Historic Newspapers: Illustrated Issues

FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED NEWSPAPER, New York, Dec. 5, 1863  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) doublepage centerfold is captioned: "The Consecration of the Great National Cemetery Near Gettysburg, Nov. 19 by Abraham Lincoln...". As an appropriate complement to this centerfold is text on the events at: "The…

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…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 1, 1881 

* Best of all Thomas Nast illustrations - prints
* Christmas - Santa Claus - Kris Kringle - Saint Nick

The full front page is a Thomas Nast illustration: "The Dear Little Boy That Thought Christmas Came Oftener." This print is somewhat compromised by the browning and mild margin wear, including the darker strip at the left side.
But certainly the most notable print is the terrific doublepage centerfold by Thomas Nast: "MERRY OLD SANTA…

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…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 1, 1881  The full front page is a Thomas Nast illustration: "The Dear Little Boy That Thought Christmas Came Oftener." Inside is a full pg. illus. of "A 'Possum Hunt in Old Virginia."
But certainly the most notable print is the terrific doublepage centerfold by Thomas Nast: "MERRY OLD SANTA CLAUS.", a classic image & perhaps one of the most reproduced of all Santa Claus prints used today in a wealth of advertisements and Christmas-themed promotions, etc.
…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Sept. 20, 1873 

* Winslow Homer's most famous print
* "SNAP-THE-WHIP" - great for framing

Certainly, the prime feature of this issue is the much-desired Winslow Homer doublepage centerfold: "Snap the Whip". As the photos show, this print is in very nice condition.
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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, October 9, 1909 Almost the entire front page is taken up with the famous photo captioned: "A New Kind Of Gull In New York Harbor--Wilbur Wright...made a most spectacular flight on Sept. 29th when he circled the Statue of Liberty...without mishap..." . A great & very displayable issue on early aviation. Additional prints include:  "The History Of New York On Wheels", The Inauguration at Harvard", "General Robert E. Lee's Statue in the Capital", "A Princess Of The…

THE VILLAGE VOICE, New York, April 20, 1961 

* Bob Dylan - Robert Allen Zimmerman
* Very 1st public performance advertisement
* Gerde's Folk City music venue in Greenwich Village

An exceedingly significant newspaper which offers witness to the birth of the music career of the legendary Bob Dylan. And perhaps no better title exists for this content. Indeed, this notice may only have appeared in the Village Voice.
First, it is worth noting that "The Village Voice" was an American news…

THE VILLAGE VOICE, New York, April 13, 1961 

* Bob Dylan - Robert Allen Zimmerman
* Very 1st public performance advertisement
* Gerde's Folk City music venue in Greenwich Village

An exceedingly significant newspaper which offers witness to the birth of the music career of the legendary Bob Dylan. And perhaps no better title exists for this content. Indeed, this notice may only have appeared in the Village Voice.
First, it is worth noting that "The Village Voice" was an American news and culture…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York City, April 20, 1912  There is a full, color, cover page on this issue. The front page of this issue is a photo of "The Lost 'Titanic.'"
This issue is in two parts. The first part has an article of "Quarreling at the coal-bin" by Edward Hungerford and an article of "Improving the Aeroplane" by Albert S. Levino.
The second part of this issue is titled "The Loss of the 'Titanic' and has a full page photo of "The "Titanic," Looking Aft, Showing Her Gigantic Funnels and…

FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, April 29, 1865 

* Famous Abraham Lincoln assassination issue
* Much more uncommon than the Harper's Weekly

 This issue remains one of the most desired for this historic, tragic event, as it is one of the only newspapers which included a front page graphic showing the actual assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
Over half of the front page is taken up with a very dramatic print captioned: "Assassination of President Lincoln in His Private Box at Ford's…

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…

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…

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…

THE JENNY LIND, Boston This is an 1851 souvenir newspaper from Jenny Lind's legendary first American tour, featuring portraits and articles on the "Swedish Nightingale" and P. T. Barnum, who managed her tour. Barnum's advance publicity made Lind a celebrity even before she arrived in the U.S., and tickets for her first concerts were in such demand that Barnum sold them by auction. The tour provoked a popular fervor dubbed "Lind Mania" by the local press, and raised large sums of money for both…

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…

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 January 3, 1874 

* Thomas Nast
* Santa Claus
* Christmas

The entire front page features a terrific & very desirable Thomas Nast illustration: "Christmas Eve - Santa Claus Waiting for the Children to Get to Sleep."  This is one of Nast's more iconic Santa images, often reproduced for advertising, promotions, etc. in recent years.
Thomas Nast is credited with creating the modern "jolly" version of Santa.
Inside is found a wealth of other Christmas-related prints…

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

The individual issues are described as:

HARPER'S WEEKLY, Feb. 16, 1861 Full ftpg. is an extremely decorative celebration of 'St. Valentine's Day' with 6 scenes & ornate embellishments. Fullpg: 'A ten-inch Mounted as a…

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 in the carriage.
Inside has a nearly half page print showing: "Presidents Buchanan and Lincoln Entering the Senate Chamber Before The Inauguration" with related text headed: "The Inauguration". Plus there is a large and dramatic doublepage centerfold done by Winslow Homer captioned: "The…

HARPER'S WEEKLY January 3, 1874  The entire front page features a terrific & very desirable Thomas Nast illustration: "Christmas Eve - Santa Claus Waiting for the Children to Get to Sleep."  which is very displayable (see photo). Nast Santa Claus prints are very desirable as he is credited with creating the modern "jolly" version of Santa.
Inside is found a wealth of other Christmas-related prints including a two-thirds pg. illus. of "Christmas Day - Far From Home.";  two-thirds pg. illus. of…

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…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 12, 1860  The front page has a print of: "The Republican Wigwam At Chicago, Illinois, In Which the Republican Convention Will Be Held, May 16, 1860".  This was the event at which Abraham Lincoln would go from near obscurity to a position of prominence in American history.
The doublepage centerfold is a terrific print captioned: "Prominent Candidates For The Republican Presidential Nomination At Chicago" which includes portraits of eleven men, of central prominence…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, April 27, 1912  The front page of this issue is a photo of "Some of the Pitiful Seven Hundred. A boatload of the "Titanic's" survivors just before they were succored by the 'Carpathia' ".
This issue is in two parts. The first part has an illustration of "'The Wise Custom Which Limits the President to Two Terms Regards The Substance and Not the Form.' -- T. R., November 8, 1904" by Kemble. The double page illustration is called "The Promotion of Colonel Upton Upon…

SOUTHERN ILLUSTRATED NEWS, Richmond, June 7, 1863

* General Lawrence O'Bryan Branch
* 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 nice illustration of: "General Lawrence O'Brien Branch" beneath which is noted: "Killed at the Battle of Sharpsburg", with a biography…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, November 15, 1862  Although there are many fine prints in this issue certainly the most desired would be the full page Winslow Homer print titled: "The Army of the Potomac--A Sharp-Shooter on Picket Duty."
Other nice prints in this issue include the full front page captioned: "Convalescent Soldiers Passing Through Washington to Join Their Regiments" in front of the Capitol, showing the new dome still under construction (a notable print!). Also a fullpg: "The Army of…

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…

FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, May 13, 1865 

* Killing of John Wilkes Booth
* President Abraham Lincoln funeral
* Prints - illustrations - wood engravings

The front page shows: "Sergeant Boston Corbett, the Man who shot Booth" as well as a dramatic print of: "The Killing of Booth, the Assassin--The Dying Murderer drawn from the Barn where he had Taken Refuge...".
The inside pages have some nice prints including: "Booth Escaping on Horseback from the Rear of the Theatre after…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 21, 1889  There are many nice prints in this issue, but by far the most desirable is the great doublepage centerfold done by famed Western artist Frederic Remington, titled: "Cow-Boys Coming To Town For Christmas" showing four of them on horseback coming into a typically Western town. A nice item for display.
Among other prints in this issue are a front page Frederic Remington "The Dying Cacique" done to accompany a story: "The Aztec Treasure House"; a full…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 3, 1880  The entire ftpg. is a Thomas Nast print captioned: "A Merry Christmas" showing Santa Claus dancing with Mother Goose (see). The doublepage centerfold is a very nice Thomas Nast Christmas print captioned: "Another Stocking to Fill" showing Santa Claus leaning over a sleeping baby (see). A full page shows: "Bringing Home Christmas Presents".
Other prints include: "Edison's Electric Light--The Generator" "Edison's Home, Menlo Park, New Jersey" "A Guano…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Dec. 26, 1885  The full front page is a famous Thomas Nast Christmas print: "Peace and Good Will Ringing In The Air -- Ding! Dong!!" showing two Santa Claus prints.
Other prints within include: "The Meet Of a Canadian Show-Shoe Club" and a great doublepage centerfold by Thomas Nast: "A Christmas Box" showing Santa Claus coming up from it.
Others include: "The Pride of the Christmas Feast" "New Station of the Hudson River Railroad..." "The Late Robert Toombs" "The…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 3, 1880  The entire ftpg. is a Thomas Nast print captioned: "A Merry Christmas" showing Santa Claus dancing with Mother Goose (see). The doublepage centerfold is a very nice Thomas Nast Christmas print captioned: "Another Stocking to Fill" showing Santa Claus leaning over a sleeping baby (see). A full page shows: "Bringing Home Christmas Presents".
Other prints include: "Edison's Electric Light--The Generator" "Edison's Home, Menlo Park, New Jersey" "A Guano…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, November 1, 1873  Although there are many fine prints in this issue, likely the most desired is the very nice full page by Winslow Homer: "Dad's Coming". 
Front full page Thomas Nast illustration of "Tammany Hall Will Whip Creation This Fall." Inside are two 1/2 page illustration pertaining to "The Manufacture of Iron" including "...Filling the Furnace" and "...Carting Away the Scorle." Full page illustration of "The Manufacture of Iron - Tapping the Furnace." Full…

FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, Dec. 23, 1865 

* Rare Winslow Homer prints

There are many prints within but certainly the two most significant are the full page prints by Winslow Homer, captioned: "Thanksgiving Day--Hanging Up the Musket" and the other: "Thanksgiving Day--The Church Porch". A small stain in the caption of each, otherwise very nice.
Other prints include a front page; "Fearful Collision on the Third Ave. Railroad, New York"; "John T. Hoffman, the Mayor El3ct of New…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, September 10, 1887  The full ftpg. is a Zogbaum print: "Mars & Venus at Fortress Monroe". A full page has many scenes of Castine captioned: "An Old Maine; Seaport". Another full page has 6 prints of: "The Annual Meet of the American Canoe Association".
But by far the best print in this issue is the terrific double page centerfold captioned: "Thrown Out On Second" which is a great view of a baseball play in progress, a much closer view of game action than is…

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…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 25, 1863 

* Battle of Gettysburg conflict scenes
* General Ulysses S. Grant vs. Robert E. Lee

The full front page is a nice portrait of: "Major-General Ulysses S. Grant ("Unconditional Surrender" Grant)". Inside has a full page: "The Siege of Vicksburg--View Upon the Extreme Right, Showing the Mississippi River Above and Below Vicksburg"; a full page with 4 prints: "The Siege of Vicksburg--Blowing Up the Rebel Fort Hill", "The City of Vicksburg Before the…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 30, 1871  The full front page is the famous Thomas Nast illustration of: "Santa Claus's Mail." which is very displayable.
Inside is a full pg. illus. of "Christmas in Virginia - A Present from the Great House." Full pg. illus. of "A Roman Catholic Mission from England to the 'Heathens' of America." Doublepage centerfold of "Witchcraft in 1871." Two 1/2 pg. illus. of "Chain Gang in the Cathedral Plaza, Havana" and "Innocence and Guilt." 1/2 pg. portrait of…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Jan. 4, 1879  The full front page is a nice Christmas-themed print by Thomas Nast, captioned: "Christmas Post" showing a boy mailing a letter to Santa Claus. The other great print is the doublepage centerfold, also by Thomas Nast, captioned: "Merry Christmas" which shows five young children hanging on a jolly Santa Claus. Thomas Nast is credited with creating the modern version of Santa as we know him today.
Other prints within include a fullpg: "The Blackville…

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 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".

The…

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. 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, August 22, 1874  Certainly the most notable print in this issue is the very nice full page by Winslow Homer titled: "Waiting for a Bite." It is in great condition.
Other prints in this issue are a full ftpg. illus. "The Little Vagrant." Inside is a 1/2 pg. map of "The Gold Regions of the Black Hills, Explored by General Custer's Expedition."; a halfpg. of "Hunting Grounds of the King of Italy."; a halfpg. of:  "A Paris Sketch - Scene in the champs Elysees."; a full…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York,  Dec. 29, 1866  The front page has a lengthy poem with a related print titled: "The Setter's Christmas Eve". Inside contains a full page: "Hauling Home the Christmas Boughs"; halfpg: "Scene of the Holy Nativity, Bethlehem" & "The Wise Men Following the Star in the East". Also: a halfpg: "John Surratt" & Wreck of the Steamship 'Scotland' Bound for Liverpool, off Sandy Hook".
But the prime feature is the great Thomas Nast doublepage centerfold: "Santa Claus & His…