Historic Newspapers: Search Results

NEW YORK WORLD, Feb. 12, 1862  The front page has: "Important Resolutions Of Senator Sumner", which is followed by the full text of his historic series of resolutions outlining what quickly became known as his radical "State Suicide Theory." 

Alongside this landmark constitutional argument, the issue features ongoing reports and official dispatches from the front lines of the American Civil War which help to provide context. The front page column heads on the Civil War are: "The War In

NEW YORK TIMES, May 31, 1862  The front page features a very nice map headed: "RETREAT OF THE REBEL ARMY FROM CORINTH" with the map showing from New Orleans to Memphis, to Pensacola.

Among the front page column heads on the Civil War: "ANOTHER TRIUMPH" "Corinth in Possession of Gen. Halleck" "Important Events Proceeding the Evacuation" "Heavy Fighting & Important Positions Gained" "Retreat of the Rebels & Occupation of Corinth by Our Forces" and more.

Eight pages, very nice condition.

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Feb. 13, 1862  Page 2 of this issue features a report titled "THE LATE BURNING AT HARPER'S FERRY," detailing the destruction of portions of the town by Union forces. Page 3 carries a report on the "BRILLIANT SUCCESS OF GENERAL BURNSIDE'S EXPEDITION," with subheads including "Two Thousand Prisoners Taken" and "Elizabeth City Burnt By The Rebels," providing detailed coverage of the North Carolina campaign.

The historical interest of this issue lies

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Jan. 6, 1849  Over two columns on page 2 are taken up with an excellent and very detailed letter headed: "Diluvial Gold Deposits of California". It begins: "The excitement of the public mind, growing out of the discovery of native gold in the diluvial deposits of California, will, I trust, furnish an apology for the present communication....". The letter has a wealth of information on the gold deposits, less than half of which is seen in the photos.
The…

NEW YORK HERALD, April 25, 1865  All columns on all 8 pages are black-bordered in memory of Abraham Lincoln. Two-thirds of the first column are taken up with nice heads concerning the funeral of Abraham Lincoln including: "HONORS To the MARTYR PRESIDENT" "Our Tribute to the Lamented Dead" "Arrival of the Cortege" "The Body In State" "The Procession to the City Hall" "Scene of Sadness & Sorrow" "Incidents of the Obsequies" & much more.

Further reporting on the funeral on pages 4, 5 and 8…

THE DOWNFALL OF BABYLON, New York, Oct. 3, 1835  A quite rare & unusual weekly (later semi-monthly) newspaper with strong anti-Catholic leanings published by: "Samuel B. Smith, Late a Popish Priest", as noted in the dateline. This newspaper published from 1834-1839 & features an engraving in the masthead showing various churches in ruin and a subtitle: "Or, the Triumph of Truth Over Popery".
The ftpg. has: "On the Moral Corruption of the Popish Hierarchy, Monks, Nuns, and People", a continuing…

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Dec. 4, 1861 

* President Abraham Lincoln
* 1st State of the Union Address

Most of page 2 is taken up with: "The President's Message" being the annual state-of-the-union address of the President to Congress, signed in type at its conclusion: Abraham Lincoln.

Logically, much of his focus is on the on-going Civil War and its progress, although there is much more about the state of the nation. Page 3 has an editorial headed: "The President's…

TOMBSTONE PROSPECTOR, Arizona, June 4, 1889  

* Very rare wild West publication
* Gunfight at the O.K. Corral fame

We have had a few other newspapers from the iconic Old West town of Tombstone, but this is perhaps the most uncommon. The masthead features a great engraving of a miner on a mule.
The content is much as would be expected from a mining town, including many legal notices concerning mines, etc. A wealth of ads as well.
Four pages, various chipping near the bottom margin of the back leaf,…

BALLOU'S PICTORIAL, Boston, February 9, 1856  The front page is mostly taken up with the Mass. state arms and scenes emblematic of the state.
Among the prints within are: "Floating Church Off the Tower, London" "Statue of Rubens, At Antwerp" "Royal Spanish Bull-Fight act Madrid". With an article on: "American Indians" are prints of; "An Mandan Chief" "Blackfoot Indian On Horseback" "Sioux Indians Horse Racing" "Indians Skin Lodges" "Dacotah Woman & Assiniboin Girl" "Group of Saukie and Fox…

THE NEWARK EVENING COURIER, New Jersey, Oct. 4, 1867

* First Colored Baseball Championship game
* All Negro players shortly after the Civil War
* Brooklyn Uniques vs. Philadelphia Excelsiors
* Prelude to organized black baseballs leagues 

Established in Newark, New Jersey in June of 1866, the Newark Evening Courier was an enterprising afternoon newspaper with Republican political leanings. By 1867, it had detailed local coverage of municipal proceedings, civic improvements, and Newark's rapidly…

PATTERSON EVENING NEWS, New Jersey, March 20, 1899 

* Martha Place dies in electric chair 
* First Woman executed this way 
* Early, same day report - Sing Sing Prison 

The Paterson Evening News was a prominent, independent daily newspaper published in Paterson, New Jersey, throughout the turn of the 20th century. Editions from 1899 chronicled the daily civic events, politics, and rapid industrial growth of the "Silk City" during a dynamic era of local history.
The top of the front page has a one…

NEWARK DAILY ADVERTISER, New Jersey, May 12, 1859 

* American Chess player Paul Morphy
* vs. 5 European masters in exhibition games
* At London's St. James Chess Club 

This publication served as New Jersey’s premiere daily publication, acting as a crucial media platform and organ of public record during a pivotal period of regional industrialization and mounting national sectional crisis. By 1860, in contrast to other regional newspapers, it began to cautiously promote anti-slavery and free-soil…

NEWARK DAILY ADVERTISER, New Jersey, March 8, 1841 

* Consecration of Congregation Mickve Israel
* Jewish synagogue in Savannah, Georgia - Jews 
* President George Washington's 1790 famous letter fame 

The Newark Daily Advertiser earned its place in history as New Jersey’s very first daily newspaper. Guiding the rapidly industrializing city of Newark through the antebellum era, the paper grew into a powerful political and cultural force.
The bottom of page 2 has a report that begins with: "A Jewish…

Here is a Pennsylvania Railroad pocket schedule dated June 29, 1889 for train service between the two big East coast cities of New York and Philadelphia. This booklet measures 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches and is 4 pages. (see images) Very minor wear along the top margin, otherwise in very nice condition.

Background: The June 29, 1889 date on your miniature Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) timetable carries profound historical significance, capturing the company at a critical turning point in American…

KA ELELE (The Messenger). Honolulu, Oahu, Sept. 24, 1846. Buke 2 (Vol. 2), Pepa (no.) 12.   This is an exceptionally scarce original Hawaiian-language newspaper published during the constitutional era of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Edited under the direction of Rev. Richard Armstrong, Ka Elele ranks among the earliest and most important newspapers printed for Native Hawaiian readers. Appearing at a time when Hawaii possessed one of the world's highest literacy rates, the newspaper served as a…

HARPER'S MONTHLY, Nov., 1887  This complete, illustration-rich issue features an expansive 24-page feature article titled "A Santa Barbara Holiday" by Edwards Roberts. This extensive travelogue is lavishly illustrated with 13 detailed engravings, most notably featuring a magnificent, highly displayable full-page print capturing a panoramic view of Santa Barbara exactly as it stood in 1887.

It is great to have first-hand documentation of Southern California during the legendary "Boom of the

THE NEW YORK TIMES, June 14, 1867

* L. Harris Hiscock assassination
* New York State Assembly - Albany
* General George W. Cole 

Page 4 has a small one column heading: "The Albany Murder" (see images)
Complete with 8 pages, nice condition.

Background: The assassination of L. Harris Hiscock by General George W. Cole represents a watershed moment in American legal history, as the subsequent trial fundamentally shaped how the nation navigated the defense of temporary insanity and the culturally…

Here is a handwritten document dated Nov. 19, 1831 from the "Commonwealth of Virginia" to a sheriff in Prince William County. Generally in good condition however, some margins are a bit irregular but no loss of text. Various endorsements on the reverse side. Measures about 6 by 8 1/2 inches.

THE EVENING TRIBUNE, San Diego, Feb. 21, 1898

* re. USS Maine explosion disaster
* Spanish-American War prelude
* Havana Harbor , Cuba 

The top of the front page has a one column heading: "THE WRECKED MAINE" with subheads that include: "100 Bodies Missing" and more. (see images) Surprisingly this issue is in good condition being from the "wood pulp" era. Very hard to find issues that are not totally fragile from this era in paper.
Complete with 4 pages, 23 x 19 1/2 inches, small library stamp…

NEW YORK TIMES, July 17, 1865  

* Post Abraham Lincoln assassination
* Owner of Ford's Theater letter signed

Page 5 has one-third of a column headed: "Ford's Theatre--Letter from the Proprietor to a Clergyman" which is a letter signed by John T. Ford concerning a minister's opinion on reopening the theater. It is very rare to find in newspapers letters signed by the proprietor of Ford's Theater, particuarly in his defense of attempting to reopen his theater after the assassination.
Page 5 also…

MASONIC MIRROR, Philadelphia & New  York, Feb. 17, 1858 

* Masonic - free masonry - Masons
* Pre American Civil War era 

In the dateline is: "Devoted To The Diffusion Of Masonic Intelligence, Fine Arts, Literature, News, etc." This little newspaper published for the Masons has a very graphic, Masonic-theme engraving in the masthead (see).
Twelve pages, 8 1/2 by 11 1/4 inches, great condition.

Background: The publication of the Masonic Mirror in February 1858 carries profound historical significance…

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Feb. 16, 1865  Among the front page column heads on the Civil War are: "LATE SOUTHERN NEWS" "Rapid Progress Of Sherman" "South Carolina Under His Heel" "He Seizes All The Railroads" "Circumvallates Charleston" "Cuts The Confederacy In Twain" and more.
Inside has much on the war as well, incluiding the back page: "From Gen. Sherman's Army" with many subheads.
Eight pages, nice condition.

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, New York, March 4, 1876  

* Johann Philipp Reis
* German scientist & inventor
* Make-and-break telephone

The ftpg. shows: "An Australian Man-Of-War" with a related article. Inside print: "Professor Reuss' Telephone" with article; "the Invention of  the Telephone" , a crane mounted on a railroad car, and various other articles with prints.
Sixteen pages, some light staining on the front page, otherwise very nice.

Background: This exceptional 16-page issue of the Scientific…

NEWARK DAILY ADVERTISER, New Jersey, March 5 and April 5, 1841  A nice pair of issues of the same title with the inauguration of President William Henry Harrison, and his death report one month later.
March 5: taking most of page 2 is the: "Inaugural Address" of President William Henry Harrison, a very lengthy document. He was just inaugurated the day prior. 
April 5: all columns on all 4 pages have wide, black mourning rules for the death of President Harrison. Page 2 begins with: "Great…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, May 5, 1860 

* Famous boxing match print
* John Heenan vs. Thomas Sayers
* MISSING THE TWO FRONT LEAFS ***

The prime feature of this issue would have to be the great doublepage centerfold print captioned: "Bloody, Brutal, and Blackguard Prize-Fight In England, Between Heenan and Sayers, On April 17, 1860" which shows hundreds of spectators. This historic boxing match is considered the very first world boxing championship. It is a terrific boxing print (see). Page 2 has a…

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 5, 1841  Perhaps the best newspaper to be had on the inauguration of William Henry Harrison as the nation's ninth President, this being the premier newspaper from the nation's capital. 
Most of page 2 is taken up with: "THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS of Gen. William Henry Harrison, March 4, 1841, On entering Upon the Duties of the office of President of the United States".
Fully half of page 3 is taken up with excellent coverage of the inaugural…

THE DAILY DELTA, New Orleans, Sept. 4, 1850  Newspapers from the pre-Civil War South are rather difficult to find. Here is one from Louisiana.
Among the many page 3 ads is one headed: "Slaves! Slaves!! Slaves!!!" which notes in part: "The subscribers are prepared to receive, on consignment, for sale in this market, any number of slaves, having one of the best showrooms in the city, & large & comfortable quarters where every attention will be paid to their comfort. Merchants, planters, and…

THE DAILY DELTA, New Orleans, Sept. 28, 1850  Newspapers from the pre-Civil War South are rather difficult to find. Here is one from Louisiana.
Among the many ads is one on the front page headed: "Slaves! Slaves!! Slaves!!!" which notes in part: "The subscribers are prepared to receive, on consignment, for sale in this market, any number of slaves, having one of the best showrooms in the city, & large & comfortable quarters where every attention will be paid to their comfort. Merchants,…

THE DAILY DELTA, New Orleans, Sept. 14, 1850  

* Rare antebellum publication
* From the deep, deep South

Newspapers from the pre-Civil War South are rather difficult to find. Here is one from Louisiana.
The front page has an illustrated ad: "$20 Reward" for a runaway mulatto boy. Inside are ads for: "Negro Clothing" two more reward ads for a runaway, and an ad headed: "One Negro Man" among other items being auctioned, noting of him: "A certain negro man, slave for life, named William, aged about

NILES' NATIONAL REGISTER, Baltimore, Nov. 15, 1845  The back page has an item noting: "Emma Smith, the widow of the deceased prophet, claims at least a wife's portion of her late husband's worldly gear, including, it is said, besides the Temple itself at Nauvoo, large and valuable tracts of land in Illinois, for Joseph was suspected of having a hawk's eye towards the mammon of unrighteousness. Emma dislikes the notion of leaving those substantial possessions for any prospects which she can…

THE NON-RESISTANT, Boston, Aug. 25, 1841  

* Nauvoo, Illinois 4th of July celebration
* Joseph Smith & the Mormons - Mormonism
* Rare Anti Slavery publication - slaves
* New England Non-Resistance Society
* About 20 years prior to the Civil War

This is a quite uncommon anti-slavery newspaper with an interesting history.
The New England Non-Resistance Society was an American peace group founded by William Lloyd Garrison (publisher of the famous 'Liberator' newspaper) in 1838. At the organizing

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Feb. 17, 1876

* Evangelist Dwight L. Moody's sermon
* Preaches at P.T. Barnum's Hippodrome

The top of page 2 has a one column heading: "THE REVIVAL" with subheads. Text takes up about 2  1/3 columns.
Other news of the day. Complete with all 8 pages, minor spine wear, nice condition.

Background: The New York City Hippodrome Campaign of 1876 stands as a pivotal moment in American religious history, marking the definitive transition of evangelism from rural "tent revivals" to…

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, May 5, 1888  This issue offers a magnificent glimpse into the rapid growth and natural beauty of the American West as viewed through a Victorian lens. 
The back page features four sketches: "California Sketches: Mammoth Trees; Rock and Mountain Scenery." One of the sketches is of the famous Wawona Redwood Tree", and what looks like a side view of Half-Dome overlooking Yosemite Valley (although this is not confirmed). Additional full-page illustrations

THE NEW YORK TIMES, July 23, 1870 

* The tenth Intercollegiate rowing Regatta (1870)
* Famous Yale foul giving Harvard the win
*  Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Massachusetts

The top of page 5 has a one column heading: "THE WORCESTER RACES" with subheads. Text takes up over 2 full columns.
Eight pages, print flaw with a little wear along the last column of the front page, small piece torn away at the upper left corner, otherwise good.

Background: The disqualification of the Yale varsity crew for a…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, August 2, 1879  The full front page is a print captioned: "Edison In His Workshop" showing him at work on an experiment. Very displayable. An inside page has a related article on him, taking 1 1/2 columns.
Other prints within including a full page of: "The Saratoga Regatta", a full page of: "Lake George, Looking Southwest from Black Mountain", "The Moss Bunker or Menhaden Fishery on the Long Island Coast", a full page Thomas Nast political cartoon: "The Campaign…

THE NEW YORK TIMES, New York, September 6, 1866

* Jay Cooke & his banking house
* Financier of the Civil War
* Wall Street Panic of 1873 fame

Page 6 of this newspaper contains an advertisement for the: "Banking House of Jay Cooke & Co." with a few more details (see). Other high profile financier ads as well. (see)
The life of Jay Cooke and his considerable influence in banking & business in the last half of the 19th century can be read at this website.
Complete in 8 pages, various news of the day…

THE FIREBRAND, Portland, Oregon, Feb. 21, 1897  A fascinating newspaper with their motto just under the title: "For the Burning Away of the Cobwebs of Ignorance and Superstition." and the dateline notes: "An Exponent of Anarchist - Communism. Holding that Equality of Opportunity alone Constitutes Liberty; that in the Absence of Monopoly Price and Competition Cannot Exist, and that Communism is an Inevitable Consequence."
Gregory (Union List of American Newspapers) notes that the only…

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Feb. 12, 1876

* Evangelist Dwight L. Moody's sermon
* Preaches at P.T. Barnum's Hippodrome

The top of the 1st column of the front page has a one column heading: "THE REVIVAL'S PROGRESS" with subhead. Text takes up about 2  1/2 columns.
Other news of the day. Complete with all 8 pages, minor spine wear, nice condition.

Background: The New York City Hippodrome Campaign of 1876 stands as a pivotal moment in American religious history, marking the definitive transition of evangelism…

THE LEISURE HOUR, London, Sept. 12, 1861 This 12 page issue measures 9 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches and is "A Family Journal Of Instruction And Recreation" with 2 illustrations.
Nice condition.

Background: The September 12, 1861 issue of The Leisure Hour (No. 507) stands as a vital cultural artifact that highlights the shifting media landscape and socio-political anxieties of Victorian Britain. Published under the direction of the Religious Tract Society, this particular weekly issue embodies the…

THE WEEKLY RECORDER, Chillicothe, Ohio, July 11, 1815  

* Very early & rare for the state of Ohio

This was one of Ohio's most important frontier and early statehood communities. Chillicothe served as the capital of the Ohio Territory and later the state itself for several periods between 1803 and 1812, making it a center of politics, commerce, and communication in the Old Northwest.
Published during the early 19th century, the Weekly Recorder was part of the rapidly expanding newspaper culture…

THE SHAKER, Shakers, New York, and Shaker Village, New Hampshire, July, 1877

* Uncommon title

A monthly publication "Published By The United Societies" for folks in the Shaker community, quite famous today for the style of furniture they produced. This issue has much religious-related content.
Eight pages measuring 13 x 10 1/2 inches, a little irregular along the spine, generally in very nice condition.

Background: This July 1877 issue of The Shaker represents a rare, primary-source artifact of…

LOVELAND REPORTER, Colorado, Feb. 19, 1891  

* Rare Larimer County publication 
* Death f William T. Sherman w/ print

This paper was founded in 1880, only a few years after Loveland itself was established along the Colorado Central Railroad in 1877. As a frontier newspaper, it served a rapidly growing agricultural community in Northern Colorado and chronicled the development of Larimer County during the territorial and early statehood years.
Gregory's "Union List of American Newspapers" notes that…

THE NEW YORK TIMES, June 7, 1868  

* Very 1st Memorial Day observance 

Page 3 has an article related to the 1st official Memorial Day which includes a touching letter from a young girl who had lost her father during the war, addressed to Col. Leaming: "Will you please put this wreath upon some rebel soldier's grave? My dear papa is buried at Andersonville, and perhaps some little girl will be kind enough to put a few flowers on his grave," signed in block type, "JENNY VERNON." It is interesting…

THE NEW YORK HERALD, January 27, 1888

* Walt Whitman's "To Those Who've Fail'd"
* 1st appearance - quite rare

Page 6 has Walt Whitman's "To Those Who've Fail'd," which was a piece written exclusively for the New York Herald. The entire text reads:

 

(2) BOSTON EVENING TRANSCRIPT, November 21 & 26, 1887  The front page of the issue from the 21st has,"Fire Record," which provides an account of the devastating fire in Bridgeport, Connecticut at the winter quarters of P.T. Barnum's "Greatest Show On Earth." The issue of the 26th includes a follow-up report on page 1 which mentions the death of the famed rhinoceros, along with a more detailed account of the fire on page 5. See images for details. Great to have these reports from a major city…

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Dec. 10, 1840  

* President Martin Van Buren
* State of the Union Address

Taking almost the entirety of page 2 is the President's annual state-of-the-union address, signed in type at its conclusion by: M. Van Buren. It is headed: "MESSAGE Of The President of the United States...".
As was typical with this annual tradition, President Van Buren reviewed the events of the year addressing the broad scope of work which concerned the nation in 1840.
Additionally,…

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Oct. 20, 1849 

* California Gold Rush
* 49ers - mining - miners

Page 3 has a terrific, nearly full column report headed: "The California Gold Region" which has much detail and fascinating accounts. It begins: "It is now nearly two years since the discovery of the gold mines in this country...". There is too much fine content to detail here--see the photos.
Page 3 has: "Overland Travel To California" which has: "This gold excitement has caused an…

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Nov. 1, 1879  The full ftpg. is a Thomas Nast political cartoon showing Blacks & captioned: "The Next Debut - Now Let General M.C. Butler, of South Carolina, Show How Bulldozing Is Done."
Prints inside include a halfpg: "The Avery Institute, Charleston, S.C."; a fullpg: "International Cricket Match at Phila." "The Ute War--Colored Troops Fighting their Way into the Beleaguered Camp" & halfpg. on 'The Ute War' plus much more.
Sixteen pages, never bound nor trimmed,…

ADVOCATE FAMILY GUARDIAN, New York, April 15, 1865  

* Printed the Day President Lincoln was Assassinated
* Slavery content

The front page has an article discussing slavery and how Christians should have risen to protest to be, "saved from participation in National guilt...".
Additionally, the front page has a poem which ironacally discusses the death of someone who will never be forgoten. What a beautiful, accidental tribute to the President who was about to be mourned and who did rise and stand…