Historic Newspapers: The Wild West
The term "wild west" conjures many things in the mind—criminal outlaws like Billy the Kid or Jesse James, the California Gold Rush, or the folklore associated with the American frontier. We welcome you to browse our Wild West newspaper inventory or learn more about American Wild West newspapers at our main Wild West page.
Found 654 Results
-
Item #707064THE PLACER HERALD, Auburn, Placer County, California, Sept. 12, 1885
* Rare Old West publication
Placer mining in the Auburn area was very good, with the camp first becoming known as the North Fork Dry Diggings, later changed to Woods Dry Diggings. The area soon developed into a mining camp, and it was officially named Auburn in 1849.
... Read full description -
Item #706994THE NAPA REPORTER, Napa City, California, April 25, 1874
* Rare old West title
* Wine country
Although in the heart of the wine region, for which this city is famous today, its beginnings were centered more on the California Gold rush of 1849. This city became a refuge for miners during the first severe winter of mining &... Read full description -
Item #706230ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Sept. 29, 1877
* Union Pacific Big Springs robbery
* Old West outlaw - train robber Sam Bass
The front page has over a full column taken up with reports of the Big Springs train robbery of the Union Pacific Railroad, with heads including: "Daring Detectives" "How the Western Train... Read full description -
Item #706199THE CUB, San Francisco, California, November, 1871
* Yosemite Valley engraving - illustration
* Sierra Nevada Mountains - California
* The Great Chicago Fire disaster
A curious little newspaper which features an engraving of a bear cub in the masthead. A semi-monthly paper with a great front-page print of: "... Read full description -
Item #706023THE SALT LAKE DAILY HERALD, Salt Lake City, Utah, June 18, 1876
* Rare Old West publication
* Mormons - Utah territory
This 4 page newspaper has news of the day with several interesting advertisements. With newspapers West of the Mississippi being very rare prior to 1900, here is an opportunity to get a issue from the old West back when cowboys, Indians,... Read full description -
Item #706020THE WEEKLY WORLD, San Diego, California, July 27, 1872
* Very rare from Southern California
* Short-lived publication
Perhaps the earliest San Diego newspaper you will find, as this is the volume one, number one issue.
The front page begins with the "Valedictory" in which the publisher details the purpose of and... Read full description -
Item #705996NEW YORK WEEKLY TRIBUNE, March 20, 1867
* United States Capitol building
Page 7 has a very lengthy--nearly two columns--article headed: "Life In Washington" "The Capitol--It's Architecture & Decorations--The Rotunda Paintings--Miss Ream's Statues and Busts--The Passages and the... Read full description -
Item #705992MOUNTAIN MAIL, Salida, Colorado, May 13, 1882
* Very rare old West title
* Town view illustration
Printed in the masthead is: "Colorado Produces Millions of Silver, and Silver Is King." A very rare title, as there are no institutions noted in Gregory (Union List of American Newspapers) which have... Read full description -
Item #705697THE SAN DIEGO UNION, California, May 16, 1877 Among the front page articles: "UTAH" "The Mormon Rebellion--Alarm Among the Gentiles" and more.
Four pages, small binding holes at the blank spine, generally good condition. A bit fragile so should be handled carefully.
AI notes: In 1877, tensions in the Utah Territory between the Mormon... Read full description -
Item #705691SALIDA DAILY SENTINEL, Colorado, July 10, 1882
* First and only year of publication ?
An exceedingly rare title as Gregory (Union List of American Newspapers) notes that only one institution had any issues of this title & they were recently purchased by us. No other issues are recorded in any institution. Actually a very typical... Read full description -
Item #705677ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Aug. 7, 1883
* Ford Brothers - Charlie
* Jesse James assassination
* John L. Sullivan boxing
The front page has over a full column taken up with considerable round-by-round details of the boxing match between John L. Sullivan and Herbert "Maori" Slade for the heavyweight championship.
But... Read full description -
Item #705656THE PEOPLE'S HERALD & Aug. 17, 1893 As noted in Wikipedia: " Glenwood Springs was originally known as Defiance, Colorado. Defiance was established in 1883, a camp of tents, saloons and brothels with an increasing amount of cabins and lodging establishments. It was populated with the expected crowd of gamblers, gunslingers, and prostitutes. Town... Read full description -
Item #705655CRESTED BUTTE REPUBLICAN, Colorado, March 8, 1882
* During Colorado's "silver boom"
* Rare short-lived "Ghost" newspaper
A rare newspaper which lasted for less than two years. The only institutional holding of this title noted in Gregory (Union List of American Newspapers) was the Kansas... Read full description -
Item #705642DAILY ALTA CALIFORNIA, San Francisco, June 3, 1867 The very first title in the Golden State was the "Californian" begun in 1846, followed the next year by the "California Star". These two titles merged and in 1849 the combined enterprise was called the "Alta California", becoming a daily in July.... Read full description -
Item #705629ARIZONA CITIZEN, Tucson, Arizona Territory, April 17, 1875 Many years ago we had a reasonable inventory of this title, but today this issue is among our last.
A nice assortment of news articles and ads, including: "Letter From Col. Hodge - His Impressions After a Very Detailed Examination of Much of the Territory" "Mohave County"... Read full description -
Item #705613THE SAN DIEGO UNION, California, Feb. 6, 1877
* Old West publication
* Arizona crime
Among the front page articles is: "Arizona" "Robbery of the California and Arizona Stage--The Robbers captured and Property Recovered". And this is followed by another report: "Later--Indignation Against the Robbers".
Four... Read full description -
Item #705573THE DESERET NEWS, Salt Lake City, Utah, Nov. 26, 1879 This newspaper was published 17 years before it became a state. Included is an interesting report concerning a stagecoach robbery. Also Mormon-related items, with articles headed: "The Mormons And The Indians" & "Sugar Made In Utah" "Murder"... Read full description -
Item #705564SANTA CRUZ ENTERPRISE, California, March 13, 1875
* Wild Old West
* Rare publication
A volume 2 issue of this now-popular seaside community in the Monterey Bay vicinity. Various news of the day with a great wealth of advertisements.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed, minor margin wear, nice condition. -
Item #705432FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, June 7, 1890 The full ftpg. is a great illustration which seems as though it was taken from the Western movie, captioned: "Life in the Mining Regions of the Far West--Selling his Life Dearly." showing a cowboy trying to fend off a group of Indians on horseback.
A fullpg. with 9:... Read full description -
Item #705430THE DESERET NEWS, Salt Lake City, Utah, Nov. 26, 1879 This newspaper was published 17 years before it became a state. Included is an interesting report concerning a stagecoach robbery. Also Mormon-related items, with articles headed: "The Mormons And The Indians" & "Sugar Made In Utah" "Murder"... Read full description
-
Item #705400SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, Sept. 22, 1871 Page 2 has most of a column taken up with: "Growth of Towns in California".
Four pages, small folio size, nice condition. -
Item #705350GEORGETOWN GAZETTE, El Dorado County, California, April 9, 1880 This is the volume 1, number 1 issue. A very rare title from this now-historical site, the most northeastern town in California's Mother Lode mining territory near the Nevada border.
Less than 1000 people reside there today but in its heyday of the 1850's & 1860's... Read full description -
Item #705334GRAND VALLEY STAR-TIMES, Grand Junction, Colorado, April 27, 1895
* Rare 19th century Western publication
A quite rare title as it lasted from just 1893 to 1896 with this title, and Gregory notes only one institution having but 3 issues as we purchased the holdings from Kansas Historical Society (although the A.A.S. records 17... Read full description -
Item #705271DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Nov. 22, 1858 Page 3 includes: "Salt Lake Correspondence" which has various news reports from Utah. One item of discussion is whether the seat of government should be in Fillmore City.
Four pages, small, discrete archival mends in the margins, nice condition. Folder size noted... Read full description -
Item #705161FOOT-HILL WEEKLY TIDINGS, Grass Valley, California, Jan. 10, 1874
* Rare Old West publication
* Volume 1 - Number 1 issue
* Many interesting advertisements
This town in Northern California was formally named "Boston Ravine" and then "Centerville". It began as a mining town, situated at... Read full description -
Item #705122HUMORIST, San Francisco, California, June 17, 1871 A smaller size newspaper totally in the German language, obviously for the German immigrants in the Bay area. The masthead features a devil-like engraving. This is the volume 1, number 1 issue--the first published.
Eight pages with very wide margins, 9 3/4 by 12... Read full description -
Item #705007ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Sept. 22, 1884
* James W. Marshall - California gold fame
This title always had a wealth of typically Western-themed reports as well as ads.
Page 2 has: "Slain In A Saloon" "A Grandson of Henry Clay Shot by a Louisville Alderman" "Shot Through the Heart--Drunken... Read full description -
Item #704746VELASCO DAILY TIMES, Texas, March 2, 1892
* Rare Southwestern publication
* Possibly the first time offered anywhere (see note)
A rare title as it existed for less than six months.
Velasco was a town in Texas that was later annexed by the city of Freeport. Founded in 1831, Velasco is situated on the east side of the... Read full description -
Item #704742VELASCO DAILY TIMES, Texas, Jan. 2, 1892
* Rare Southwestern "Boomtown" publication
* Possibly the first time offered anywhere (see note)
A rare title as it existed for less than six months.
Velasco was a town in Texas that was later annexed by the city of Freeport. Founded in 1831, Velasco is situated on... Read full description -
Item #704652DEADWOOD DAILY PIONEER, Black Hills, (South Dakota) May 25, 1889
* Rare publication
* Famous wild West town
* "Wild Bill" Hickok fame
This city would arguably be--along with Tombstone & Dodge City--one of the more famous of all the towns from the rough & tumble days of the Old West, and only rarely do such issues... Read full description -
Item #704629THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH, Cochise County, Arizona, October 16, 1881
* Best Old West title to be had
* Pre Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Few could argue for a more recognizable title from the Old West, nor could any town be more linked to the romance of the West than this one. Tombstone is steeped in... Read full description -
Item #704620SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Oct. 12, 1871
* Rare & early from Southern California
Not just a very early newspaper from San Diego (a vol. 2 issue) but with nice content as well, as the front page has column-wide heads: "CHICAGO" "The Latest News--Extent of the Burnt District--The Entire Northern... Read full description -
Item #704573DAILY ALTA CALIFORNIA, San Francisco, June 5, 1867
* Rare old West publication
The very first title in the Golden State was the "Californian" begun in 1846, followed the next year by the "California Star". These two titles merged and in 1849 the combined enterprise was called the "Alta California", becoming a daily in... Read full description -
Item #704341STANISLAUS COUNTY WEEKLY NEWS, Modesto, California, March 11, 1881
* Rare Old West publication
An early newspaper from this city in North-central California which when it began in 1868 was the first newspaper in Modesto. In 1881 the population of the town was less than 1000.
Various news events of the day, local, regional... Read full description -
Item #704303ARIZONA CITIZEN, Tucson, Arizona Territory, June 19, 1875 Many years ago we had a reasonable inventory of this title, but today this issue is among our last.
A nice assortment of news articles and ads including: "Letter From Col. Hodge" datelined at Camp Grant; "Mining Summary" "The Tucson Public Schools" "Telegraphic News" and more.
Four pages, never... Read full description -
Item #704232THE INTER STATE, Gary, Dakota, April 2, 1884
* Very rare publication
* Deuel County, South Dakota
A very rare territorial newspaper from what is present-day South Dakota, five years before statehood. They refer to themselves as the "Gate City of Dakota" as it is situated at the eastern border of the Territory, very close to... Read full description -
Item #704229BLACK HILLS DAILY PIONEER, Deadwood City, Black Hills, Nov. 24, 1878
* Rare publication
* Famous wild West town
* "Wild Bill" Hickok fame
This city would arguably be--along with Tombstone & Dodge City--one of the more famous of all the towns from the rough & tumble days of the Old West, and only rarely do such... Read full description -
Item #704222THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH, Cochise County, Arizona, July 26, 1881
* Best Old West title to be had
* Pre Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Few could argue for a more recognizable title from the Old West, nor could any town be more linked to the romance of the West than this one. Tombstone is steeped in... Read full description -
Item #704204THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH, Arizona, August 10, 1881
* Best Old West title to be had
* Pre Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Few could argue for a more recognizable title from the Old West, nor could any town be more linked to the romance of the West than this one. Tombstone is steeped in Western lore, and the... Read full description -
Item #702677THE SALT LAKE DAILY TRIBUNE, Salt Lake City, July 18, 1876 The front page has a letter signed by General: Geo. F. Crook to General Sherman concerning the situation with the Indians, with mention of the camp on the Little Horn.
Some of the heads & subheads include: "Custer's Presentment" "The Indian... Read full description -
Item #702558WELDON & LEONARD'S REAL ESTATE CIRCULAR & PRICE LIST, San Francisco, California, March 1, 1876
* Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton founding
The ftpg. has: "Another Monument" which begins: "When James Lick executed his deed of gift, donating his immense property to various... Read full description -
Item #702556SAN JOSE DAILY PATRIOT, California, May 24, 1871
* Rare Old West title from the Santa Clara Valley* Victoria Woodhull, Colonel James Harvey Blood, Tennie Claflin scandal
In 1850 San Jose became just the 2nd incorporated city in California (Sacramento was first) & was on the Butterfield mail route. The ftpg. is... Read full description -
Item #702006AMADOR DISPATCH, Jackson, California, May 15, 1880
* Rare old West publication
Jackson was founded in 1848 at a year-round spring, settled by American pioneers and then gold-seekers upon its discovery at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada range. It was also a convenient stopping place on the road from Sacramento to the... Read full description -
Item #701301THE CALIFORNIA FARMER, San Francisco May 10, 1855 This is quite early for a California newspaper. A nice engraving in the masthead, with much of the content having a farming theme, although there are other items as well.
Eight pages, never bound nor trimmed so it upon up to a single sheet, 12 by 17 inches, nice condition. -
Item #701279EVENING BULLETIN, San Francisco, April 8, 1856
* Very rare old West publication (early)
* Gold rush mining - miners - 49ers era
* Soon after statehood - joining the Union
A large size newspaper with various news of the day. Wide, never-trimmed margins, somewhat crudely rejoined at the spine, tears near margins, irregular at the bottom... Read full description -
Item #701256THE SUN, San Diego, California, Dec. 22, 1881 This is a volume 1 issue of this early newspaper from San Diego. Page 2 has an item beginning: "Mrs. Langtry, the celebrated beauty of London...". This is the famed actress Lily Langtry, who the next year would tour America.
The back page has: "Our Sister Republic - The Mexican... Read full description -
Item #701016WEEKLY OREGON STATESMAN, Salem, Feb. 16, 1877
* Rare Old West publication
From the capital of Oregon, this issue has various reports from across the country.
Complete in 8 pages, never bound nor trimmed, toning to a back leaf margin, news agent's stamp in the masthead, good condition. -
Item #700921COMMERCIAL HERALD & MARKET REVIEW, San Francisco, Jan. 13, 1871
* Rare old West publication
* California mining industry
The focus of this newspaper seems to be on the mining industry, as some of the articles on just the front page include: "Improved Condition of the Miners as a Class" "The Labor Question"... Read full description -
Item #700919DESERET NEWS, Great Salt Lake City, U.T. (Utah Territory), Dec. 15, 1853
* Mormons - Mormonism
* Governor Brigham Young
* Territorial annual address
An early issue of the first newspaper in Utah, having begun in 1850. This is a volume 3 issue.
Most of the front page is taken up with a portion of the: "Life Of... Read full description -
Item #700918DESERET NEWS, Great Salt Lake City, U.T. (Utah Territory), Oct. 1, 1853
* Governor Brigham Young
An early issue of the first newspaper in Utah, having begun in 1850. This is the volume 3, number 18 issue.
Most of the front page is taken up with a portion of the: "Life Of Joseph Smith".
Page 2 has: "TERRITORY OF... Read full description
An Inside Look
Timothy Hughes Rare &
Early Newspapers…
A special thank you goes out
to the staff of WGRC!
to the staff of WGRC!
History's Newsstand Blog
- Lead-up to a Nation… as reported in the newspapers of the day (reflecting back on March, 1776)…
- Who’s Who in Newspapers? Jack Johnson edition (1910)…
- Announcing: Catalog 365 – Released (early) for April, 2026 – Rare & Early Newspapers…
- Mystery Solved … The Ancestry of Abraham Lincoln Clarified…
Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers
P.O. Box 3636
Williamsport, PA 17701
Phone: 1-570-326-1045
E-mail: info@rarenewspapers.com
Hours
Weekdays, 7:30 - 4 (ET)
Full Contact Information
P.O. Box 3636
Williamsport, PA 17701
Phone: 1-570-326-1045
E-mail: info@rarenewspapers.com
Hours
Weekdays, 7:30 - 4 (ET)
Full Contact Information
