Historic Newspapers: Search Results

THE CONNECTICUT COURANT, Hartford, Aug. 16, 1790

• Funding Act of 1790

Taking two-thirds of the front page and half of page 2 is: "An Act making Provision for the Debt of the United States" which is signed in type by John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington.
This was the very historic Funding Act of 1790 which was passed on August 4, 1790 by the United States Congress to address the issue of funding of the domestic debt incurred by the individual colonies during the Revolutionary War

THE NORWICH PACKET, Norwich, Connecticut, Dec. 19, 1793  Certainly the prime content is the: "PRESIDENT'S SPEECH" to Congress, being the annual state-of-the-union address of George Washington, contained on both pages 1 & 2 of the supplement to this issue. It is signed by him in type: Go. Washington.
At its conclusion is a note that the Senate appointed the Right Reverend Dr. White as Chaplain of Congress, and that the House appointed the Reverend Dr. Green as its chaplain. Dr. White was the 2nd

NEWARK DAILY ADVERTISER, New Jersey, April 3, 1865

• Fall of Richmond, Virginia (early report)
• The end of the Civil War is imminent ?
• Abraham Lincoln assassination nears

This is a stand-alone "Extra" edition with a same-day report of the capital of the Confederacy.
The front page has column heads: "EXTRA" "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

AI ANGLO SACSUN, New York, May 29, 1847

• Promoting the spelling of words phonetically

Here is one of the more fascinating newspapers that was in the private collection.
This newspaper--which is volume 1, number 11--attempted to exploit a movement to spell words phonetically, just as they sounded. So their motto in the dateline is: "Devoted Tu Ai Difyushun ov Nolej and Nuz, Tru Ai Medium of Fonotipi, or the Tru System ov Spelin Wurdz As Iz, Just Az ae are Pronnst." (difficult to translate as they

BROWNLOW’S KNOXVILLE WHIG, AND REBEL VENTILATOR, Tennessee, April 23, 1864

• Very rare Civil War publication
• William Gannaway "Parson" Brownlow

W. G. Brownlow, or Parson Brownlow, was a fascinating personality to say the least. He regarded anyone who disagreed with him about religion or politics as an enemy. The circuit-riding Methodist parson turned to the press to spread his harsh anti-Presbyterian, anti-Calvinist rhetoric, and to spread his fervently held views on the inferiority of blacks &

THE CONCORD HERALD & NEW HAMPSHIRE INTELLIGENCER, Sept. 7, 1790

• Treaty of New York
• Creek Nation - Indians
• President George Washington
• Southeast boundaries dispute

A rather scarce title, existing for just 4 years. Only 3 American institutions have this date in their collections.

The most significant content is the printing of President George Washington's historic Treaty with the Creek Nation (also known as The Treaty of New York). See photos for portions. Background information is also provided

THE CONNECTICUT COURANT, Hartford, June 23, 1778  Most of the front page is taken up with an address of the governor of New Jersey to the General Assembly concerning the Revolutionary War.
It begins: "I heartily congratulate you upon the agreeable news we have received from France...The treaties of alliance & of amity & commerce between his Most Christian Majesty & the United States of America by which our freedom, sovereignty & independence are fully recognized..." with much more, portions

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

GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, May 19, 1790

• Benjamin Franklin death funeral - eulogy

The entire front page and most of page 2 are taken up with lengthy & very detailed discussion on: "Congress - House of Representatives" on the report of the Secretary of the Treasury.
Page 2 has two-thirds of a column headed: "Notices Of Dr. Franklin" which reads like a eulogy on him, having died just the previous month. A few bits note: "...is astonishing how the whole city was moved--His funeral was

THE NEW YORK HERALD, April 15, 1865

• Abraham Lincoln assassination (1st report)
• Ford's Theater - John Wilkes Booth

This issue would rank among the most famous of all Lincoln assassination newspapers, as almost all issues found on the market today are one of the many reprint editions that have turned up for decades.
This is the genuine issue. And better yet it is the "3:00 a.m. Special Edition" as identified by the Library of Congress:
3:00 a.m. Special edition. 8 pages. The first, second, and

THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER OR THE PHILADELPHIA MARKET-DAY ADVERTISER, March 4, 1778

• Battle of Brandywine - Creek
• Chadds Ford Township, Pennsylvania
• American Revolutionary War

This was a strongly Tory (pro-British) newspaper that began in 1775 and closed shop in May of 1778 when the British evacuated Philadelphia, so much of the content within is with a pro-British bias.
Rare to find such Tory newspapers in America, and those from Philadelphia would not survive beyond the brief time the British were

NEWBURYPORT HERALD & COUNTRY GAZETTE, Massachusetts, March 17, 1801

• Thomas Jefferson's first inauguration
• President of the United States of America

Page 2 contains Thomas Jefferson's first inaugural address, headed and beginning: "City of Washington, March 4 - PRESIDENT'S SPEECH. This Day at XII o'clock, Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States, took the oath of office required by the Constitution in the Senate Chamber, in the presence of the Senate, the public officers, and a large

NATIONAL GAZETTE, Philadelphia, Feb. 20, 1793

• President George Washington
• Historic 2nd election victory

By far the most significant item in this issue is the page 3 report announcing the opening of the votes for President & Vice President.
History tells us that it was on February 13, 1793, when Congress officially tabulated the votes from the election of 1792.  Page 3 has a report datelined February 20 which states: "On Wednesday last [the 13th] both houses of Congress met in Convention in the

PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, May 11, 1775

• The Battles of Lexington and Concord
• Start of American Revolutionary War

This is a gem of an issue, as it is what all serious collectors seek for their Revolutionary War collection: an American newspaper with a terrific report on the famous battles at Lexington and Concord.
This page 3 report, datelined from Salem, April 25, begins: "Last Wednesday the troops of his Britanic Majesty commenced hostilities upon the people of this province..."

NORTH CAROLINA TIMES, New Berne, June 22, 1864

• Very rare Union occupation publication
• New Bern, North Carolina on necessity paper
• Former Southern Confederate stronghold

This is a Union occupation newspaper, as New Bern fell to the Yankee forces under General Burnside on March 14, 1862. This is the volume 1, number 44 issue. Our records indicate this is the first of this title we have offered from during the war.
The most intriguing aspect of this issue is not the content, but the paper upon which

THE DAILY CITIZEN, Vicksburg, Mississippi, July 2 (4), 1863  A fascinating newspaper and arguably the most famous of any newspaper printed on Confederate soil, not just for being printed on the back of wallpaper (many others were as well) but because of the circumstances which surrounded the creation of this issue.
This newspaper was edited and published by J. M. Swords. As the Union siege of this strategic city wore on, his supply of paper ran out, so the publisher resorted to the use of

COURRIER D'AMSTERDAM or the COURIER VAN AMSTERDAM, May 1, 1811 (No. 122)

• Exceedingly rare Napoleon Bonaparte occupation newspaper

This was a daily newspaper published in Amsterdam during the French occupation of Holland. It is bilingual: half printed in French and half in Dutch. Two mastheads as well, one in each language.
In 1810 Napoleon Bonaparte annexed Holland to his empire, hence this newspaper being in two languages. This issue was published during his occupation.
A very rare and

THE LONDON GAZETTE, England, March 8, 1665 (1666 in today's calendar)

• Very rare 17th century Jewish prophet mention

The back page has a report from Vienna noting in part: "The Jews in this city have made a publick jubilee, with great expressions of joy, upon the news they have brought them, of the success of their brethren in Asia against the Turk, which continues to be confirmed from several parts, though with some difference of circumstances." Note: This is in reference to (Sabbatai Zevi

THE CRISIS, Columbus, Ohio, March 8, 1865

• Abraham Lincoln's inauguration
• Inaugural address on the ftpg.
• Closing weeks of the Civil War - pro-Confederate title

Among the front page reports is: "Inauguration of President Lincoln--His Address" which contains his address in full, ending with the immortal words: "With malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right...".
Page 4 has an editorial headed: "Lincoln's Inaugural", critical of him as

THE PENNSYLVANIA JOURNAL; AND THE WEEKLY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, April 5, 1775

• Benjamin Franklin's "Unite Or Die" cartoon

If there was one graphic that represented the spirit of the Revolutionary War, it would have to be the ubiquitous segmented snake with the famous "Unite Or Die" caption.  The engraving, a prominent device in the masthead of this newspaper, shows a snake cut into various pieces, each with a label of a colony with the implied message that only by each of the separate

THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER OR THE PHILADELPHIA MARKET-DAY ADVERTISER, Feb. 28, 1778

• Revolutionary War Tory original
• Rare Pro British issue from America

This was a strongly Tory (supportive of the British cause) newspaper which began in 1775 and closed shop in May of 1778 when the British evacuated Philadelphia.
Half of the front page first column is a: "Proclamation" signed by: W. Howe, concerning naval affairs. Page 2 has: "It cannot have escaped the notice...that this country has been brought to

THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE OR MONTHLY MUSEUM, Boston, May, 1789

• President George Washington
• Inauguration - inaugural address
• A detailed eyewitness account
• In a American publication (rare)

Rarely are we able to offer an American imprint with a period report of Washington's inauguration and inaugural address. Great to have this text in this famous magazine published by perhaps the most renowned printer of the 18th century, Isaiah Thomas, whose private collection become the foundation of the

GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, March, 1776  This issue includes a lengthy article (3+ pages) on Captain Cook and the: "Resolution's Voyage on Discovery to the Southern Hemisphere". Accompanying this article is a rare full page map titled: "Part of the Tropical Discoveries of the Resolution Sloop, Captain Cook in 1774..." with a related article.
The map measures 5 1/45 by 9 inches, a bit close-trimmed at a bottom corner to fold into the issue but not affecting the b order.
The other nice graphic

THE DAILY JOURNAL, Wilmington, North Carolina, May 22, 1861

• North Carolina secession
• American Civil War

Certainly the most notable report is the pg. 2 news headed: "Secession Of North Carolina!" "One of The Confederates States" "North Carolina Free--Lincoln's Military Despotism Repudiated" which also includes the two "Ordinance" reports for secession and for ratifying the Confederate Constitution.
Relating to this page 2 also has: "The passage of the secession ordinance by the Convention of the

CONNECTICUT COURANT, Hartford, Nov. 5, 1806

• Lewis and Clark Expedition letter
• Safe return - homeward bound

Page 2 begins with a notable report on the arrival of Lewis and Clark in St. Louis, after their 2-1/2 year expedition.
It begins: "It is, with the sincerest pleasure, that we announce to our fellow citizens, the arrival of CAPTAIN LEWIS, with his exploring party, at St. Lewis [sic]. The President has received a letter from him dated at St. Lewis, September 23, at which place himself,

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, November, 1781  Near the back is a section headed: "American News" which has a "Copy of a Letter from Brig. Gen. Arnold to his Excellency the Commander in Chief, dated Sound off Plumb Island, Sept. 8, 1781" which takes over an entire page & is signed by him in type: B. Arnold. This is his detailed report on the taking of New London, Connecticut, known as the Battle of Groton Heights.
Also included is a letter from George Washington to Congress which prefaces

NEW YORK WEEKLY TRIBUNE, September 27, 1862

• Emancipation Proclamation
• President Abraham Lincoln

Page 2 contains the full texts of the Emancipation Proclamation, perhaps the most significant Presidential pronouncement of the entire Civil War wherein Lincoln declared all slaves free.
Headed: "A Proclamation By the President of the United States" the document begins at the bottom half of the first column and takes the top half of the second column and is signed in type by the President: Abraham

THE LONDON CHRONICLE: or, UNIVERSAL EVENING POST, London, Sept. 29, 1761

• George III of the United Kingdom

The front page begins the report on the coronation of King George III. "This day his Majesty King George the Third, and Queen Charlotte, were crowned in the abbey church of Westminster, with the ceremonies accustomed upon that great and glorious solemnity...". The article continues with in-depth details of the coronation, taking the entire second page and nearly half of the third page as

THE MORNING POST & DAILY ADVERTISER, London, June 9, 1783

• General George Washington letter
• Announcing the end of hostilities
• American Revolutionary War ending

Certainly the most significant content takes almost an entire column of page 3, which has George Washington's letter announcing a cessation of hostilities in the Revolutionary War.
It is prefaced with a note stating: "The following is a copy of the Orders issued by General Washington to his troops on the arrival of the information that the

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 5, 1857

• President James Buchanan
• Inauguration - inaugural address
• Best title to be had (rare as such)

A terrific issue in which to find the inauguration and inaugural address of President James Buchanan.
Almost the entirety of the first two columns on page 3 are taken up with the: "Inaugural Address". If is prefaced with: "The following is a copy of the Inaugural Address delivered yesterday by the Hon. James Buchanan on his installation of

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York,  Dec. 29, 1866  The front page has a lengthy poem with a related print titled: "The Setter's Christmas Eve". Inside contains a full page: "Hauling Home the Christmas Boughs"; halfpg: "Scene of the Holy Nativity, Bethlehem" & "The Wise Men Following the Star in the East". Also: a halfpg: "John Surratt" & Wreck of the Steamship 'Scotland' Bound for Liverpool, off Sandy Hook".
But the prime feature is the great Thomas Nast doublepage centerfold: "Santa Claus & His

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, February 15, 1783

• End of Revolutionary War
• King George III proclamation
• The cessation of hostilities

Certainly the prime--and very historic--content takes over one-third of the back page, headed: "By the KING, A PROCLAMATION Declaring the Cessation of Arms, as well by sea as land, Agreed Upon Between his Majesty's the most Christian King, the King of Spain, the States General of  the United Provinces, and the United States of America...".
This is the very historic

THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER OR THE PHILADELPHIA MARKET-DAY ADVERTISER, April 22, 1778

• Revolutionary War Tory original
• Rare Pro British issue from America

This was a strongly Tory (supportive of the British cause) newspaper which began in 1775 and closed shop in May of 1778 when the British evacuated Philadelphia.
Over two-thirds of the front page is taken up with the text of two Bills being considered in Parliament relating to America. The first is a: "DRAUGHT of a BILL for declaring the Intentions

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 8, 1853

• Creation of Washington Territory
• United States Congress passes

Being the "mouthpiece of the federal government", typically this newspaper was the first to report notable political reports and developments So it is no surprise that nearly half of the front page is taken up with the Act of Congress creating the Washington Territory.
Headed: "Laws OF The United States - An ACT to Establish the Territorial Government of Washington" the

GALVESTON TRI-WEEKLY NEWS, Houston, Texas, Sept. 23, 1864

• Very rare issue from the Southwest Confederacy

Although the title notes "Galveston" the dateline notes it was printed in nearby Houston, as it is likely moving a bit more inland offered greater security from the Yankee forces.
Confederate newspapers from Texas are very uncommon particularly from before or during the Civil War. Here is an issue from the city of Galveston that has various war-related content, including a front page report

FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, Dec. 23, 1865

• Rare Winslow Homer prints

There are many prints within but certainly the two most significant are the full page prints by Winslow Homer, captioned: "Thanksgiving Day--Hanging Up the Musket" and the other: "Thanksgiving Day--The Church Porch". A small stain in the caption of each, otherwise very nice.
Other prints include a front page; "Fearful Collision on the Third Ave. Railroad, New York"; "John T. Hoffman, the Mayor El3ct of New York"; "An

THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, April 24, 1781

• Battle of Guilford Courthouse
• Greensboro, North Carolina
• General Charles Cornwallis loss

Page 2 has some nice war content. The 2nd column begins with: "By accounts from General Greene's army as late as the 24th ultimo, we learn that Lord Cornwallis is retreating towards Cross Creek and that our army was in pursuit of him."
There is also some nice talk about the historic Battle of Guilford Court House fought on March 15, a

THE DAILY SOUTHERN GUARDIAN, Columbia, South Carolina, Feb. 25, 1862

• Jefferson Davis inaugural address
• Rare Confederate publication

A rather rare title and great that it has the word “Southern”.
Certainly the most notable content begins page 2 being: "President Jefferson Davis's Inaugural address, delivered in Richmond, February 22, 1862" which takes over a full column.
The front page includes: "The Hampton Legion" "Sketch of Clarkesville" "The Defences of Augusta" "Burning Our Towns". The

SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, June 22, 1850

• Walt Whitman - American poet
• 2nd Appearance of "Resurgemus"

A very notable issue for any literary collector as the front page contains at the head of the first column the second newspaper appearance of Walt Whitman's poem "Resurgemus" signed by him in type at its conclusion: Walter Whitman. The very first appearance was on page 3 of the daily edition the day prior. It was also reprinted at a later date in the N.Y. Evening Post.
Complete in 8 pages, nice

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Dec. 26, 1864 An historic issue reporting the fall of Savannah to the Union forces, with one of the more notable quotes part of the headlines, with ftpg: "CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH" "Hardee's Army Make Their Escape" "150 Guns, 13 Locomotives, 190 Cars & 33,000 Bales of Cotton Taken" "and more.
The most historic part of the report is Sherman's famous dispatch to: "His Excellency, President Lincoln: I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns

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 print, but

THE LONDON GAZETTE, England, Oct. 1, 1666

• The great plague
• London fire report

The back page contains a report: "The Plague continuing still very dangerous at Cambridge, Peterborough, and other places near the City of Ely, the Lord Bishop of Ely hath thought fit to prohibit the holding of the Fairs of St. Luke & St. Audrey at Ely this instant October." plus the back page also has a report about the arrest of a man for "...having presumed to publish in print certain propositions for the

THE SALEM GAZETTE, Massachusetts, December 20, 1781

• Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown
• American Revolutionary War ending

This issue contains one of the most historically significant letters from the Revolutionary War, being Cornwallis' official announcement of his surrender to Washington at the Battle of Yorktown.
The report begins on the front page no less, prefaced with: "I am directed to send you the enclosed letter from Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis, to his Excellency the commander in

DEADWOOD DAILY PIONEER, Black Hills, (South Dakota) July 27, 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 but scattered 19th century issues of this

SUPPLEMENT TO THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Jan. 18, 1833

• Nullification Crisis w/ Andrew Jackson

An interesting single sheet printed on tissue paper-quality newsprint; very thin.
Save for a few ads on the back side the entire issue is taken up with the: "MESSAGE Of the President of the United States to both Houses of Congress, transmitting copies of the Ordinance & Other Documents & his Proclamation in Relation to South Carolina", signed at its conclusion: Andrew Jackson.
A

GLEASON'S PICTORIAL DRAWING-ROOM COMPANION, Boston, May 10, 1851

• Thomas Sims - Negro
• Fugitive slave case

This was perhaps America's first successful illustrated newspaper, existing from 1851 thru 1859. It set the format for other more successful titles to emulate, most notably Frank Leslie's Illustrated (1855) and Harper's Weekly (1857). All were modeled after the British title London Illustrated News which began in 1842.
This is the volume 1, number 2 issue. Most of the front page is taken up

THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, August 28, 1781

• Siege of Nintey Six - South Carolina
• General Nathanael Greene defeat
• American Revolutionary War

Half of page 2 is taken up with a letter from Major General Greene in which he officers much on the Siege of Ninety-Six.
Additional reports carry over to page 3 with much more detail on the military events in South Carolina. One item begins: "...a party of horse, headed by Sad  Hampton, came down unexpectedly from Monk's Corner,

NEW YORK SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, April 4, 1865

• Fall of Richmond VA Virginia
• Civil War nearing the end

One of the middle columns of the front page announces one of the more significant events of the Civil War with: "VIRGINIA ! " "GLORIOUS NEWS ! " "Richmond Is Ours!" "Evacuation of Petersburg!" "Tremendous Fighting!" "Lee's Entire Army Is Routed" and more.
Above the column heads is a nice engraving of an eagle on the U.S. shield. Many war-related reports are on inside pages as well.
Eight pages,

THE AMERICAN JOURNAL & GENERAL ADVERTISER, Providence, Rhode Island, May 7, 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. This issue is volume 1, number 8.
Inside has a report from Charleston beginning: "Five deserters who came last week to Purysburgh [Purryisburg] informed that the British troops were moving down the country to Savannah...a body of them  was to go to

VALLEY SENTINEL, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, July 19, 1912

• Jim Thorpe wins Olympic gold medal
• Decathlon - Stockholm Summer Olympic
• Best publication to be had (very rare)

Although legendary athlete Jim Thorpe was born & grew up in Oklahoma, he has very close ties with the city of Carlisle. It was in 1904 when Thorpe attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School that his incredible athletic prowess was discovered by "Pop" Warner, one of the most influential coaches in early football history. Three