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
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Item #700707DAILY MORNING CALL, San Francisco, April 9, 1873
* Modoc War - Lava Beds
* Captain Jack fame
The top of the front page has a column headed: "THE MODOCS" "The Commissioners to make One More Effort to Effect a Peace" "Terms, 'Surrender, and Leave the Lava Bed'--Treachery Feared--Hostile Indians Treated... Read full description -
Item #700705DAILY MORNING CALL, San Francisco, March 29, 1873
* Modoc War - Lava Beds
* Captain Jack fame
The top of the front page has a column headed: "THE MODOCS" "Another Reconnaissance by General Gilles--The Peace Commission Effecting Nothing--The Indians Ready to Make Peace if they Can Have Their Home on Lost River" with... Read full description -
Item #700268OAKLAND WEEKLY TRIBUNE, California, July 19, 1884 See the photos for the nice engraving in the masthead, which features a great view of the skyline of Oakland--at that time!
Various news of the day and a wealth of ads. Single-column headings include: ""The Scollard Trial", "For His Life - The Preliminary Struggle om... Read full description -
Item #699255SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Nov. 4, 1871
* Mormons - Mormonism
* Thomas Sunderland Hawkins
* 1st convicted for polygamy in Utah
Very early from San Diego--a volume 2 issue--when the population was just 2300, with a nice engraving of the harbor in the masthead.
The back page has... Read full description -
Item #699253SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Nov. 9, 1871
* Rare & early from Southern California
Very early from San Diego--a volume 2 issue--when the population was just 2300, with a nice engraving of the harbor in the masthead.
The front page has a wonderful and very detailed travelogue-like depot headed:... Read full description -
Item #699252SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Nov. 10, 1871
* Apache Indians of Arizona
* Early Southern California
Very early from San Diego--a volume 2 issue--when the population was just 2300, with a nice engraving of the harbor in the masthead.
The front page has: "The Apache Indians" with subheads:... Read full description -
Item #699250SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Nov. 11, 1871 Very early from San Diego--a volume 2 issue--when the population was just 2300, with a nice engraving of the harbor in the masthead.
The front page has: "The Situation In Arizona" with subheads: "The New Indian Policy--Exertions of Gov. McCormick"... Read full description -
Item #699248SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Nov. 12, 1871 Very early from San Diego--a volume 2 issue--when the population was just 2300, with a nice engraving of the harbor in the masthead.
The front page has a wonderful and very descriptive article headed: "ANAHEIM" with subheads: "On the Road From Gallatin--The 17 Mile... Read full description -
Item #699131THE WHEELING INTELLIGENCER, West Virginia, July 21, 1881
* Chief Sitting Bull surrenders
* Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux
* Indians chief - holy man
The front page has: "Sitting Bull Surrenders" "The Troublesome Chief Finally Gives Up & Submits to the United States Officers" with the report noting: "...Sitting Bull & about 200... Read full description -
Item #699124DAILY SAN DIEGO WORLD, California, July 25, 1872
* Very rare from Southern California
* Early - volume 1 number 1 issue
This is the earliest of this San Diego title to be found, being the volume one, number one issue. This title only existed through 1877.
Page 2 begins with the "Salutatory" in which the published... Read full description -
Item #699039DESERET EVENING NEWS, Salt Lake City, (Utah Territory), June 10, 1882
* Mormons - Mormonism
* Wilford Woodruff sermon
The front page has 4 1/2 columns dedicated to: "Discourse by Apostle Wilford Woodruff Delivered In The Tabernacle, May 14th, 1882". The topics include:... Read full description -
Item #699022PRESCOTT MORNING COURIER, Arizona (Territory), July 9, 1887
* Very rare publication
* Wild Old West
From 25 years before Arizona would become a state. Articles include: "The Opium Habit" "Lynching in Oregon" "Two Men Killed by Caving Earth" and more.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed, new agent's stamp in the... Read full description -
Item #699018WHITE PINE CONE, White Pine, Gunnison County, Colorado, Dec. 11, 1885
* Very rare old West publication
* Ghost town - silver mining
An interesting newspaper from a fascinating town which went through two boom & bust periods.
White Pine began in 1880 as a fledgling mining camp just west of the Continental Divide, boomed in the... Read full description -
Item #699005PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, March 20, 1875
* Tiburcio Vasquez execution death (1st report)
* Los Angeles, California outlaw bandit
At the bottom of the front page is: Executions", an inconspicuous report headed: "Last of Vasquez--The Bandit Hanged At San Jose". The report, which describes the execution of the infamous bandit... Read full description -
Item #698836ARIZONA CITIZEN, Tucson, Arizona Territory, May 22, 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 - The Chiricahua Reservation" "Gov. Safford's Recent Trip - A Flying Trip Through the Territory by... Read full description -
Item #698773ARIZONA DAILY GAZETTE, Phoenix, May 2, 1893
* Rare old West title
* Maricopa County
This issue is from the Arizona Territory, 19 years before it joined the Union. Varied news reports both local & national with a nice wealth of ads as well, many of which are illustrated.
The front page has: "Killed His Mother--The Act of a... Read full description -
Item #698731LIBERAL SENTINEL, Middletown, New York, July 23, 1881
* Outlaw Jesse James-Younger gang
* Rock Island railroad train robbery
Page 2 has a report noting: "A gang of outlaws, supposed to be the James gang, on Friday night captured a train on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific road...robbed the conductor & a passenger..." and... Read full description -
Item #698609CRYSTAL RIVER CURRENT, Crystal, Colorado, Nov. 10, 1888
* Very rare old West ghost town publication
* Abandoned silver mining camp town
A rare newspaper from a bonafide ghost town.
Crystal was a mining camp established in 1881 & after several decades of robust existence, was all but abandoned by1917. Many buildings still... Read full description -
Item #698596THE ALASKAN, Sitka, Alaska Territory, June 4, 1887
* Very rare Alaska Territorial issue
Rarely are newspapers from Alaska found from before the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897 when interest grew dramatically. This newspaper pre-dates the gold rush by ten years.
The format of the newspaper is much like other newspapers of the day,... Read full description -
Item #698592TRUCKEE REPUBLICAN, California, Oct. 27, 1877
* Wild Old West era
* Rare publication
From this town at the "elbow" of California near the Nevada border at an elevation of 5800 ft. Historically well known for the Donner Party tragedy which happened nearby in 1846.
Four pages, nice condition. -
Item #698570THE OREGON STATESMAN, Salem, March 5, 1866
* Rare old Northwest publication
* Post Civil War reconstruction era
This 4 page newspaper has news of the day with several interesting advertisements.
With newspapers west of the Mississippi being uncommon before 1900, here is an opportunity for an issue from the Old West when cowboys, Indians, saloons,... Read full description -
Item #698545ARIZONA CITIZEN, Tucson, Arizona Territory, June 5, 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" "Mining Summary" Ostrich Mine" "Territorial Prison" "Our First Law... Read full description -
Item #698533SAN JUAN COUNTY INDEX, Aztec, New Mexico, July 30 1909
* Very rare publication
Actually a territorial newspaper as New Mexico did not become a state until 1912. Although we've offered many other 19th century newspapers from New Mexico, this is just the second issue of this title and from this town in our 48 years.
Aztec is... Read full description -
Item #698446HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, September 7, 1878 The full front page is a print of: "The New York Elevated Railroad - View in Franklin Square."
Inside prints include a half page: "A Skirmish with an Unwelcome Intruder"; half page: "Locusts in South India - Driving Them From the Fields"; full page: "The Highlands of... Read full description -
Item #698426THE NORWALK EXPERIMENT, Huron County, Ohio, March 22, 1859
* Pike's Peak Gold Mining as an advertising hook
* Who should go to Pike's Peak
* Easier for negros in Massachusetts than foreigners (?)
The back page has a bold ad which appears to be seeking workers for the Pike Peak Gold Mines, but upon further inspection, the ad... Read full description -
Item #698355THE MOUNTAIN MESSENGER, Downieville, California, Dec. 21, 1878
* Rare Old West title
* Gold mining town
* Sierra County
Downieville is a very small town at 3,000 ft. elevation in Northwestern California. It was founded in late 1849 during the California gold rush & was first known as "The Forks" for its... Read full description -
Item #698352WHITE PINE CONE, White Pine, Gunnison County, Colorado, Sept. 11, 1885
* Very rare Old West publication
* Ghost town - silver mining
An interesting newspaper from a fascinating town which went through two boom & bust periods.
White Pine began in 1880 as a fledgling mining camp just west of the Continental Divide, boomed in the... Read full description -
Item #698345TRUCKEE REPUBLICAN, California, March 24, 1875
* Wild Old West
* Uncommon publication
From this town at the "elbow" of California near the Nevada border at an elevation of 5800 ft. Historically well known for the Donner Party tragedy which happened nearby in 1846.
Four pages, some ink stains, never bound nor trimmed, minor... Read full description -
Item #698195THE PIONEER, San Jose, California, June 14, 1879
* Rare Old West publication
* Santa Clara Valley
* Nice masthead for display
The masthead notes: "Devoted To The Interests Of The Pioneers of California And the Resources of the Golden State." The masthead is one of the more graphic we have seen, featuring three vignettes: one... Read full description -
Item #698139SAN FRANCISCO HERALD, California, Oct. 6, 1856 A very rare & early newspaper from California as this is the "San Francisco Herald For The Steamer" as noted at the top of pages 2-8, more commonly known as the "steamer edition". Such editions are much more rare than the "regular"... Read full description
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Item #698079THE DESERET NEWS, Salt Lake City, Utah, Sept. 21, 1881
* James A. Garfield death
* Rare Mormons publication
From 15 years before Utah statehood. Page 8 has all columns black-bordered due to the: "Death Of President Garfield", being an early report without many details. The front page has: "Willful Murder"... Read full description -
Item #698046DAILY ARIZONA CITIZEN, Tucson, Pima County, Sept. 15, 1879
* Very rare Old West publication
Many years ago we had a reasonable inventory of this title, but today this issue is among our last. And it is a volume one issue in nice condition.
A nice assortment of news articles and ads. The front page is mostly taken up with ads although it does have a... Read full description -
Item #697953DAILY ALTA CALIFORNIA, San Francisco, July 18, 1868 A wide variety of news reports both local and regional and a huge quantity of ads as well.
Among the articles: "A Man With Eight Wives Who Does Not Live in Utah" "Lynch Law in Minnesota--Letter From Gov. Marshall" "Letter From Lake Tahoe" & more.
Four pages, a very large... Read full description -
Item #697875ARIZONA CITIZEN, Tucson, Arizona Territory, Feb. 27, 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 including: "Loss By Indians--Claims for Depredations by Indians..." "Local Mining Affairs" "Pueblo Viejo Valley" "Texas and... Read full description -
Item #697764GRASS VALLEY REPUBLICAN, Nevada County, California, Nov. 9, 1871
* First issue of a very rare old West publication
This is the volume 1, number 1 issue. The very first published.
Grass Valley, which was originally known as Boston Ravine and later named Centerville, dates from the California Gold Rush. Gold was... Read full description -
Item #697718THE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS, Nebraska, March 13, 1883 We seldom encounter Nebraska newspapers from during the Wild West era, but here is one. Lincoln is the capital of Nebraska and this issue is dated from just 16 years after statehood.
Gregory's 'Union List of American Newspapers' notes that the only institution holding any issues... Read full description -
Item #697337DAILY ALTA CALIFORNIA, San Francisco, July 27, 1868 A wide variety of news reports both local and regional and a huge quantity of ads as well. Page 2 has an article: "California Wine--How to Make a Market" which obviously worked out well.
Four pages, a very large size newspaper, never bound nor trimmed, some wear at fold... Read full description -
Item #697108THE EDGEWOOD SUN, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Jan. 15 1892 I wouldn't use the term "cute" to describe many newspapers but I think it fits here.
Six pages & measuring just 5 1/2 by 7 1/2 inches, it has advertisements, promotional & news tidbits, and various witticisms. A volume one issue of a little paper that... Read full description -
Item #697094SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Oct. 24, 1871 Very early from San Diego--a volume 2 issue--when the population was just 2300, with a nice engraving of the harbor in the masthead.
All pages have various news tidbits of the day, including local, regional, and national reports. A great wealth of advertisements as well, several of... Read full description -
Item #696863THE PIONEER, San Jose, California, May 31, 1879
* Rare Old West publication
* Santa Clara Valley
* Nice masthead for display
The masthead notes: "Devoted To The Interests Of The Pioneers of California And the Resources of the Golden State." The masthead is one of the more graphic we have seen, featuring... Read full description -
Item #696770NEW YORK DAILY TIMES, June 2, 1854 Page 3 provides an exchange of letters between Rev. Dr. J. W. C. Pennington, Jacob Grove, and Stephen Pennington. The content relates to the purchase of a slave and is quite interesting.
Other reports include: "Southern Views on Foreign Emigration", "Alexander Hamilton on... Read full description -
Item #696652ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Missouri, June 7, 1882 Keeping in mind that Jesse James was killed in nearby St. Joseph just 2 months previous, page 4 has an article: "The James Lecture". The article talks of the ethics of making a living by speaking about Jesse James, and including members of James' family as part... Read full description
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Item #696647NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 29, 1849
* John C. Fremont
* Fatal 4th expedition
The top of the front page has a nicer account headed: "Col. Fremont--A Distressing Report" which is concerning his fateful fourth expedition in the West during which his party was caught in a snowstorm in Colorado causing... Read full description -
Item #696645DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Aug. 10, 1849
* California Gold Rush
* 49ers - mining - miners
Page 3 has a variety of reports under: "From California" which has the latest reports concerning the Gold Rush, a few bits noting: "...Gold is plenty, large quantities being brought every day from the placers...The... Read full description -
Item #696633THE BETHLEHEM TIMES, Pennsylvania, Aug. 31, 1900 The top of page 3 has column heads: "BANDITS GOT $100,000" "Thrilling Hold Up of Union Pacific Express Train" "Money Belonged to Uncle Sam" "it Was En Route for Manila to Pay American Soldiers--Famous Outlaw Band... Read full description
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Item #696616THE MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL, Tennessee, Aug. 19, 1880 Among the front page articles are: "Crime & Criminals" "Oklahoma - Arrival of Captain L. D. Payne at Fort Smith Under Rest" "After the Apaches" "Hostile Sioux Surrendered" and much more.
Four pages, large folio size, good condition. The folder size noted is... Read full description -
Item #696445SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Oct. 22, 1871
* Rare & early from Southern California
Very early from San Diego--a volume 2 issue--when the population was just 2300, with a nice engraving of the harbor in the masthead. All four pages have various news tidbits of the day, including local, regional, and national reports. A... Read full description -
Item #695899TUCUMCARI SUN, New Mexico. Aug. 23, 1912
* Rare Southwest publication
A quite uncommon title from this small New Mexico town in Eastern New Mexico, great to have from the year New Mexico became a state.
The front page has a photo of the county court house and jail.
Tucumcari, located on the old Route 66, has an interesting history and has... Read full description -
Item #695602SCOTT VALLEY NEWS, Fort Jones, California, April 30, 1892
* Rare old West publication
* Siskiyou County
This small town has a population of just 839 and is located at the very top of California. It was once a military outpost--hence the name--protecting the various mining communities in the vicinity. It appears to be just the... Read full description -
Item #695598DAILY EVENING POST, San Francisco, California, Aug. 31, 1878
* Old West publication
A typical newspaper of the day from this famous city.
Complete in 8 pages, never bound nor trimmed so it folds out to one large sheet. The folder size noted is for the issue folded in half. Nice condition.






















































