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 670 Results
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Item #724847NEW YORK TIMES, Rotogravure section only, April 7, 1935 This rotogravure section has a front page pictorial regarding the newly acquired air force in Germany, with 4 photos of Hitler and 2 of Goering.
The complete ten page rotogravure section only, light toning, minor irregularity at the spine, good condition. -
Item #724605ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Nov. 7, 1879 The top of pg. 2 has column heads: "RIDDLED BY RANGERS" "A Pitched Battle in Which Two Robbers Were Killed" "The Aged Mother of the James Boys Interviews". The interview with Jesse James' mother takes almost a full column.
Eight pages, slightly irregular at the spine, very nice condition. -
Item #724601THE SUN, New York, Dec. 21, 1879 Page 7 contains a wonderful, lengthy, and very detailed article with several column heads: "THE JAMES BOYS OF TEXAS" "A Visit to the Home of the Elder Of the Terrible Brothers" "The Visitor's Grim Reception at the Pistol's Mouth--'Hold Up Your... Read full description -
Item #722563THE MONTEREY DEMOCRAT, Salinas City, Monterey County, California, Oct. 2, 1880
* Rare publication
* Old Wild West
An early title from the county seat of Monterey County, just south of San Francisco. Very typical of newspapers from the era with a nice mix of news of the day and advertisements, some illustrated.
Gregory's... Read full description -
Item #720274BIKUBEN, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2, 1907
* Danish language publication
* Church of Latter-Day Saints
* Mormons - Mormonism - LDS
Here is a quite unusual and scarce newspaper from Utah, printed entirely in the Danish language.
There was a large number of Scandinavian emigrants that settled Utah in the last half of the... Read full description -
Item #719766NEW YORK HERALD, July 23, 1873
* Jesse James-Younger Gang
* Rock Island Pacific Railroad
* First train robbery in American West
The top of page 7 has column heads on the first train robbery by Jesse James and the James Gang, although the men were not identified at the time of this report.
They include: "A DREADFUL CRIME"... Read full description -
Item #719062ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, Nov. 15, 1851 Pages 3 and 4 contain an article on a famous case involving the San Francisco Committee of Vigilance, headed: "Californian Lynchings". Included as well is a print captioned: "Lynching In San Francisco".
In 1851, San Francisco was a city in... Read full description -
Item #718081NEW YORK TIMES, Jan. 17, 1874
* Arkansas stagecoach robbery - holdup
* Jesse James & Younger gang ? - outlaws
The front page includes: "Stage Robbery by Masked Highwaymen" being a brief report from Little Rock, Arkansas. Through research, this particular robbery may have been one of the very first stagecoach holdups by... Read full description -
Item #717660LAS VEGAS DAILY OPTIC, New Mexico (Territory), Feb. 19, 1898
* Very early for this state
An uncommon territorial newspaper from 14 years before statehood
Four pages, large folio size, edge tears & some edge chipping, very fragile & must be handled very carefully.
Background:The city is known for its rich history, with over 900... Read full description -
Item #716892THE PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE, Philadelphia, February, 1775
* Pre American Revolutionary War
* Thomas Paine - first time as editor
This is a very rare magazine, published only from January, 1775 thru July, 1776, containing the Declaration of Independence in its final issue.
It was the only American magazine to print the... Read full description -
Item #716228VELASCO DAILY TIMES, Texas, Feb. 28, 1892 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 Brazos River four miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The town's early history is closely tied with... Read full description -
Item #716209SAN DIEGO BULLETIN, California, Feb. 13, 1872 This is the first issue published of the daily paper, the volume 1, number 1 issue. It was preceded by almost 3 years by the weekly edition. It also was very short-lived, existing only thru July 23, 1872, with the weekly paper ceasing publication at the same time. Given... Read full description -
Item #716195TOMBSTONE PROSPECTOR, Arizona, Nov. 20, 1889 We have had a few other newspapers from the iconic Old West town of Tombstone, but this is is perhaps the most uncommon. The masthead features a great engraving of a miner on a mule.
The front page has nearly 1 1/3 columns taken cup with: "The Wham Trial" " 'Frankie' Campbell Relates Her... Read full description -
Item #716192THE DAILY PEOPLE'S CAUSE, Red Bluff, California, May 27, 1876 An interesting title from Northern California. Quite scarce as well, as we only have 3 issues. The front page has: "The Mormons & New Mexico" "How They Drink Beer in Munich". Much other news & a great wealth of ads.
Four pages, some tears at margins, generally... Read full description -
Item #716160DEADWOOD DAILY PIONEER, Black Hills, (South Dakota) July 23, 1889 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 come to light. It attracted larger-than-life Old West figures including Wyatt... Read full description -
Item #716135THE SAN DIEGO UNION, California, May 4, 1877 Among the front page articles: "Arizona" "Agent Clum Completely Successful in Hunting up the Renegade Apaches--Latest Sonora News". Clum is John Clum who would go on to publish the famous newspaper Tombstone Epitaph. and more.
Also on the front page is a lengthy article:... Read full description -
Item #716134THE SAN DIEGO UNION, California, Oct. 21, 1879 The top of the first column is headed: "The Indian War" "Present Situation of Affairs in Colorado" which has two reports, and this is followed by: "The Apache Outbreak in New Mexico".
Also on the front page are reports from the Tombstone Nugget, including: "The Mormon... Read full description -
Item #715883BLACK HILLS DAILY PIONEER, Deadwood, Black Hills, March 3, 1878
* Rare publication
* Famous wild West town
* "Wild Bill" Hickok fame
This town 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 #715723DAILY ALTA CALIFORNIA, San Francisco, July 5, 1852 This is a very early newspaper from California, just 14 months after statehood was achieved.
Page 1 contains news and ads, with almost the entirety of pages 2, 3 & 4 are taken up with advertisements. This reflects the tremendous growth of Northern California... Read full description -
Item #715704SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Sept. 23, 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.... Read full description -
Item #715703NEW YORK TIMES, June 15, 1874
* Tribal Chief Cochise death (1st report)
* Chiricahua Apaches - Indians
The very bottom of the front page has a very brief and discrete report headed: "Death Of The Indian Chief Cochise" with the text reading simply: "Cochise, the famous Apache chief, died on the 9th of June." (see)
... Read full description -
Item #715513THE LOWER LAKE BULLETIN, Lower Lake, California, March 9, 1889 Not only is this the first of this title we have offered, but it is a rarity in that it is printed on orange "necessity paper". Such paper is non-typical newsprint used when the normal supply of paper is not available, usually due to weather and transportation issues.... Read full description -
Item #715512KERENS ENTERPRISE, Texas, Aug. 29, 1889 An exceedingly rare newspaper, in fact this is the only issue recorded anywhere according to Gregory's "Union List of American Newspapers". It notes that Kerens only had one newspaper through at least 1936, and this was it. It also notes that just one institution had any issues, and it (Bancroft Library)... Read full description -
Item #715511MIDLAND GAZETTE, Texas, Feb. 7, 1890 This is the volume 1, number 35 issue of a title we've never offered previously. Quite rare, as Gregory's "History & Bibliography of American Newspapers" notes only two institutions as having any issues, one of which deaccessioned their holdings. This issue is from that institution (Bancroft... Read full description -
Item #715510THE OVERTON RECORD, Texas, Oct. 31, 1889 Overton only had one newspaper thru 1936 and this was it. It is not known how long this title existed, but Gregory's Union List of American Newspapers notes only one institution having had any issues, and it had just two dates, both of which have been... Read full description -
Item #714454ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCAT, Dec. 5, 1883
* Mormons and polygamy
* President Chester A. Arthur
* Outlaw Frank James trial
Over half of the front page and page of pg. 2 are taken up with: "The President's Message" being the annual state-of-the-union address of Chester A. Arthur. Near the... Read full description -
Item #712889DAILY EVENING HERALD, Stockton, California, Nov. 22, 1870 The city, founded in 1849, is named after Robert F. Stockton and it was the first community in California to have a name not of Spanish or Native American origin. During its early years, Stockton was known by several names including "Tuleburg" "Fat City" and... Read full description -
Item #712876THE DAILY BEE, Sacramento, California, July 13, 1874 This is one of the more successful and long-running newspapers on the West Coast, having begun in 1857 and is still publishing today.
Typical news & ads of the day, many of which are illustrated.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed, great condition. -
Item #712864THE DAILY TIMES, San Bernardino, California, Feb. 27, 1879 An early newspaper from what is now known as the 'Inland Empire' in Southern California. Typical news and ads of the day from when it was still the Wild West.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed, news agent's stamp in the masthead, very small mended hole in the masthead,... Read full description -
Item #712765THE OREGON STATE JOURNAL, Eugene City, July 3, 1875
* Rare Old West publication
Today Eugene is the second largest city in Oregon. A typical newspaper of the day with news, interesting tidbits, and a wealth of advertisements. Page 2 has: "Emigration From Kansas To Oregon" and a long list of: "Oregon Items"
Four pages, never... Read full description -
Item #712750THE DESERET NEWS, Salt Lake City, Utah, Feb. 2, 1870
* Mormons - Mormonism
* Utah polygamy argument
This newspaper was published 26 years before Utah became a state.
Most of the front page is taken up with a report headed: "Indignation Meetings in the Settlements", beginning: "Determined not to be behind their... Read full description -
Item #712749THE DESERET NEWS, Salt Lake City, Utah, Jan. 19, 1870 This newspaper was published 26 years before Utah became a state.
Included is the lengthy: "Governor's Message" reading much like a state-of-the-state address, signed by the acting govrernor, S. A. Mann.
But the most notable contgent is much reporting on the:... Read full description -
Item #712737THE MOUNTAIN MESSENGER, Downieville, California, August. 6, 1881
* 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 #712669SALT LAKE DAILY TRIBUNE & UTAH MINING GAZETTE, March 7, 1872 The first 26 issues of this newspaper were titled "Mormon Tribune", followed by the "Salt Lake Tribune" then the above title from 1871.
Various news items of the day, mostly from the West.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed, irregular at some margins does not affect any text, good... Read full description -
Item #712624ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Missouri, Aug. 20, 1883 The front page has: "Criminal Calendar - Additional Particulars of the Tragedy at Estancia Ranchm NB.M. - Frank James Trial--A Gang of Burglars Broken Up--Free Fight at a Picnic--The Daily Record".
Inside includes: "El Paso's Ways - The Peculiarities of a Now... Read full description -
Item #712360SRPSKO JEDINSTVO, "The First And the Only Slavonian Weekly In Montana", Aug. 25, 1900
* Extremely rare publication
* In Slavic and English Languages
Little is known about this unusual newspaper other than the Library of Congress noting this very issue, volume 3, numb er 16, August 25, 1900. Their information is... Read full description -
Item #712324NEW YORK WEEKLY TRIBUNE, Aug. 21, 1867 The years following the Civil War were years of expansion west, causing the inevitable conflict with the Native American tribes. Such reports were not uncommon in period newspapers. This is one such issue.
The front page has: "The Indian War" with some nice accounts taking... Read full description -
Item #711304THE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS, Nebraska, March 17, 1883
* Home of the Cornhuskers
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... Read full description -
Item #710865THE NAPA REGISTER, Napa City, California, Oct. 15, 1873
* Rare old West publication
* From the 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... Read full description -
Item #710041DAILY ALTA CALIFORNIA, San Francisco, June 1, 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 July. It became the... Read full description -
Item #710033THE PIONEER, San Jose, California, Aug. 2, 1879 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 of settlers traveling, one of a bear, and another of a detailed mining scene.... Read full description -
Item #709985THE RECORD, Moore, Oklahoma, March 6, 1903 This is actually a "territorial" newspaper, as Oklahoma did not become a state until 1907, one of only 3 of the contiguous 48 to join the union in the 20th century (New Mexico & Arizona the other two).
This newspaper apparently only lasted a year, with no institutional holdings outside of Oklahoma.
... Read full description -
Item #709975THE SAN DIEGO UNION, California, Nov. 11, 1879 The front page has two reports which are interesting to read some 140 years later: "The Future of Southern California" which notes near the beginning: "It has been customary in some quarters to underrate the southern counties of California. It has been urged... Read full description -
Item #709883THE DAILY PEOPLE'S CAUSE, Red Bluff, California, March 18, 1876
* Rare old West publication
An interesting title from Northern California. Quite scarce as well, as we only have 3 issues. Various news of the day both local & national, with a wealth of advertisements as well.
Four pages, very nice condition.
background: The March 18, 1876, issue... Read full description -
Item #709872THE SAN DIEGO UNION, California, Sept. 12, 1879
* Early old West publication
* Tombstone, Arizona growing
The front page has: "Arizona Items" which has reports from Tombstone, noting in part: "The Tombstone section is keeping hip ts reputation in cutting & shooting...Thos. Bridge, who was stabbed on August 10th while playing a game of... Read full description -
Item #708769NEW YORK TIMES, Dec. 26, 1865 The front page has some nice heads concerning post-Civil War exploration of the West, including: "THE GREAT WEST" "Matters & Things in California" "Interesting News from the Plains" "A Journey with the Overland Dispatch" "Lively Times with the Hostile Indians" "Affairs Among the Saints in Utah"... Read full description -
Item #708593THE DAILY STATE REGISTER, Carson City, Nevada, Dec. 11, 1872 Situated just east of Lake Tahoe at the western "elbow" of the state, this issue from its heyday during the mining era has various news, ads and notices on the front page, with much news on pages 2 and3.
Carson City is named for the famed mountain man Kit Carson & is... Read full description -
Item #708592THE DAILY STATE REGISTER, Carson City, Nevada, Nov. 8, 1872 Situated just east of Lake Tahoe at the western "elbow" of the state, this issue from its heyday during the mining era has various news, ads and notices on the front page, with much news on pages 2 and3.
Carson City is named for the famed mountain man Kit Carson & is... Read full description -
Item #708591THE DAILY STATE REGISTER, Carson City, Nevada, Nov. 16, 1872
* Wild Old West
* Rare publication
Situated just east of Lake Tahoe at the western "elbow" of the state, this issue from its heyday during the mining era has various news, ads, and notices on the front page, with much news on page 2.
Carson City is named for the famed... Read full description -
Item #707859DAILY DENVER TIMES, Colorado, Sept. 7, 1881
* Rare Old West publication
* Was a Western outpost
The Denver area, part of the Territory of Kansas, was sparsely settled until the late 1850s. In July, 1858, a small placer deposit yielded about 20 troy ounces of gold, the first significant gold discovery in the Rocky Mountain... Read full description
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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
