Historic Newspapers: Search Results

THE CRISIS, Columbus, Ohio, November 21, 1861  This was an anti-war newspaper that insisted that slavery should not be abolished, so much of its content has an anti-North bias.
Page 6 has an article (reprinted from I.M. Wise's 'The Israelite'), which has much related to "The Chaplaincy Controversy of 1861". This was a noteworthy event in Jewish American History as until this time, only Christian clergymen were permitted to serve as U.S. Chaplains.
In 1862, after a lobbying campaign, the law was…

THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET & DAILY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, May 4, 1789  Mot of page 3 is taken up with reports on the: "Proceedings of Congress" with datlines of April 28, then April 29, under the latter are reports on preparations for Washington's inauguration.
These reports include: "The committees of both houses of Congress, appointed to take order for conducting the ceremonial of the formal reception, etc. of the President of the United States, have agreed to the following order thereon,…

DEADWOOD DAILY PIONEER, Black Hills, (South Dakota) June 1, 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 Earp, Calamity Jane, and Wild Bill Hickok (who was killed there). "Union List of Newspapers" notes only two institutions have just scattered 19th century issues of this…

LOS ANGELES TIMES, Aug. 6 1962  The banner head announces: "MARILYN MONROE DIES; PILLS BLAMED" with a subhead: "Unclad Body of Star Found on Bed Near Empty Capsule Bottle". Near the bottom of the ftpg. is: "Sad Child, Unhappy Star - Help She Needed to Find Self Eluded Marilyn All Her Life". Also a front page photo of Marilyn Monroe. Pages 2 & 3 have 13 photos relating to her life & death plus more articles.
Given that her fame was gained in Los Angeles and she died in Los Angeles, this could…

DAILY EVENING TRAVELLER, Boston, April 3, 1865  A terrific issue as the front page features one of the best single-column stack of headlines we've seen for this event, noting both that Petersburg has been evacuated, and--more significantly--a same-day report on the capture of Richmond, the Confederate capital.
As can be seen in the photos the stack of heads includes two patriotic graphics, with type size that is much larger than normal and taking nearly a full column on this larger-size…

Large sheepskin document from England "This Indenture" in ornate lettering at the top with engravings within, dated near the top: "...in the year of or Lord one thousand seven hunbdred and forty-two..." followed by various details. There are five red wax seals next to signatures at the bottom.
This is an unusual two page document with a blue embossed tax stamp in the margin on each.
This document folds out to measure 22 by 29 inches. Several folds, very handsome handwriting, nice condition. A…

GAZETTE, Paris, France, Feb. 2, 1641  (date listed at the bottom of the back page).  This title was the very first regular newspaper published in France, started in 1631 by Théophraste Renaudot but with influential backing by the powerful Cardinal de Richelieu. All the text is in French with the first letter in the title containing embellishments. An ornate letter begins the first paragraph on the front page.
Four pages, 8 3/4 by 6 1/2 inches, in great condition. One of the earliest dated…

THE LONDON GAZETTE, England, Feb. 19, 1684  (1685 by today's calendar)  The front page has a report from Edinburgh mentioning the arrival of: "...the most sorrowful news of the death of our late Gracious Sovereign..." and also on the front page is a document beginning: "For as much as it hath pleased the Almighty God to call CHARLES the Second...from a Temporary Crown to inherit an Eternal in the Heavens..." and mention of the succession of James Seventh (actually James II).
Pages 2, 3 and 4…

THE BATTERY, Washington, Aug. 17 1848  This was a campaign newspaper supporting Zachary Taylor for President and Millard Fillmore for Vice President.
In the era before radio, television, and the internet it was not uncommon for political parties to create short-lived newspapers to support their candidate and publicize their political platform. Such newspapers were short-lived; once the election was over so was the newspaper, however some titles existed for some months afterward.
This is the #7…

GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, Philadelphia, Dec. 9, 1790  Page 3 has an article on the first meeting of Congress on December 6, 1790 at the temporary capital at Philadelphia since it's move from New York City. "...Monday last being the day appointed for the meeting of the National legislature, in this city, now the seat of government of the United States, thirty-one members of the House of Representatives assembled in the hall, in Chestnut Street, which number not being sufficient to…

THE SALEM GAZETTE, Massachusetts, July 24, 1783  The entire front page and most of page 4 are taken up with one of the more noteworthy letters from General Washington during the war.
It is headed: "His Excellency General WASHINGTON'S LETTER to the several States which compose the American Republic - CIRCULAR" datelined at Head Quarters, Newburgh, June 11th, 1783.
This famous letter begins: "The great object for which I had the honour to hold an appointment in the service of my country being…

NEW ORLEANS ITEM--2nd EXTRA, Aug. 14, 1945  Certainly one of the more dramatic issues on the end of World War II to be found, with the entire top half of the front page taken up with "P E A C E !" in huge, bold letters, measuring 8 1/2 inches tall. The subhead reads: "Japs Accept Allied Terms".
Eight pages, very nice condition, and certainly a terrific issue for display.

KA ELELE (The Messenger). Honolulu, Oahu, Sept. 24, 1846. Buke 2 (Vol. 2), Pepa (no.) 12.   This is an exceptionally scarce original Hawaiian-language newspaper published during the constitutional era of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Edited under the direction of Rev. Richard Armstrong, Ka Elele ranks among the earliest and most important newspapers printed for Native Hawaiian readers. Appearing at a time when Hawaii possessed one of the world's highest literacy rates, the newspaper served as a…

THE CONNECTICUT JOURNAL, New Haven, Oct. 18, 1775

* General George Washington
* Named Commander-in-Chief 
* Continental Army - British reaction

The front page begins with a nice item from London concerning George Washington: "General Washington, who was lately appointed Generalissimo over the Provincials, has refused any salary, and is to attend to the hazardous and arduous duty allotted him from principle only. A most noble example & worthy of imitation in Great Britain, particularly at this time…

THE INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE & THE UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Boston, Jan. 25, 1781  

* Two John Hancock signatures
* Richard Langdon signature (President of Harvard) 

A very handsome issue as the masthead features an engraving taken from one done by Paul Revere for colonial currency at the time. It is a very patriotic device showing a soldier with a sword in one hand and a scroll with 'Independence' in the other, with the words 'Appeal To Heaven" above him.
Most of the front page is taken up with a…

THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET OR THE GENERAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, May 2, 1782  

* American Revolutionary War

The front page begins with a lengthy report headed: "Office of Finance" signed by: Robert Morris. 
Page 2 begins with a very fine & detailed letter from Col. Stewart to Earl Cornwallis dated Sept. 9, 1781, being an account of the Battle of Eutaw Springs, South Carolina, as reported in the London Gazette. The first paragraph notes: "...have the honor to inform your Lordship that on the 8th

THE INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE AND THE UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Boston, Dec. 6, 1781  The masthead features an engraving taken from one done by Paul Revere, showing a soldier holding a sword and a document inscribed "Independence" while standing beneath a banner inscribed "Appeal To Heaven" and surrounded by ornate embellishments.

The entire front page & a bit of page 2 are taken up with: "The Revolution of America, by the Abbe Raynal. Distressed State of England in 1768."

Page 3 has various reports…

THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET, Philadelphia, Nov. 20, 1779

* Ethan Allen captivity
* Revolutionary War original

 Most of the front page is taken up with an Act of the Pennsylvania Legislature, prefaced with a paragraph signed in type by the Clerk of the General Assembly, none other than: Thomas Paine.
Page 3 has yet another Act which is prefaced with an intro signed: Thomas Paine. 
All of page 4 is taken up with the continued "Narrative of Colonel Ethan Allen's Treatment during his Captivity." which is…

THE NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE and GENERAL ADVERTISER, Portsmouth, Feb. 23, 1782

* Rare publication during Revolutionary War

 This is certainly one of the less common titles from the Revolutionary War era.
Page 2 has a letter that notes in part: "...the Americans might yet be brought back to a constitutional subordination to this country!...". Also: "The troops destined for the American reinforcement for the campaign of 1782 are not yet finally determined on; but it is agreed on all hands that it is…

TOMBSTONE PROSPECTOR, Arizona, June 4, 1889  

* Very rare wild West publication
* Gunfight at the O.K. Corral fame

We have had a few other newspapers from the iconic Old West town of Tombstone, but this is perhaps the most uncommon. The masthead features a great engraving of a miner on a mule.
The content is much as would be expected from a mining town, including many legal notices concerning mines, etc. A wealth of ads as well.
Four pages, various chipping near the bottom margin of the back leaf,…

THE CONNECTICUT JOURNAL, New Haven, October 11, 1781 

* American Revolutionary War original
* American Issac Hayne's execution - hanging

Most of the front page is taken up with various correspondences from and to C. Fraser, Isaac Hayne, Lord Rawdon & John Collock, with a prefacing note: "The following are authentic copies of sundry papers which  Col. Isaac Hayne, two days before his execution, delivered to a friend with an injunction...".
Col. Isaac Hayne was one of the most prominent Americans to…

NEW YORK TIMES, Oct. 20, 1862  Page 5 contains one of the more moving articles on the horrors of war, brought home to the residents of New York through an exhibition of "Pictures of the Dead at Antietam" in Matthew Brady's Manhattan Gallery.
The article is headed: "'Brady's Photographs" and a website chronicles the exhibition comparing the brutality & reality of war, to the callousness of New York's residents who read the daily papers but did not relate to the horrors they reported.
The article…

THE PENNSYLVANIA JOURNAL & THE WEEKLY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, Oct. 27, 1781  A wonderfully historic issue and nicely presented, as the details of Cornwallis surrendering to Washington at Yorktown, essentially ending the Revolutionary War.
The entire middle column of the front page is Washington's historic letter, dated at "Head-Quarters, near York, 19th October. 1781" and beginning: "Sir, I have the honor to inform Congress, that a reduction of the British army, under the command of Lord…

THE WATCHMAN, Oswego, New York, February, 1850  Almost nothing is known about this title. It is not listed in Gregory's "Union List of American Newspapers", nothing can be found on the internet, and the Am. Antiquarian Society has but this same issue, with no known information as to how long it might have lasted. There is no issue or volume numbering, however we suspect this was the first (and perhaps only) issue as the front page begins be defining their purpose: "Object Of This Sheet" "The…

NEW-YORK TIMES,  March 10, 1862  Front page heads beginning at the top of the first column describe the events of the most famous naval engagement of the Civil War, the battle of the Monitor vs. Merrimac.
They include: "Highly Important News" "Desperate Naval Engagement in Hampton Roads" "Attack Upon our Blockading Vessels by the Rebel Steamers Merrimac, Jamestown and Yorktown" "The Frigate Cumberland Run Into by the Merrimac and Sunk" 'Part of Her Crew Reported to be Drowned" "Surrender Of The…

PANHANDLE INTERSTATE, Lipscomb, Texas, Aug. 30, 1889  A very rare newspaper, as Gregory's "Union List of American Newspapers" believes it existed from 1887 to 1893, however, only one American institution had any holdings. That was the Bancroft Library, which had just two issues, both deaccessioned, one of which is this one. No other institutional holdings are known to exist.
At the 2020 census, it had a population of just 66.
Four pages, very nice condition.

NEWARK DAILY ADVERTISER, New Jersey, April 3, 1865  A very notable issue as page 2 has a late-breaking report received: "By Telegraph this Afternoon" of the fall of Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy.
The column heads note: "VICTORY ! " "Richmond Captured This Morning" "City Reported On Fire" 'Enthusiastic Reception of Our Troops" "Petersburg Evacuated by the Enemy" "Gen. Grant Moving for the Danville Road" "Large Capture of Guns, etc." with the reports taking over half a column.
Note that…