Historic Newspapers: Christmas

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL & MASSACHUSETTS FEDERALIST, Boston, Oct. 15, 1803  The top of page 2 has: Congress" which begins: "Is to meet at Washington on Monday next. The Louisiana treaty must immediately

CONNECTICUT COURANT, Hartford, Dec. 1, 1818.

• Northwest Expedition
• Ship Isabella
• 1818

On page 3 under Northern Expedition is a very detailed letter from an officer aboard the ship Isabella, employed in

THE CRYSTAL HUNTER, (New York), Jan. 6, 1827  A very short-lived magazine which began on Dec. 1, 1826 and ended on May 26, 1827, lasting just half a year. This is the volume 1 number 6 issue. It

THE PICTORIAL TIMES with SUPPLEMENT, London, December 28, 1844  The cover of the issue contains "The New Statue of William IV., London Bridge".  Within the issue are "Pictorial History of Birmingham

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 3, 1857  Few titles from the 19th century are as well known to the general public as this one, very widely circulated and often cited by contemporaries of the day.

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, April 4, 1857  The front page features an article entitled "After Walker, What Next?" Inside: 'The Story of India Rubber' includes an illustration of 'Charles Goodyear,

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 26, 1857  Nice front page illustration and article on: 'The Hon. Stephen A. Douglas'. A two page story entitled: 'The Wonders of Santa Claus' includes eight

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 25, 1858

• Illustrator Winslow Homer
• Christmas prints & Santa Claus

The front page features a print: "Santa Claus Paying His Usual Christmas Visit to His Young

GLEASON'S WEEKLY LINE OF THE BATTLE SHIP, Boston, Dec. 25, 1858  This title has one of the largest & most decorative mastheads of the 19th century with a decorative & patriotic border around all

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 25, 1858  The front page features a print: "Santa Claus Paying His Usual Christmas Visit to His Young Friends" shows him in a sleigh pulled by a turkey, with many

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, February 5, 1859. An interesting medical issue, with a two page article: 'Dr. Horace Green and His Method', showing several medical instruments, and three 'Anatomical

ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, Dec. 24, 1859  In addition to the regular issue, this listing includes the rare/collectible color plates originally included with the "Christmas Supplement", but

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 24, 1859 The frontpage features a story "Hester Pratt's New-Year's Day" and has a nearly half-page illustration "The Blind Girl at Hester Pratt's Table". A

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Jan. 21, 1860  The full front page shows: "Ruins of the Pemberton Mills, At Lawrence, Massachusetts...". The doublepage centerfold has has 12 comic vignettes titled: "A

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Jan. 28, 1860  Featured is a very nice doublepage centerfold: "Skating On the Ladies' Skating Pond in the Central Park, New York" by famed artist Winslow Homer. Many other

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

HARPER'S WEEKLY, Dec. 22, 1860  Nice full front page illus: 'The Seceding South Carolina Delegation' is by Winslow Homer. Fullpg: 'Christmas-Day Then & Now' and fullpg: 'Santa Claus' is a small

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Dec. 24, 1860

• Southern crisis
• Secession talks
• Christmas eve

Considerable reporting on not just South Carolina leaving the Union, but other events that would soon lead to war.
Heads

HARPER'S WEEKLY, Dec. 29, 1860 Full ftpg: 'Christmas Day, 1860' shows a family at Christmas dinner. Nice fullpg: 'Christmas Chimes at Trinity Church, N.Y.   This issue also contains a serialized

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:

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.

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

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.

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

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 4, 1862  The full front page is a notable Winslow Homer print: "Christmas Boxes in Camp, 1861", which does show some mild margin wear as this was the first page in

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 11, 1862  The full front page is a print captioned: "Sinking The Stone Fleet In Charleston Harbor". Inside has a full page: "The Battle of Dranesville" l full page

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 6, 1862  The full front page is taken up with a nice print of: "Major-General Nathaniel P. Banks, United States Army". Other prints inside include: 'The United

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 20, 1862  The full front page shows: "Identification of Indian Murderers in Minnesota by a Boy Survivor of the Massacre". Other prints inside include: "Belle

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 27, 1862 The full front page is a very dramatic battle scene captioned: "The Attack on Fredericksburg--The Forlorn Hope Scaling the Hill" which would a nice print

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

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 17, 1863  Certainly the most historic content would be the page 2 complete printing of: "By the President of the United States of America - A Proclamation" which

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, February 7, 1863  The full front page is taken up with prints of: "Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, Commanding Mississippi flotilla" and "Major-General John A. M'Clernand" as

THE CRISIS, Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 14, 1863

• Abraham Lincoln "Thanksgiving" proclamation (1st)

This anti-war newspaper insisted slavery should not be abolished, so consequently, much content has an

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 26, 1863  The feature of this issue is the very displayable doublepage centerfold titled: "Christmas, 1863" which includes 6 vignettes by Thomas Nast, one showing

DAILY RICHMOND EXAMINER, Virginia, Dec. 28, 1863

• From the capital of the Confederacy
• Christmas holidays in the South

The front page includes: "City Intelligence" "Major Edgar Burroughs" "From the

FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, Jan. 2, 1864 The front page shows: "The Guerrilla War on the Mississippi-- Explosion of a Shell in the Ladies' Saloon on the Steamer Welcome, at Waterproof,

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 2, 1864  Part of front page is a cross section: 'Diagram of Monitor 'Weehawken' Sunk in Charleston Harbor'. Also on the ftpg. are prints of: "Frederick VII, Late

THE HOUSTON TRI-WEEKLY TELEGRAPH, Nov. 9, 1864

• Very rare issue from the Southwest Confederacy

Newspapers from Texas are very uncommon, particularly from before or during the Civil War period. Here

HARPER'S WEEKLY, Dec. 3, 1864  The front page has: 'The Rebel Flag of Truce Boat 'Beauregard' with Savannah in the Distance" & "The Rebel Flag of Truce Boats Coming down the Savannah River". Nice

THE DAILY SOUTHERN GUARDIAN, Columbia, South Carolina, Dec. 7, 1864

• Rare Confederate publication

A rather rare title and great that it includes the word “Southern”.
The front page has reports from

DAILY EXAMINER, Richmond, Virginia, Dec. 20, 1864

• Rare rebel publication

Not just a newspaper from the Confederacy, but from the capital of the Confederate states.
The front page has: "The War News"

DAILY EXAMINER, Richmond, Virginia, Dec. 24, 1864

• Capital of the Confederacy
• President Abraham Lincoln
• General P. G. T. Beauregard

Not just a newspaper from the Confederate states, but from the

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Dec. 24, 1864  The full front pager is taken up with prints of: "The Chief Justices of the United States" with Salmon Chase as the central print, surrounded by John Jay,

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Dec. 26, 1864 An historic issue reporting the fall of Savannah to the Union forces, with one of the more notable quotes part of the headlines, with ftpg: "CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH"

NEW YORK TIMES, Dec. 26, 1864

• Christmas present to Abraham Lincoln
• General William T. Sherman
• March to the sea completed
• Savannah GA Georgia captured

One of the more desired Times issues from the

NEW YORK HERALD, Dec. 26, 1864

• Christmas present to Abraham Lincoln
• General William T. Sherman
• March to the sea completed
• Savannah GA Georgia captured

An historic issue reporting the fall of Savannah

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Dec. 31, 1864  The full front page shows children in a bedroom playing with Christmas gifts and toys while the parents watch from the doorway.
The very ornate doublepage

DAILY DISPATCH, Richmond, Virginia, Jan. 25, 1865

• From the Capital of the Confederacy
• Capture of Savannah, Georgia by W.T. Sherman

The front page has a lengthy article: "Cromwell, Lincoln and

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Jan. 28, 1865  The front page prints include: "The Ocean Monitor 'Dictator' ", "Hon. William Dennison, Postmaster General" and "General H. W. Slocum". Inside has a full

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 28, 1865  The front page prints include: "The Ocean Monitor 'Dictator' ", "Hon. William Dennison, Postmaster General" and "General H. W. Slocum". Inside has a full