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Seven issues from the historic year of 1803...
Seven issues from the historic year of 1803...
Item # 708151
December 22, 1803
SALEM REGISTER, Massachusetts: A lot of 7 issues from the historic year of 1803, all complete, 4 page issues and in generally good condition. Expect some irregularity & minor loss at the spine (no text affected) due to disbinding, typical foxing, minimal margin wear.
All are from the critical months of September & October in terms of the Louisiana Purchase, and many have articles relating to it.
background: Owning these issues of the Salem Register from late 1803 provides a tangible connection to the high-stakes political drama surrounding the Louisiana Purchase as it moved from a signed treaty to a domestic reality. Because the Register was a pro-Jeffersonian publication, these September and October editions likely served as a vital mouthpiece for defending the $15 million expenditure against fierce Federalist opposition in New England, who feared the expansion would dilute their regional influence. Within these four-page layouts, you will likely find reports on the Congressional debates leading up to the treaty’s ratification on October 20, 1803, alongside anxious updates on whether French and Spanish authorities in New Orleans would peacefully hand over the territory. Beyond the geopolitical headlines, the "minor loss" at the spine and the characteristic foxing—a chemical reaction between iron and acid in early wood-pulp or rag paper—simply testify to the authenticity of a document that survived the bustling maritime atmosphere of Salem's historic harbor.
Category: Pre-Civil War
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