Historic Newspapers: Search Results
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, May 15, 1781
* Rare American Revolutionary War publication
The front page has a brief item: "The American spy, mentioned a few days since, is taken at Harwich and will be examined before the Privy-Council. Many papers were found upon his person, touching a treasonable correspondence."
The front page also has some items from the war including the mention of the British capturing a ship off the capes of Virginia, plus quantities…
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, Nov. 13, 1781
* Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown
* American Revolutionary War ending
A terrific issue as not only does it contain a fine account of the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, but it consumes the entire front page, carries over to take most of page 2, with additional information on page 3 as well.
The front page begins with a letter from Col. Tilghman, Aid de Camp to General Washington, datelined: "Head Quarters,…
THE ROYAL AMERICAN GAZETTE, New York, February 23, 1779
* American Revolutionary War
* Extremely rare publication
* Loyalist - support to the British cause
This is an exceedingly rare title, in fact the very first we have offered. It was published by Alexander and James Robertson, beginning in January, 1777 and existed until some tim in 1783.
Brigham's "History & Bibliography of American Newspapers" notes that just two institutions have this date.
The rarity of the title exceeds…
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., May 19, 1853 Page 2 has almost an entire column taken up with a very notable article headed: "Edgar A. Poe, by Henry Clay Preuss".
As a bit of background, the following from eapoe.org is very helpful:
* Early Abraham Lincoln
* Speech re. Mexican War
The back page has an uncommonly lengthy report on Lincoln speaking in the House of Representatives questioning President Polk's judgement on entering and prosecuting the Mexican War.
This Lincoln report takes fully 2 1/2 columns. Portions include: "...Mr. LINCOLN, of Ill. said that without wasting the time of the committee with any preliminary remarks, he would proceed
THE OXFORD GAZETTE, England, Dec. 7, 1665
* Earliest & Rarest of newspapers to be had
* Great Plague of London - epidemic deaths
This is an extremely famous--and rare--title, being the predecessor of the famous "London Gazette", the oldest continually published English language newspaper in the world. Plus this is the #7 issue.
Because of the Plague and an attempt to avoid the contagion, the Royal Court removed itself from London to Oxford when this newspaper began, so issues #1 thru…
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT, Hartford, October 7, 1783
* Newburgh Conspiracy plan
* General George Washington
* Revolutionary War ending events
Both the front page and page 2 have nice, lengthy letters concerning the Newburgh Conspiracy of that time.
THE COLUMBIAN MAGAZINE, Philadelphia, September, 1787
* Philadelphia printing of the Constitution of the United States
This title, along with the "American Museum", has the honor of being the first magazine to print the Constitution of the United States. Both publications were from Philadelphia, the city where the Constitution was created.
Comments from the Library Company of Philadelphia note that it cannot be definitively determined which of these two publications was the first to…
THE ALASKA HERALD, Sitka, Sept. 26, 1892
* Very rare Alaska Territorial issue
A quite rare newspaper from Alaska which existed for just over two years, from June 27, 1892 thru Sept. 23, 1894. This is the volume 1, number 14 issue.
This is the first of this title we have encountered in our 47+ years.
Four pages, 11 by 16 inches, printed on high-quality newsprint, pages 2 & 3 have several older tape mends causing no loss of readability, some wear at folds and margins, generally in good…
THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER OR THE PHILADELPHIA MARKET-DAY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, January 3, 1778
* Revolutionary War Tory original
* Rare Pro British issue from America
This was a Tory newspaper published in Philadelphia when the British occupied the city. It began in 1775 and ended when the British evacuated the city in May of 1778. Not surprisingly, the masthead features an engraving of the Royal coat-of-arms.
Page 2 has a very detailed letter concerning a naval battle between…
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, April 3, 1781
* General Henry Clinton
* Peace with Americans ?
* Revolutionary War
Pages 1 and 2 contain an excellent response to the controversial "Declaration" of General Clinton in which he offers a proposal for peace to the Americans. A few bits include: "The first thing which is offered is a pardon to all the inhabitants of these States who have been so hardy as to oppose a degradation from the rank of freemen to that of…
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL & GENERAL ADVERTISER, Providence, Rhode Island, Sept. 2, 1779
* Battle of Stono Ferry, Charleston, South Carolina
* Battle of Chemung - New York - John Sullivan
A truly rare title from the Revolutionary War, as it lasted for less than 1 1/2 years from March, 1779 to August, 1781.
Nearly one-third of page 2 is a letter from an officer in the British army from Port Royal with his account of the Battle at Stono Ferry, a failed attempt by the Americans, under General…
THE CONTINENTAL JOURNAL & WEEKLY ADVERTISER, Boston, Sept. 4, 1777
* Siege of Fort Stanwix - Schuyler
* American Revolutionary War
Page 3 has Revolutionary War content including an item reading: "We hear Sir William Howe has requested his Majesty, for very essential reasons, to allow him to exchange General Lee for some British officers; but that such a measure has been strongly opposed by some persons in high office."
A report from Fishkill tells some of the movements of Gen. St.…
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL & GENERAL ADVERTISER, Providence, Rhode Island, Sept. 9, 1779
* Very rare American Revolutionary War publication
* Lengthy letter from Benjamin Franklin
A truly rare title from the Revolutionary War, as it lasted for less than 1 1/2 years from March, 1779 to August, 1781.
The entire front page and a bit of the back page are taken up with a very lengthy: "Address To the Inhabitants of Ireland", signed in type at its conclusion: B. Franklin. Versailles, October 4,…
INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Boston, July 9 and 13, 1795
* John - Jay's Treaty
* George Washington
A very significant pair of issues as they contain, in its entirety, the full text of the Jay Treaty, one of the more significant 18th century documents in American history.
Taking all of the front page and a bit of page 2 in the July 9,
concluding in the issue of the 13th taking all of the front page and a bit of pg. 2 where it is signed in type by Grenville and John…
Dutch newsletter/pamphlet from Amsterdam, August, 1632
* Very rare 17th century publication
* Siege - capture of Maastricht
* Dutch journalist & printer Broer Jansz
A very rare news pamphlet by the famed early Broer Jansz, one of the most prolific newsmen of the 17th century. Included with this item is an extensive biography of him and his work.
Included also is a translation of this 4 page pamphlet, headed: "Triumphante Tijdinghe" [Triumphant News] with the translation continuing:…
THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE, Boston, March, 1791
* First Bank of the United States creation
The issue begins with textual: "Sketches of the President Of the United States" which is nearly a 4 1/2 page biography of George Washington (the plate called for is lacking). Also inside is the conclusion of: "Description of Cape Cod & the County of Barnstable" which takes 2 1/2 pages; "The Remarkable Duel" "Female Patriotism & Fortitude" "The Origin of Tobacco, by the late Dr. Benjamin Franklin" &…
COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Dec. 19, 1795
* President George Washington
* State of the Union Address
Over half of the front page is taken up with the "President's Address" being George Washington's annual state-of-the-union address for the year 1795, a tradition he started in his first administration and which continues to this day.
The "Speech" as it is headed, is prefaced with: "This day, precisely at 12 o'clock, The President of the United States met both Houses of Congress in the…
THE OXFORD GAZETTE, London, January 18, 1665 (1666 by today's calendar)
* One of the earliest & rarest of newspapers to be had
This is an extremely famous--and rare--title, being the predecessor of the famous "London Gazette", the oldest continually published English language newspaper in the world.
Because of the Plague at this time, the Royal Court had removed itself from London to Oxford when this newspaper began, so issues #1 thru #23 were published in Oxford (actually published…
THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER OR THE WEEKLY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, Jan. 28, 1778
* Revolutionary War Tory original
* Rare Pro British issue from America
This was a Tory newspaper published in Philadelphia when the British occupied the city. It began in 1775 and ended when the British evacuated the city in May of 1778. Not surprisingly, the masthead features an engraving of the Royal coat-of-arms.
Only to be found in a Loyalist newspaper, the entire front page is taken up with text and…
SOUTHERN ILLUSTRATED NEWS, Richmond, June 7, 1863
* General Lawrence O'Bryan Branch
* Very rare Confederate publication
A very rare publication from the Confederacy which seldom comes to the collector market. Although much of the content was literary in nature, there are news reports and a few illustrations.
The front page is entirely taken up with a nice illustration of: "General Lawrence O'Brien Branch" beneath which is noted: "Killed at the Battle of Sharpsburg", with a biography…
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL & GENERAL ADVERTISER, Providence, Rhode Island, Aug. 26, 1779
* Very rare American Revolutionary War publication
A truly rare title from the Revolutionary War, as it lasted for less than 1 1/2 years from March, 1779 to August, 1781.
Page 3 has a: "...letter from an officer of distinction to the honorable Major-General Gates..." which begins: "I am happy to have the pleasure to again congratulate you on the success of our arms. His Excellency having formed a plan…
ALBANY ARMY LETTER, New York, April 10-25, 1863
* Extremely rare publication
* American Civil War era
This was the volume 1 number 1 issue of an exceedingly rare title which lasted for just 3 issues, the others dated May 15 and May 28.
Content includes various local news, information on the progress of war, engagements of various regiments, a report of the presentation of battle flags at the Capitol, etc.
Complete in four pages, 7 1/2 by 10 3/4 inches, very nice condition.
THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, Nov. 27, 1781
* Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown
* Revolutionary War ending
* Historic item - 1st report
This is one of the more noteworthy issues of the Chronicle for the entire Revolutionary War, as it is the first issue in this title to announce the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, essentially ending the Revolutionary War.
Although the formal letter from Cornwallis announcing the surrender would appear in the next issue, that issue dated…
SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER--EXTRA, May 7, 1937
* Hindenburg airship disaster
* Lakehurst NJ New Jersey
* Great headline for display
One of the very best, dramatic banner headlines we have offered on this historic catastrophe: "DIRIGIBLE HINDENBURG EXPLODES, 90 KILLED". A large front page photo shows the Hindenburg over the New York skyline, headed: "Giant Airliner That Fell in Flames", with the subhead noting: Airship Falls At Lakehurst".
This is one of the more displayable issues on…
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 25, 1863
* Battle of Gettysburg conflict scenes
* General Ulysses S. Grant vs. Robert E. Lee
The full front page is a nice portrait of: "Major-General Ulysses S. Grant ("Unconditional Surrender" Grant)". Inside has a full page: "The Siege of Vicksburg--View Upon the Extreme Right, Showing the Mississippi River Above and Below Vicksburg"; a full page with 4 prints: "The Siege of Vicksburg--Blowing Up the Rebel Fort Hill", "The City of Vicksburg Before the…
* Coronation of King James II and Queen Mary
* Best publication to be had - very rare as such
This is one of the more desirable & historic events of the period, with the entire front page & some of the back page taken up with the coronation of King James II and Queen Mary. The report is datelined April 23 and has a one paragraph preface reading: "This day being the Festival of St. George, the Coronation of their sacred Majesties
THE HOUSTON TRI-WEEKLY TELEGRAPH, Nov. 9, 1864
* Very rare issue from the Southwest Confederacy
Newspapers from Texas are very uncommon, particularly from before or during the Civil War period. Here is an issue from the midst of the war, one of the earliest war-dated issues we have offered in recent years.
The front page has over 2 columns taken up with a terrific speech given by Jefferson Davis headed: "The President's Speech at Augusta" and addressed to the: "Ladies and gentlemen,…
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, April 9, 1782
* American Revolutionary War
* America sympathizers jailed
* Independence ?
Page 2 includes: "The enemy in New York are busy in prosecuting their canal...They are also erecting a line of works on Long Island...His Excellency GENERAL WASHINGTON and his Lady arrived last Monday at Head Quarters, New-Burg, in good health."
Page 3 has a report of a London printer going to jail for his criticism of the war in…
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, July 17, 1781
* American Revolutionary War
* Ship prisoners exchanged
* Southern colonies evacuation (British)
The front page has several letters from British Lt. Col. Balfour, most dealing with discussion for an exchange of prisoners with General Greene.
This discussion carries over to page 2 where is found a letter datelined: "Torbay prison ship, Charlestown harbour, May 19, 1781" concerning men on the prison ship. Then yet…
THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH, Tombstone, Arizona, Cochise County, January 6, 1882
* Best Old West title to be had
* Post 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 several movies concerning the gunfight at the O.K. Corral have kept this town in popular culture.
This issue was published less than three months after the…
* General Ulysses S. Grant
* General Order No. 11 - Jews
Page 5 has a very significant Judaica item headed: "Letter From General Grant on the Hebrew Question."
This relates to Ulysses S. Grant's General Order #11 from during the Civil War, known as the infamous "Jew Order". A website has further details on Grant's controversial order which is considered to be the most anti-Semitic official act in American history.
As Wikiipedia notes,
THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, Boston, Feb. 7, 1935
* Very 1st use of the term "Ivy League"
* Collegiate athletic conference
* Harvard, Yale, Brown, Princeton, etc.
* One of a kind item here ?
Page 6 contains a rather mundane, one-column article headed: "Brown Seems to Have Been Taken Into 'Ivy League' " but it is significant for being the very first use of the term "Ivy League" to appear anywhere.
Wikipedia notes in part: "The first known instance of the term Ivy League being used…
THE VILLAGE VOICE, New York A six issue set of issues containing the entire series of six articles on the life & career of Bob Dylan. The dates are March 20, 27, April 3, 10, 17 and 24, 1969.
All are authored by Toby Thompson when he traveled to Dylan's hometown of Hibbing, Minnesota. Each of the articles have a subtitle: "A Good Family Boy" "Join the Elvis Rebellion" "Electric Bob Dylan Plugs In" "Bob Dylan's Ice-skates?" "Bob Dylan and the 'Girl From the North Country' " and: "For Old…
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, a trio of issues for May 16, July 17 and 18, 1941
* Joe DiMaggio's famous hitting streak
* It begins - breaks record - and ending
* New York Yankees - MLB baseball
* 3 issue lot from his hometown publication
The sports page of May 16 has a report on the game with the Chicago White Sox, noting a 13-1 defeat, but also including the box score which shows Joe DiMaggio had a hit. Also a neat subhead noting: "Joe Singles", likely because Joe is from San Francisco.
…
DAILY RICHMOND EXAMINER, Virginia, July 11, 1863
* Battle of Gettysburg
* Rebel account
The front page includes: "Charleston" "Yankee Agents In England" "The Courts" "City Intelligence" "Prisoners" "Sale of Negroes in Georgia" with a list of names, ages and prices--fascinating; "Another Attack On Charleston" "Our Army in the North" and other items.
But the prime content on the front page would be two reports, one headed: "From General Lee's Army" which has reports on his army's…
THE 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, being four pages of small folio size (measures 13 by 20 in.).
The front page has an interesting article about the Eskimos, titled: "From Kodiak" which begins:…
CHICAGO EVENING POST--EXTRA, Oct. 10, 1871
* Great Chicago fire disaster
* From the same city (very rare)
This is perhaps the very best Chicago Fire issue we have offered. Not only is it from Chicago, but it is a day earlier than any other report we have offered from Chicago.
Most of the first column is taken up with heads including; "CHICAGO IN FLAMES" "An All-Night Carnival of the Fire Fiend!" "The Most Extensive & Devastating Conflagration of the 19th Century!" "A Fire Originates…
THE POLYNESIAN, Honolulu, (Hawaii), Feb. 5, 1859
* Very rare 19th century Hawaiian publication
A quite rare newspaper from such an early date, in fact outside of "The Friend" which was more of a missionary newspaper, this is the second oldest Hawaii newspaper we have offered.
It is formatted much like other newspapers of the day with the front page containing both ads & news items, page 2 containing mostly news, and pages 3 & 4 a combination of both, but mostly ads.
Four pages, never…
THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, March 26, 1782
* Reaction to Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown
* American Revolutionary War ending
Page 2 has some nice reporting on the military events further to the west, from a letter from Kentucky dated Dec. 6. It reports on the work of General Clarke near Fort Pitt, Colonel Loughrie, and some events near Detroit. An item mentions: "...that the enemy had evacuated John's Island about six miles from Charlestown & still…
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, August 22, 1874 Certainly the most notable print in this issue is the very nice full page by Winslow Homer titled: "Waiting for a Bite." It is in great condition.
Other prints in this issue are a full ftpg. illus. "The Little Vagrant." Inside is a 1/2 pg. map of "The Gold Regions of the Black Hills, Explored by General Custer's Expedition."; a halfpg. of "Hunting Grounds of the King of Italy."; a halfpg. of: "A Paris Sketch - Scene in the champs Elysees."; a full…
THE LONDON GAZETTE, England, September 17, 1666
* Among the earliest of newspapers to be had
* The Great London Fire disaster
* Charles II of England creates safety codes
Certainly one of the more notable events in London history was the Great Fire which began on September 2. Very shortly thereafter, in an effort to rebuild London in a safe manner, the King issued various directives as to how the city would be rebuilt.
This text takes nearly half of the back page with a few portions…
VILLAGE VOICE, Greenwich Village, New York City, July 3, 1969
* Stonewall riots - uprising - rebellion
* LGBT - gay community protests
* Birth of the gay pride civil rights movement
* The best issue to be had (very rare)
The Stonewall Riots, also called the Stonewall Uprising, began in the early hours of June 28, 1969 when New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club located in Greenwich Village in New York City.
The raid sparked a riot among bar patrons and…
GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, January, 1778
* Rare Revolutionary War New York map
* Benjamin Franklin letter - Ethan Allen
Of great significance is the very nice foldout map headed: "Map of Hudson's River with the Adjacent Country", which shows from Crown Point & Ticonderoga, south to Philadelphia, & also from Long Island to Lake Ontario with considerable detail.
This map measures 9 1/4 by 12 1/2 inches, nice condition. A small bit was cut from lower left margin so it could be folded…
New Orleans slave sale document: A part-printed, part-handwritten document headed "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. State of Louisiana" for the sale of a slave.
The full text can be seen in the photos, however portions include: "...he does...grant, bargain sell, assign, convey, transfer and deliver...Unto Sean Nontanee...of this city...purchasing for himself, his heir and assigns, a negro woman named Mathilde, aged about twenty-five years, slave for life and the lawful property of the said Mrs.…
THE PROVIDENCE GAZETTE & COUNTRY JOURNAL, Rhode Island, Oct. 31, 1778
* British last attempt - peace with America
The entire front page and a portion of page 2 are taken up with an historic document headed: "MANIFESTO and PROCLAMATION" by General Henry Clinton.
Once France entered the war on the side of the colonists, Lord North became alarmed & sent commissioners to America with a peace offer, renouncing the right of taxing Americans. But Congress rejected this offer since, with the…
THE NATIONAL GUARD, Camp Pennsylvania, Baltimore, June 26, 1861
* Very rare Union Civil War camp publication
* 19th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment
A very rare "camp" newspaper from the early months of the Civil War. Although it began in July, 1856 printed at Camp McLellan, Lancaster, Pa., it was resurrected in early 1861 at its new location, hence the "vol. 2 no. 1" noted in the masthead, just the third issue at the new location.
Typical of camp newspapers it is of small size as they…
THE FREE SOUTH, Beaufort, South Carolina, Jan. 10, 1863
* Rare Union occupation publication
On November 7, 1861, the Union Navy seized control of Port Royal Harbor in South Carolina, securing a beachhead for a new kind of journalism--the occupation newspaper. Whereas many of the homegrown South Carolina newspapers defended secession and championed the military victories of the Confederate States Army, the Republican newspapers that sprang up in Beaufort County aimed to bolster the…
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 1, 1881
* Best of all Thomas Nast illustrations - prints
* Christmas - Santa Claus - Kris Kringle - Saint Nick
The full front page is a Thomas Nast illustration: "The Dear Little Boy That Thought Christmas Came Oftener." This print is somewhat compromised by the browning and mild margin wear, including the darker strip at the left side.
But certainly the most notable print is the terrific doublepage centerfold by Thomas Nast: "MERRY OLD SANTA…
THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, June 22, 1773
* Phillis Wheatley's London arrival
* Famous Woman servant turned poet
Certainly the most notable report is found on the back page, which contains: "Last Thursday the celebrated negro girl Phillis, the Poet, whose extraordinary talents have lately been taken notice of in the News Papers, arrived in London from Boston in New England. She had a letter of recommendation from a merchant at Boston to a bookseller in London, and is shortly to be…
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