Black Americana
Black Americana
"The North Star" becomes "Frederick Douglass' Paper"...
Item #697755
May 20, 1852
FREDERICK DOUGLASS' PAPER, Rochester, New York, May 20, 1852
* Extremely rare publication
We are pleased to offer this exceedingly rare--and highly desirable--newspaper by the famed Frederick Douglass. This weekly title is the continuation of his newspaper "North Star" which began in 1847.
Much of page 2 is taken up with: "The Annual Meeting of the American Anti-Sl... See More
"The North Star" becomes "Frederick Douglass' Paper"...
Item #689770
June 17, 1852
FREDERICK DOUGLASS' PAPER, Rochester, New York, June 17, 1852 We are pleased to offer this exceedingly rare--and highly desirable--newspaper by the famed Frederick Douglass. This weekly title is the continuation of his newspaper "North Star" which began in 1847.
Douglass was perhaps the most famous 19th century African-American abolitionist who escaped from slavery and then ri... See More
America's first successful newspaper...
Item #689552
April 17, 1740
THE BOSTON WEEKLY NEWS-LETTER, "New England", April 10-17, 1740
* Among the earliest of American newspapers to be had
This very rare title was the first successful newspaper in the colonies, having begun in 1704 and lasting until the British occupation of Boston in 1776. It was only preceded by "Public Occurrances Both Foreign and Domestick" which published just a s... See More
Four documents signed by George Washington... Significant pronouncement by Franklin on slavery...
Item #701210
November 25, 1789
GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Nov. 25, 1789 It contains: An Address to the Public" by Benjamin Franklin as President of the: "Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and the Relief of Free Negroes, Unlawfully Held in Bondage".
This is an extremely noteworthy address as it is Franklin's strongest moral statement on the subject of slavery.
Fr... See More
The Emancipation Proclamation... Lincoln suspends the Writ of Habeas Corpus...
Item #689603
September 27, 1862
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... See More
Much like the Olive Branch Petition... Reaction by the soldiers to reading the "...Causes & Necessity of Taking Up Arms"...
Item #687100
July 26, 1775
CONNECTICUT JOURNAL & NEW HAVEN POST-BOY, July 26, 1775
* American Revolutionary War
* Post Battle of Bunker Hill
A terrific issue, as the entire front page and most of page 2 are taken up with a terrific follow-up to the Olive Branch Petition, in fact, written just 3 days after it, in which the Continental Congress points out the many issues with its relations with England, detai... See More
Winslow Homer's famous Snap The Whip...
Item #173758
September 20, 1873
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, September 20, 1873 Certainly the prime feature of this issue is the much desired Winslow Homer doublepage centerfold: "Snap the Whip".
Front page features a 1/2 page illustration entitled: "The New School Mistress." Inside is a full page illustration of "Saved!" A article "The Northwestern University" with accompany illu... See More
The second of the Lincoln Douglas debates...
Item #687923
September 03, 1858
NEW YORK SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, Sept. 3, 1858
* Abraham Lincoln & Stephen Douglas
* The Great Debates of 1858 (2nd of 7)
* Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois
We find that reports on the now-famous Lincoln Douglas debates are very difficult to find in newspapers outside of Illinois, perhaps not surprising because it was a senate race in Illinois and Lincoln was, at thi
... See More
* Abraham Lincoln & Stephen Douglas
* The Great Debates of 1858 (2nd of 7)
* Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois
We find that reports on the now-famous Lincoln Douglas debates are very difficult to find in newspapers outside of Illinois, perhaps not surprising because it was a senate race in Illinois and Lincoln was, at thi
Phillis Wheatley arrives in London...
Item #702240
June 22, 1773
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 ... See More
Chief Justice Taney on the Dred Scot Decision...
Item #690761
March 09, 1857
NEW YORK TRIBUNE, March 9, 1857
* Historic Dred Scott Decision
* Famous former slave case
Page 5 has nearly 2 1/2 columns taken up with a report on the historic Dred Scott Decision, a landmark decision of the Supreme Court in which the Court held that the Constitution was not meant to include American citizenship for black people, regardless of whether they were enslaved or free,... See More
The slave ship...
Item #172368
June 02, 1860
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, June 2, 1860 The prime print in this issue is the three-quarter page illustration captioned: "The Slave Deck on the Bark 'Wildfire' Brought Into Key West on April 30, 1860." This print shows a huge number of slaves crammed on the deck. The balance of the page is related text on this slave ship, plus the facing page has additional text and 4 re... See More
The slave ship...
Item #683378
June 02, 1860
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, June 2, 1860
* Likely the most sought after slave ship print
* Much text re: slave ships - black americana interest
The prime print in this issue is the three-quarter page illustration captioned: "The Slave Deck on the Bark 'Wildfire' Brought Into Key West on April 30, 1860." This print shows a huge number of slaves crammed on the deck.... See More
Niles' eight essays on the "Mitigation of Slavery"...
Item #698392
May 08, 1819
NILES WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore (8-issue set)
* The "Mitigation of Slavery" - 8 issues
* Serialized essay by Hezekiah Niles'
* His plan to abolish slavery in America
A set of 8 issues which contain all eight essays by publisher Hezekiah Niles titled the: "Mitigation of Slavery" in which he puts forth five propositions to that end.* His plan to abolish slavery in America
The issues ar... See More
California becomes a state... Key acts in the Compromise of 1850...
Item #682815
September 12, 1850
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Sept. 12, 1850
* California joins the Union (statehood)
* From the nation's capital
Not only does page 3 contain the official Act of Congress creating California as a state, the report is in the newspaper which was the unofficial voice of the government in any matters political.
Page 3 has: "An Act for the Admission of the State of C... See More
Famous letter from Lincoln to Greeley...
Item #691078
August 25, 1862
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, August 25, 1862
* Famous Abraham Lincoln letter
* "A Prayer of Twenty Millions" reply
* Liberal Republican Horace Greeley
The front page contains one of the more famous letters from Abraham Lincoln, being his reply to Horace Greeley's editorial of August 20, "A Prayer of Twenty Millions", which urged emancipation. Lincoln replies in h... See More
New Orleans document for the sale of a woman slave...
Item #701390
March 05, 1849
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... See More
The famous "irrepressible conflict" speech...
Item #683605
November 13, 1858
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Nov. 13, 1858
* William H. Seward on slavery
* Irrepressible Conflict speech
Nearly three columns on page 2 are taken up with the: "Speech Of Mr. Seward, of New York, delivered at a political meeting held in Rochester on the 25th of October, 1858".
This speech, although harmful to his political career, put the slavery issue on... See More
Very historic Nast print: "The First Vote" of African-Americans in the reconstructed South...
Item #173146
November 16, 1867
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Nov. 16, 1867 Historic & significant full front page Thomas Nast illustration: "The First Vote" shows an African-American man voting. During the Reconstruction South voting rights for free Blacks came slowly with obstacles such as poll taxes, literacy requirements, etc. This very historic print shows a proud African-American--with others in line b... See More
"Great Expectations" Collection VI
Item #206678
June 21, 1861
HARPER'S WEEKLY, June 22, 1861 through August 3, 1861. This is a seven-issue set (part 6) of Harper's Weekly containing the Charles Dickens "Great Expectations" in serialization format. The set provides more than a 10% discount over purchasing the issues individually.
This set would look great displayed in one of our 17 inch by 14 inch display cases which can be viewed at www... See More
Rare document signed by Thomas Jefferson from during the Revolutionary War...
Item #701126
February 19, 1780
THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET, Philadelphia, Feb. 19, 1780
* Thomas Jefferson as 2nd Governor of Virginia
* American Revolutionary War original
Most of the front page first column is an Act from the Penna. legislature prefaced with a paragraph by the Clerk of the General Assembly, none other than: Thomas Paine.
Page 2 contains a rare item, being: "A Proclamation" by the &... See More
Lincoln's inauguration...
Item #172868
March 18, 1865
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, March 18, 1865 The entire front page is taken up with a very nice engraving captioned: "President Lincoln Taking the Oath At His Second Inauguration, March 4, 1865" showing just that. A great display issue as such.
An inside page has an article: "The President's Inaugural" which includes the text of his second inaugural address, which i... See More
Rare Confederate title reports on the siege of Vicksburg, just before its fall…
Item #697659
July 02, 1863
CAROLINA SPARTAN, Spartanburg, South Carolina, July 2, 1863
* Very rare Confederate publication
* Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi
A rare Confederate title to say the least. The front page begins with some nice reporting on the siege of Vicksburg with reports headed “From Vicksburg” which include some over-optimistic thoughts: “…that perfect confidence prevail... See More
Reports from the closing months of the Revolutionary War...
Item #701131
April 09, 1783
THE FREEMAN'S JOURNAL, Philadelphia, April 9, 1783 Fully half of the front page is a lengthy letter: "To His Excellency John Dickinson, esq., President" of Pennsylvania, which relates to the paper currency of America. The balance of the front page is a letter: "To Robert Morris" that begins: "May I congratulate you, sir, without wounding your feelings, on the hap... See More
Provincial Congress meeting (1775)...
Item #702716
December 23, 1775
PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Dec. 23, 1775
* Meeting of a Provincial Congress
* Early American Revolutionary War
Front page report mentions the meeting of a Provincial Congress in Charlestown, South Carolina. Interesting ftpg. letter concerning a runaway slave on board a British ship. Pg. 2 has political reports from New York & Philadelphia, including men
... See More
* Meeting of a Provincial Congress
* Early American Revolutionary War
Front page report mentions the meeting of a Provincial Congress in Charlestown, South Carolina. Interesting ftpg. letter concerning a runaway slave on board a British ship. Pg. 2 has political reports from New York & Philadelphia, including men
Front page print of Frederick Douglass... Poe's The Raven...
Item #174824
November 24, 1883
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, November 24, 1883 The entire front page is one of the more desirable of the entire 60 year run of this newspaper, being a fine portrait of: "Frederick Douglass", with a related article on him on an inside page.
But there are other nice prints in this issue as well, including a full page: "Autumn Leaves" by Howard Pyle; a print of: "The... See More
A union-occupation newspaper in South Carolina...
Item #701672
January 10, 1863
THE FREE SOUTH, Beaufort, South Carolina, Jan. 10, 1863 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... See More
The Battle of Gettysburg...
Item #172700
August 08, 1863
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, August 8, 1863 Certainly one of the more desired issues of the Civil War with the nice content on the Battle of Gettysburg. The front page has 2 prints: "Saluting the Old Flag at Port Hudson" and "The Formal Surrender of Port Hudson". Inside a 1/4 pg: "Siege of Vicksburg--Huts on the Hill-side"; a full page has two prints: "Po... See More
Scathing comments about Callender...
Item #685598
September 01, 1802
AURORA GENERAL ADVERTISER, Frankford, Sept. 1, 1802
* President Thomas Jefferson
* James Callender squabble
Note that this issue was published in nearby Frankford to escape the Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia.
This is a significant issue on the James Calendar/Thomas Jefferson controversy (see information at the bottom). After having been denied a lucrative federal position by Jeffers... See More
Quite rare & early account of a baseball game with women players...
Item #683490
August 16, 1868
NEW YORK HERALD, Aug. 16, 1868
* Rare & Early Women's baseball
* Bloomer Girls - baseball pioneers
* Elizabeth Cady Stanton reporting
Page 3 under the heading: "The National Game" has a few accounts of "Base Ball Notes" one of which is the earliest newspaper report we have seen of a baseball game with women players.
The report notes: "Mrs. Cady Stant... See More
Capture of New Orleans, in a Confederate newspaper...
Item #684457
April 28, 1862
DAILY RICHMOND EXAMINER, Virginia, April 28, 1862
* Capture of New Orleans - Louisiana
* Union troops (enemy) enter city
* From the capital of the Confederacy
Not only is this a great Confederate newspaper, but it is from the capital of the Confederacy.
Certainly the most significant content would be the breaking news report on page 2 headed: "Capture of New Orleans By The Ene... See More
Jourdon Anderson's letter to his former slave master
Item #703078
March 07, 1865
(for reference only - item does not exist) SACRAMENTO DAILY UNION, California, Sep. 23, 1865 Jourdon Anderson's letter to his former slave master
| Jourdon Anderson's letter to his former slave master |
Lincoln's last public speech and last proclamation...
Item #682496
April 12, 1865
NEW YORK HERALD, April 12, 1865
* Civil War is over speech
* Abraham Lincoln's last public speech
* Presidential proclamation 128
* Just 2 days before his assassination
This issue was printed just 2 days prior to Lincoln's assassination, with the front page containing what is noted as Lincoln's last speech.
The front page heads include: "OUR VICTORIES" ... See More
"Great Expectations" Collection V...
Item #206675
May 11, 1861
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 11, 1861 through June 15, 1861. This is a six-issue set (part 5) of Harper's Weekly containing the Charles Dickens "Great Expectations" in serialization format. The set provides more than a 10% discount over purchasing the issues individually.
This set would look great displayed in one of our 17 inch by 14 inch display cases which can be viewed ... See More
One of the most desired baseball prints...
Item #175312
July 28, 1888
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 28, 1888 The entire front page is taken up with one of the best 19th century baseball prints to be found, showing a batter, catcher & umpire captioned: "A Ball Or A Strike--Which?" drawn by T. de Thurstrup.
There are also many other prints within this issue including a fullpg. with 6 vignettes: "View of Town & Country in Honduras... See More
A Memphis newspaper from Jackson... Jeff Davis' annual address...
Item #683046
January 22, 1863
THE MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL, Jackson, Mississippi, January 22, 1863
* Very Rare Confederate title from the "traveling" newspaper
* Memphis newspaper printed in Jackson, Mississippi
* Jefferson Davis - State of the Confederacy address
This newspaper had fascinating history as it was chased around the South. Note that this "Memphis" newspaper was published in Jackson,... See More
Thomas Nast's first Republican elephant print... Homer print...
Item #173876
November 07, 1874
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Nov. 7, 1874 The full front page is a Thomas Nast political cartoon: "A Tammany Rat", but certainly the most significant print in this issue is another full page Thomas Nast political cartoon titled: 'The 3rd term Panic' which shows the Republican elephant for the first time. Thomas Nast was the creator of both the Republican elephant and the ... See More
Great on the Thomas Sims fugitive slave case in Boston...
Item #696676
May 10, 1851
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... See More
Grenada Confederate newspaper... Battle of Antietam...
Item #705275
October 02, 1862
THE MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL, Grenada, Mississippi, Oct. 2, 1862
* Very rare Confederate title
* Publisher on the run
* Battle of Antietam
If the title and city of publication seem to be in conflict, they are not. This newspaper had a fascinating history during the Civil War. Memphis was a Confederate stronghold up through the Battle of Memphis on June 6, 1862, at which time the Yankees ... See More
Harriet Tubman's historic Combahee River Raid frees 750 slaves...
Item #172690
July 04, 1863
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 4, 1863 Half of the front page is taken up with a somber print: "Execution, by Hanging, of Two Rebel Spies, Williams and Peters, In the Army of the Cumberland" with text as well.
The best print in this issue is the half page: "Raid of Second South Carolina Volunteers (Col. Montgomery) Among the Rice Plantations on the Combahee, S.C."&n... See More
Robert E. Lee portrait on the front page...
Item #172794
July 02, 1864
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 2, 1864 Certainly the prime content in this issue is the very nice front page illustration of: "The Rebel General Robert Edmund Lee" with a short biography on him as well.
Other prints include a fullpg. of 5 scenes in Georgia including Resaca, Woodlands, Kingston & Adairsville. Another page shows: "Fighting Johnny Logan" and "... See More
Lincoln repeals Hunter's controversial order emancipating slaves...
Item #690313
May 20, 1862
NEW YORK WORLD, May 20, 1862
* General David Hunter order
* Emancipation of slaves
* Abraham Lincoln rebuffs
The front page begins with column heads: "PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION" "Gen. Hunter's Proclamation Void" "The Power of Declaring Slaves Free Belongs to the President" "An Appeal To The Border States" "Gradual Abolition of Slave... See More
"Great Expectations" Collection I
Item #206663
November 24, 1860
Harper's Weekly, November 24, 1860 through December 29, 1860. This is a six-issue set (part 1) of Harper's Weekly containing the Charles Dickens "Great Expectations" in serialization format. The set provides more than a 10% discount over purchasing the issues individually.
This set would look great displayed in one of our 17 inch by 14 inch display cases which can be viewed a... See More
Detailed review of Les Misérables...
First printing of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Chiefly About War Matters"...
Item #652426
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY, (Boston), July, 1863 * Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Chiefly About War Matters"
* an original, contemporary printing - 1st appearance
signed with the pen name "A Peaceable Man"
* same year review of Victor Hugo's, "Les Misérables"
When one thinks of Nathaniel Hawthorne, most minds are rightfully immediately drawn to his mas... See More
First report on John Brown's raid upon Harper's Ferry...
Item #689591
October 18, 1859
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Oct. 18, 1859
* John Brown's insurrection - invasion - raid
* Harpers Ferry WV West Virginia - 1st report
Page 3 has the first report of the raid upon Harper's Ferry by John Brown and his cohorts, headed: "Serious Disturbances At Harper's Ferry".
It reads like a first report. It begins: "Information of a somew... See More
President Lincoln repeals General Hunter's order (no. 11), which had emancipated slaves...
Item #704291
May 24, 1862
NEW YORK WEEKLY TRIBUNE, May 24, 1862 Page 2 begins with: "Gen. Hunter Overruled". This concerns the controversial situation where Hunter pronounced slaves free in Florida, Georgia & South Carolina, previous to Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation
President Lincoln did not rescind Hunter's order because he was against emancipating the slaves. At the time, he simpl... See More
Emancipation Proclamation & battle of Antietam...
Item #172612
October 04, 1862
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, October 4, 1862 Page 3 contains the complete and historically significant printing of the Emancipation Proclamation signed in type by the President: Abraham Lincoln, & headed: "The Abolition of Slavery--A Proclamation". There is also a nice page 2 editorial concerning the Emancipation Proclamation headed: "Slavery Practically Abolished" ... See More
Published by Charles Dickens... a 6 issue set...
A White Hand and a Black Thumb...
Item #205271
January 23, 1864
Harper's WEEKLY, January 23 - March 5, 1864 This is a six issue set of Harper's Weekly issues containing all 6 installments of "A White Hand and a Black Thumb", by Henry Spicer, originally published by Charles Dickens' in All the Year Round. The set provides more than a 10% discount over purchasing the issues individually. The individual issues are described... See More
From the closing days of the Revolutionary War...
Item #700387
April 03, 1782
FREEMAN'S JOURNAL: OR, THE NORTH-AMERICAN INTELLIGENCER, Phila., April 3, 1782
* Rare American Revolutionary War publication
Taking all of the front page is a poem: "The Political Balance; or, The Fates of Britain and American compared. A Tale." which obviously relates to the Revolutionary War.
Page 3 reports under "Philadelphia" include: "On
... See More
* Rare American Revolutionary War publication
Taking all of the front page is a poem: "The Political Balance; or, The Fates of Britain and American compared. A Tale." which obviously relates to the Revolutionary War.
Page 3 reports under "Philadelphia" include: "On
Map of Canada, Hudson Bay & other portions of North America...
Item #689565
GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, March, 1790 * Map of Canada, Hudson Bay & other portions of North America
Certainly the prime feature of this issue is the nice, attached fold-out map: "A Map showing the communication of the Lakes and the Rivers between Lake Superior and Slave Lake in North America."
The map shows the extreme western parts of Lake Superior and "Hud... See More
Map of Canada, Hudson Bay & other portions of North America...
Item #675444
GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, March, 1790 Certainly the prime feature of this issue is the nice, attached fold-out map: "A Map showing the communication of the Lakes and the Rivers between Lake Superior and Slave Lake in North America."The map shows the extreme western parts of Lake Superior and "Hudson's Bay", "Lake Winiping (now Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba)... See More
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Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers
P.O. Box 3636
Williamsport, PA 17701
Phone: 1-570-326-1045
Fax: 1-570-326-7606
E-mail: info@rarenewspapers.com
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P.O. Box 3636
Williamsport, PA 17701
Phone: 1-570-326-1045
Fax: 1-570-326-7606
E-mail: info@rarenewspapers.com
Hours
Monday through Friday, 7:30 - 4 (ET)
Full Contact Information
