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Rare newspaper printed on board a transcontinental train...
Rare newspaper printed on board a transcontinental train...
Item # 684698
May 30, 1870
TRANS-CONTINENTAL, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 30, 1870
* First Transcontinental Railroad "Overland Route"
* Very first excursion published newspaper (#5)
This is a very fascinating newspaper, borne in the ingenious mind of a publisher who decided to take a small printing press on board the first transcontinental railroad excursion and publish 6 issues westbound and 6 issues eastbound. Printed on a Gordon press in the baggage car, it is considered the very first newspaper composed, printed, & published on a train.
This is issue #5, published--as noted in the masthead in Salt Lake City, Utah. Each issue recorded the process of the journey with the sights and events along the way. Each issue carries the dateline of a different city: Niagara Falls, Omaha, Cheyenne, Ogden, Utah; Salt Lake City, Utah; Summit Sierra Nevadas, San Francisco, Promontory Point, Utah; Laramie, Wyoming, Grand Island Nebraska, Burlington, Iowa; and Boston.
The front page is mostly taken up with descriptive text headed: "Through The Wahsatch", the balance taken up with other news tidbits. Inside pages have: "Rocky Mountain Jottings" "Flora" "New Ways for Old" Distinguished Guests" "Sunday at Salt Lake City" "Our Sabbath Service" and a listing of "Our Party" on board the train. Various other tidbits as well. The back page is mostly taken up with a very descriptive report of the journey: "Corinne to Sacramento".
Four pages, great masthead, 7 by 9 3/4 inches, very nice, clean condition. A very rare opportunity for a fascinating & rare newspaper.
Included with this issue is a reprint set of all 12 issues published. See our item 615312 for details.
Category: Post-Civil War