking Delegate Platt In Albany." Other pages…

GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, March, 1790 

* Map of Canada, Hudson Bay & other portions of North America

Certainly the prime feature of this issue is the nice, attached fold-out map: "A Map showing the communication of the Lakes and the Rivers between Lake Superior and Slave Lake in North America."
The map shows the extreme western parts of Lake Superior and "Hudson's Bay", "Lake Winiping (now Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba) and other landmarks across what is now Saskatchewan, Alberta and…

GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, March, 1790  Certainly the prime feature of this issue is the nice, attached fold-out map: "A Map showing the communication of the Lakes and the Rivers between Lake Superior and Slave Lake in North America."
The map shows the extreme western parts of Lake Superior and "Hudson's Bay", "Lake Winiping (now Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba) and other landmarks across what is now Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, to "Queen Charlotte's Island". Northern and…

THE CONNECTICUT COURANT, Hartford, Sept. 15, 1800

* re. the creation of the state of Indiana
* Gabriel Prosser's slave insurrection

 Page 3 has a brief & early report on Gabriel's Rebellion,
It notes: "An insurrection was discovered on the 30th alt. among the negroes in the neighborhood of Richmond, Vir. and some of them are lodged in the gaol [jail] of that city...".
Gabriel's Rebellion was a planned slave rebellion in the Richmond, Virginia, area in the summer of 1800. Information…