Historic Newspapers: Slavery & Abolition

NEW YORK TIMES, Jan. 30, 1861  

* Abraham Lincoln about to change America

Near the top of the front page is: "Important From Springfield" "The Position Of the President Elect" noting in part: "...stating that Mr. Lincoln had written to his Congressional friends recommending conciliatory... Read full description  

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 within include: "Captain J. G. Foster, Engineer Corps U.S.A., On Duty at Fort Sumter" "Arrival of the United... Read full description  

NEW YORK TIMES, February 22, 1861. Page two has: "Important Decision" "The Slave-trader--Evidence--Presumptions" which is about a district court case, "The United States, vs. The Bark Kate and Her Cargo".

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 inside include: "Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina" "Surrender of Ex-General Twiggs, Late of... Read full description  

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 Baltimore, Md." and "Slaves For Sale: A Scene in New Orleans", both showing slaves dressed in formal attire. A related article: "The Dandy... Read full description  

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 slaves dressed in formal attire.
A related article: "The Dandy Slave" begins: ... Read full description  

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 Board". The doublepage centerfold shows six "American Home Scenes", which includes prints of "The... Read full description  

THE CRISIS, Columbus, Ohio, April 25, 1861  Among the interesting articles are: "Negro Insurrection" "Order & Drill in Camp Jackson" "President Jackson's Farewell Address to the People of the United States" is signed in type: Andrew Jackson and takes 1 1/2 pages; "War News!" "Organization... Read full description  

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... Read full description  

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 shown to enemies. When Confederate privateers sailed under letters of marque authorized by Jefferson Davis, some reportedly flew black flags... Read full description  

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 page text headed: "The Murder of Ellsworth".
Three-quarters of a page shows: "Company of Secession Cavalry... Read full description  

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... Read full description  

NEW YORK ILLUSTRATED NEWS, July 15, 1861  Formatted much like the popular Harper's Weekly, but a much scarcer title.
The full front page shows: "Capture of a Picket After Heroically Defending Himself Against About 50 Assailants, near Cloud's Mill, Virginia". Other prints include a dramatic double page centerfold: "Indian... Read full description  

THE CRISIS, Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 19, 1861  This was an anti-war newspaper that insisted slavery should not be abolished, so consequently much content has an anti-North bias.

THE CRISIS, Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 3, 1861  

* President Abraham Lincoln
* General John C. Fremont

This was an anti-war newspaper that insisted slavery should not be abolished, so consequently much content has an anti-North bias.

THE CRISIS, Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 7, 1861  

* Pro Confederate title
* Battle of Ball's Bluff

This was an anti-war newspaper that insisted slavery should not be abolished, so consequently much content has an anti-North bias.

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, November 30, 1861  The entire front page is taken up with a print captioned: "Major-General Halleck, U.S.A., Commanding Our Army In Missouri". Inside has a small map of: "Fernandina, Florida"; a full page with two prints of: "Headquarters of General Wright at Fort Walker, Hilton... Read full description  

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 14, 1861  The entire front page is taken up with: "A Chart Map Of Georgia, Showing The Percentage of Slaves In Each County." Inside has a full page with seven: "Scenes in & Around Beaufort, South Carolina"; another page has 3 prints of: "The Stone Fleet on its Way to the Southern... Read full description  

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Dec. 17, 1861  The format of this title at this time was advertisements on the front page with the wealth of Civil War reporting on inside pages. 
The back page features a Civil War map headed: "SHIP ISLAND AND ITS SURROUNDINGS". Column heads include: "THE EXPEDITION TO SHIP ISLAND" "Unobstructed Landing"... Read full description  

THE LIBERATOR, Boston, MA 1861-65 (with minor water-staining or other minor imperfections which make them somewhat 2nd-rate)

* Ornate masthead
* Anti-Slavery Title
* edited by William Lloyd Garrison

See the photo below for the terrific masthead of this famous anti-slavery title. The ornate woodcut in the masthead features three scenes: a slave... Read full description  

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 18, 1862  The front page has two prints: "Port Royal Ferry, Scene of the Battle of First January, 1862" and a cartoonish print showing a: "Scene in the Parlor of Mrs. Barnwell's House at Beaufort, South Carolina" showing various African-Americans.
Inside has a full page... Read full description  

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, January 31, 1862 

* Cedar Keys Florida
* Civil War map

The front page has a Civil War map headed: "Cedar Keys and Its Railroad Connection to Fernandina, Florida". Maps of the Civil War showing the greater portion of Florida are very uncommon. There are nice first column heads as well including:... Read full description  

NEW YORK HERALD, Feb. 4, 1862  Among the front page column heads on the Civil War are: "The Burnside Expedition" "Heavy Cannonading in the Vicinity of Beaufort" "Heavy Firing Near Norfolk" "News From the South" "The Southern Women & Children to Turn Incendiaries" "The... Read full description  

DAILY RICHMOND EXAMINER, Virginia, Feb. 7, 1862  Half of the front page is taken up with ads with the other half having various news items, including: "Interesting From the North--Notes On The War" with various subheads. Also reports on: "American Affairs In Europe" "The Grand Army to Advance" "The Burnside... Read full description  

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, Feb. 13, 1862  A very graphic & displayable issue as the front page features not one but two Civil War maps, one captioned: "Albemarle Sound & the Point of Attack of the Federal Fleet", with related text, and the other headed: "Roanoke Island".
Both the first and last columns have nice stacks of... Read full description