Historic Newspapers: Search Results

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 4, 1863

• 2nd rate

The most desirable 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."  Although she is not mentioned by name, this was the work of the remarkable Harriet Tubman.

Known as the Combahee River Raid, Harriet Tubman, who had escaped from slavery in 1849 and guided many others to freedom, was working for the Union Army as a spy. The Union ships transported

PUCK, New York, Jan. 3, 1883

• Color political prints

Puck was America's first successful humor magazine of colorful cartoon caricatures and political satire, publishing from 1871 until 1918. It was also the first to successfully adopt full color lithography printing for a weekly publication. The color prints are much desired for their displayability. This issue has as its political cartoons:
front page: "Edson's Fix."
double-page centerfold: "Stalwart Stupidity." 
back page: "Just As Dangerous Now

THE NEW YORK HERALD, June 17, 1873

• Lebanon, Russell County, Virginia
• Negro Archie Johnson public hanging

The top of page 4 has one column headings: "THE GALLOWS IN VIRGINIA: "Execution of a Negro of Russell County" and more. (see) Text takes up a full column.
Complete in 12 pages, nice condition.

Background: On June 13, 1873, Archie Johnson, a 33-year-old Black man, was executed by public hanging in Lebanon, Virginia, for the murder of John Hurt, a white man. The legal proceedings involved a

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Feb. 6, 1863  Among the front page column heads on the Civil War are: "The Removal of Gen. Butler" "The Affair Off Charleston Harbor" "The Affair at Fort Donelson" "The Rebels Driven in Great Disorder" "The Blockade of Charleston" "They were To Attack the City" "The Defeat of Pryor on the Blackwater" "Rebellion on the Borders of Georgia & North Carolina" "Slaves in the Richmond fortifications" and much ore, plus more inside ask well.
Page 5 has a "Special Notice" noting:

THE HOUSE OF SEVEN GABLES (1899 Edition), by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Published in Chicago by Donohue, Henneberry & Co., this un-dated late 19th-century decorative cloth edition features Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic 1851 Gothic romance. A manuscript ink presentation on the front flyleaf reads, "From Willie Helm, Wishing you a Merry Christmas, 1899," establishing its definitive provenance at the close of the Victorian era.

Originally written during Hawthorne’s most productive literary period in

BALLOU'S PICTORIAL, Boston, Massachusetts, August 4, 1855  The front page shows: "Chantrey's Statue of Washington, at the State House, Boston" Among the prints within are: "East India Silk Worm" "South Sea Islanders at Sydney, New South Wales (Australia)" "View of St. John, New Brunswick" "Squaw Rock at Squantum, Mass." "Kanzas City" (Kansas City) which is an extremely early view of a portion of this town, with related text; "City of Muscatine, Iowa" with related text; "Fort Snelling,

DAILY RICHMOND EXAMINER, Richmond, Virginia, July 6, 1863

• Historic Battle of Gettysburg
• From the Confederate perspective

Not only is this a nice newspaper from the Confederacy, but it is from the Confederate capital.
Although the front page has much reporting on the Civil War, certainly the most significant content in this issue is the rather lengthy & detailed reporting on the first two days of the Battle of Gettysburg found on the back page.
The reports are headed: "Latest News From The North"

NEW YORK HERALD, Jan. 5, 1861

• Rabbi Morris... Morris Jacob Raphall
• The Biblical view of slavery
• B'nai Jeshurun (Manhattan Synagogue)

The last column of the front page is taken up with a lengthy report, carrying over to take all of pages 2, 3,4 and 5, with heads including: "STATE OF THE UNION" "Our National Fast Day" "Its General Observance in the Metropolis" "The Religious View of The Crisis" "Sermons, Address, and Prayers by..." "Immense Crowds at the Churches" and more.
Among those who

HARPER'S WEEKLY (single print), New York, Nov. 29, 1862  This authentic, stand-alone, full-page woodcut engraving features Winslow Homer's spirited wartime illustration, "Thanksgiving in Camp,"  from an original Nov 29, 1862 issue.

The artistic and historical significance of this print lies in its vivid portrayal of life behind the battle lines during the second year of the American Civil War. Homer depicts Union soldiers enthusiastically celebrating Thanksgiving in camp—gathering around

HARPER'S WEEKLY (single print), New York, Dec. 3, 1864  This authentic, stand-alone, full-page woodcut engraving features Winslow Homer's poignant holiday illustration, "Thanksgiving Day in the Army—The Wishbone," from an original Dec. 3, 1864 issue.

The artistic and historical significance of this print centers on Homer's remarkable ability to capture the quiet, human moments of Union soldiers during the American Civil War. Published just weeks after President Abraham Lincoln's national

HARPER'S WEEKLY (single print), New York, Nov. 7, 1874  This authentic, stand-alone, full-page woodcut engraving features Thomas Nast's seminal political cartoon, "The Third-Term Panic," from an original Nov 7, 1874 issue.

The artistic and historical significance of this print centers on one of the most famous moments in American political illustration: the very first appearance of the Republican Elephant as the enduring symbol of the GOP. In this famous satire, Nast portrayed various special

THE DAILY DELTA, New Orleans, Nov. 24, 1850  Newspapers from the pre-Civil War South are rather difficult to find. Here is one from Louisiana.
Among the back page 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 families

VERMONT GAZETTE, Bennington, Dec. 11, 1838  Part of page 1, all of page 2, and extending onto page 3 are devoted to the complete printing of the "MESSAGE of the President of the United States to the Two Houses of Congress," signed in type by President Martin Van Buren. This extensive State of the Union address delivers a thorough primary-source recap of the major national, financial, and political developments of 1838.

The historical significance of this address centers on the Van Buren

THE NEW YORK TIMES, March 1, 1859  The top of page 1 features prominent column coverage on the shocking Washington murder case under the multi-line headings: "The Sickles Tragedy", "A Preliminary Examination Waived—Mr. Sickles Remains in Prison", and "Continuation of the Excitement—State of Public Feeling." Taking over half a column, the report details the immediate aftermath of New York Congressman Daniel E. Sickles' sensational murder of Philip Barton Key II—the District of Columbia U.S.

NEW YORK DAILY TRIBUNE, Aug. 13, 1849

• California gold rush
• 49ers

The front page has  2 1/2 columns taken up with the writings of Bayard Taylor, headed: "Bayard Taylor's Letters....No. V" "The Isthmus In July" with many subheads. This is an interesting "travelogue" of a man's journey across the Isthmus of Panama and his experience with travel by ship. Bayard Taylor was a writer of some renown. Page 2 has: "Bayard Taylor's Letters....No. VI" "On The Pacific" with many subheads as well, and closes

THE CRISIS, Columbus, Ohio, Dec. 16, 1863

• President Abraham Lincoln
• State of the Union Address
• Rare pro-Confederate publication

This issue is significant in that it published on page 6 the: "President's Message" being Abraham Lincoln's annual state-of-the-union address, which takes over half of pg. 6 and nearly half of pg. 7 where it is signed in type: Abraham Lincoln. Not surprisingly there is much in this address on the events of the Civil War.
Immediately following this address is a

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., August 17, 1807

• On the Lewis and Clark expedition
• Book prospectus advertisement

A full column of the back page is taken up with a notice headed: "Proposals, By Conrad, Lucas & Co...For Publishing Lewis and Clark's Tour to the Pacific Ocean, Through the Interior of the Continent of North America." 
This lengthy prospectus announces the proposed publication of Captain Meriwether Lewis's official account of the celebrated expedition of 1804–1806, undertaken

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Aug. 7, 1863  Front page column heads on the Civil War include: "Johnston's Army at Enterprise" "Retreat * Scattering of Rebel Forces" "The Situation at Vicksburg" "Preparations for the Fall Campaign" "The Rebel Force at Fredericksburg" "Moseby Capturing More Sutlers' Wagons" & much more. 
Page 7 has nearly half a column headed: "The Sufferings of the Colored People" which begins: "Men of all creeds & parties are unanimous that the most hideous feature of the late riot was the

HARPER'S MONTHLY, New York, NY, December, 1867

• Lengthy article re: Charles Darwin
• Children's nurseries on Randall's Island w/ illustrations

The two most noteworthy items within this issue are: "DARWIN AND DOMESTICATION" - a 5+ page article regarding Charles Darwin, and "THE NURSERIES ON RANDALL'S ISLAND" - a 16 page article with multiple images providing an abundance of details regarding the activities of the orphanage located on the island.
Other topics with related prints are found throughout.

THE DAILY MEMPHIS AVALANCHE, Tennessee, Oct. 30, 1878

• Yellow fever - jack epidemic
• Lower Mississippi Valley
• Memphis, Tennessee hardest hit
• Early sanitation & quarantine measures

The top of the front page has a one column heading: "The Fever" with subheads. (see images) Very rare to have in this Memphis publication, the hardest hit city during the epidemic.
Complete with 4 pages, a large sized issue which measures 27 1/2 x 21 inches, nice condition.

Background:The yellow fever epidemic of 1878 was

HARPER'S WEEKLY (single print), New York, Aug. 26, 1865  This authentic, stand-alone, full-page woodcut engraving features Winslow Homer's sought after "Our Watering Places - The Empty Sleeve at Newport" (showing a Civil War veteran with one arm missing), from an original November 15, 1862 issue of Harper's Weekly.

The artistic significance of this print lies in its subtle, emotionally charged commentary on the immediate post-Civil War era. Published just months after the cessation of

HARPER'S WEEKLY (single print), New York, Nov. 15, 1862  This authentic, stand-alone, full-page woodcut engraving features Winslow Homer's desirable:  "THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC - A SHARP_SHOOTER ON PICKET DUTY", from an original November 15, 1862 issue of Harper's Weekly.

This print is widely acclaimed as Winslow Homer's most famous and important Civil War creation. Sent to the front lines as a special artist for Harper's Weekly, Homer captured a Union sharpshooter perched silently in a pine

HARPER'S WEEKLY (single print), New York, Jan. 25, 1868  This authentic, stand-alone, full-page woodcut engraving features the Winslow Homer illustration, "Winter", which is a desirable ice-skating scene from an original January 25, 1868 issue of Harper's Weekly.

The significance of this print centers on Homer's celebrated series of seasonal and leisure pastimes depicting post-Civil War American life. "Winter" captures a fashionable young woman stepping onto a frozen pond, lace-up skates in

DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Nov. 29, 1847  The front page has a full column taken up with the detailed report of the: "Army Court Martial" trial of Col. John Fremont, which carries over to page 2 as well.
Fremont was convicted in court-martial for mutiny and insubordination over a conflict of who was the rightful military governor of California. After his sentence was commuted and he was reinstated by President Polk, Fremont resigned from the Army.
Terrific to have this

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Nov. 2, 1803  The top of the front page has an historic notice headed: "Louisiana Treaty" announcing the ratification of the treaty by the Senate by which the United States acquired the Louisiana Territory, referred to now as the Louisiana Purchase. It lists the names of the senators who voted against the treaty and those who voted in favor of the treaty.
This report is followed by the text of the: "Treaty Between the United States of America and the French Republic"

NEW JERSEY STATE GAZETTE, Trenton, April 9, 1841  All columns on all 4 pages have wide, black "mourning" rules for the death of President Harrison.
The front page has most of a column headed: "The President's Death" with various details. 
Page 2 has a great wealth on not only the funeral & the funeral procession, but also the details of his death found under: "The Last Hours of Gen. Harrison", with content on page 3 as well.
This is a "2nd rate" newspaper with much wear at folds & margins, with

LE LOUISIANAIS, Convent, Louisiana, Nov. 23, 1878  This four-page Reconstruction-era issue features pages 1 and 2 printed in French and pages 3 and 4 printed in English, reflecting the region's rich bilingual heritage.

The historical significance of this issue lies in the exceptional scarcity of the publication itself. Published in St. James Parish along the Mississippi River, Le Louisianais operated from 1865 through 1883, serving as a vital voice for the local Francophone and Acadian

DEADWOOD DAILY PIONEER, Black Hills, (South Dakota) May 28, 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

THE MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL, Tennessee, Aug. 19, 1880  Among the front page articles are: "Crime & Criminals" "Oklahoma - Arrival of Captain L. D. Payne at Fort Smith Under Rest" "After the Apaches" "Hostile Sioux Surrendered" and much more.
Four pages, large folio size, good condition. The folder size noted is for the issue folded in half.

NEW YORK DAILY TRIBUNE, Aug. 14, 1865

• Spiritualism condemned by Orthodox Christians
• Post Civil War reconstruction era religion

The top of page 5 has a one column heading: "Spiritualism vs Orthodoxy" and more. (see images) 
Complete with all 8 pages, uncut and untrimmed, very nice condition.

Backgpound: An original August 14, 1865 issue of Horace Greeley’s New-York Daily Tribune featuring the page 5 article “Spiritualism vs. Orthodoxy” is a notable cultural artifact that captures a critical

HARPER'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE, New York, February, 1882  This issue contains an article on: "The American Life-Saving Service" which takes 15 pages and includes 15 illustrations. The article includes descriptions of the various methods of lifesaving as well as the tools used by rescuers.
Also within this issue is: "A Clever Town Built by Quakers" referring to is Philadelphia, which includes 16 illustrations, including the boat-houses on the Schuylkill River.
Contains 150+ pages, disbound without

NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, July 13, 1822

• Denmark Vesey Slaves Rebellion
• Free black man in Charleston SC

The back page has a report of the Denmark Vesey slave revolt, noting that six slaves were executed in Charleston.
The report has a small heading: "South Carolina" and reads: "Six negro men, one of them free, and the rest slaves, were executed at Charleston on the 2nd inst. pursuant to a sentence of death passed on them three or four days before, for being engaged in an attempt to raise

FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, Dec. 30, 1871  Inside has a small print of: "England--A Game of Football, the Last Scrimmage", which is rugby. 
The prime print is one of: "Karl Marx, One of the Founders of the 'Internationale' " with an article on him titled: "Dr. Karl Marx. This is a very early American portrait of Karl Marx, and apparently the earliest presently documented portrait of Marx in an American illustrated periodical. This was just seven weeks after the celebrated portrait

HARPER'S WEEKLY (single print), New York, April 26, 1873  This authentic, stand-alone, full-page woodcut engraving features Winslow Homer's powerful illustration, "The Wreck of the 'Atlantic'—Cast Up by the Sea," from an original April 26, 1873 issue of Harper's Weekly.

The significance of this print lies in its visceral depiction of one of the worst maritime disasters of the nineteenth century. On April 1, 1873, the ocean liner RMS Atlantic struck a submerged rock off the coast of Nova

THE NATIONAL ERA, Washington, D.C., May 5, 1853

• Harriet Beecher Stowe
• "Uncle Toms Cabin"
• Anti-slavery publication

This newspaper is forever linked to the best-selling novel of the 19th century: "Uncle Tom's Cabin", for the book was originally released as a 40 week serial in this anti-slavery newspaper beginning in June, 1851. It was the newspaper's publisher who encouraged Stowe to produce the work in book form, and it is common consensus that the book had much to do with popularizing sentiment

NEW YORK HERALD, June 15, 1870

• Cincinnati Red (reds) Stockings
• 84 game baseball win streak ends
• Brooklyn Atlantics

Page 5 has small column heads regarding the defeat of the Cincinnati Red Stockings by the Brooklyn Atlantics, ending their phenomenal 84-game winning streak with: "The National Game" "The 'Red Stockings' Defeated by a Brooklyn Crowd" (see image) Great to have this report in a newspaper from where the event occurred. 
Complete with 12 p[ages, good condition.

Background: On June 14,

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

THE EVENING TRIBUNE, San Diego, July 8, 1899

• Brazos River flood disaster
• Dewey & Sealey, Texas

The top of the front page has a one column heading: "FLOOD AND FAMINE" with subheads. (see) 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. Rare as such.
Complete with 8 pages, a few small library stamps within the masthead, a few small binding holes along the spine, minor margin wear, generally

THE NEW YORK HERALD, Dec. 6, 1865

• President Andrew Johnson's State of the Union Address
• Expresses deep God-directed gratitude
• Much mention of the loss of Abraham Lincoln

The top of the first column of the front page has a heading: "MESSAGE of the President Of The United States To The Two Houses Of Congress...." Text of the address takes up 5 columns, all on the front page and is signed in type: Andrew Johnson. It includes in part: "To express gratitude to God in the name of the people for the

NEW YORK HERALD,  Sept. 6, 1863

• Tennessee Map - Kingston
• Charleston, South Carolina

The front page is dominated by a large Civil War map headed: "ALL TENNESSEE REDEEMED. The Capture of Kingston--Chattanooga & Knoxville Outflanked...".
Various column heads on the Civil War as well including: "Charleston" "The Rebels Have Fifteen-Inch Guns" "General Foster's Department"  "Gallant & Successful Charges Upon the Enemy" and more.
Eight pages, very nice condition.

HARPER'S NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE, New York, April, 1880  An article titled: "La Villa Real de Santa Fe" has many illustrations of the Santa Fe, New Mexico, vicinity.
Other articles include: "Some Pennsylvania Nooks" with prints of Wayne's Homestead, the Chester Valley & Valley Forge; "An Irish Fishing Village"; "The Swiss Rhine" with many prints of Swiss localities, and much more.
Complete in 160 pages, disbound without the outer wrappers, 6 1/2 by 9 1/4 inches, very nice condition.

HARPER'S NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE, Dec., 1885  Published as a special, elevated Christmas issue, this issue features the true original first printing of The Garroters: A Farce by William Dean Howells, along with a serialized installment of his acclaimed novel Indian Summer. Also included is an installment of Constance Fenimore Woolson’s post-Civil War Southern novel East Angels, alongside an extensive, art-historical monograph on the tragic French watercolorist Léon Bonvin written by renowned art

THE WEEKLY RECORDER, Chillicothe, Ohio, Sept. 13, 1815  Page 7 has a report from Saint Louis: "The Treaty with 3 reports mostly concerning the Indians, one item noting: "...from Gen. Jackson bringing...a letter to Gov. Clark advising him that he only awaits the signal to order a competent force from Tennessee and Kentucky to quiet our frontier...".
The back page has a report headed: "Shocking Massacre". The report describes the 1811 destruction of the American fur-trading ship Tonquin, owned by

NEW YORK TIMES, Oct. 22, 1871

• Death of Charles Babbage - English polymath
• "The father of the Computer" inventor

Among the many front page reports is a very small, inconspicuous, and seemingly innocuous report of the death of a man named Charles Babbage. But there is much significance to this man.

Charles Babbage was an English mathematician, inventor, and mechanical engineer whose designs anticipated the fundamental principles of the modern computer nearly a century before electronic computing

NEW YORK TIMES, March 10, 1864  Among the front page column heads on the Civil War: "Important From Richmond" "Highly Interesting Accounts of the Great Raid" "The Manner of Col. Dahlgren's Death and the Capture of His Men" "Confinement of the Prisoners in Dungeons and in Irons" "Their Promopt Execution Demanded" "The War In West Virginia" and much more.
Other news of the day and period advertising is found throughout.
Eight pages, uncut and untrimmed, good condition.

PUNCHINELLO, New York, Aug. 27, 1870  This is the 22nd issue of this famous title known for its satirical content directed at the various social and political issues of the day. Inspired by the English publication Punch, it existed only from April 2 to December 14, 1870.

The magazine was founded by former editors of Vanity Fair, which went out of business in 1863. They found four investors willing to provide $5000 each—though they did not disclose that they included robber baron Jay Gould,

THE NEW YORK HERALD, Oct. 24, 1863

• Return of General Meade
• Affairs at Vicksburg

• Battle at Bristoe Station

The front page has: "Particulars of the Fight at Colliersville" "Affairs In And About Vicksburg" "The Recent Army Movements in Virginia" "The Battle At Bristoe Station" "CHATTANOOGA" "Changes Of Rebel Generals" "The Army Of The Potomac" "Return Of General Meade to His Command" and much more. 
Complete in 8 pages, good condition.

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, New York, Dec. 2, 1868

• Selfridge's Patent Washington Machine
• 19th century Industrial Revolution

The front page features "Reynolds' Steam Condensing and Water Elevating Engine". Inside the issue are: "Selfridge's Patent Washing Machine"; "Gear's Variety Planing and Molding Machine"; "Hattan's Patent Fireplace"; "Dimock's Thermo-Annuciator"; and additional illustrations, articles and advertisements.
Complete in sixteen pages and in nice condition.

Background: Patented and

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, Nov. 3, 1862

• The African American Delegation to Abraham Lincoln
• Free Negroes - black colonization in Washington D.C. ?

The most noteworthy article is found on page 4 headed: "Free Colored Emigrants" which is a letter from free Washington, D.C. blacks to President Abraham Lincoln in which they plead that he follow-through on his promise to provide, upon his own recommendation made in August, a new homeland in South America.
The letter includes in part: "Many of us, acting

NEW YORK TIMES, June 27, 1861

• President Abraham Lincoln receives
• Honorary degree from Columbia College
• Pre Battle of Bull Run - Manassas, Virginia

Page 4 has a great article: "Abraham Lincoln, LL.D." which begins: "The Trustees of Columbia College, at their Annual Commencement...most happily struck the chord of public feeling, by conferring on Abraham Lincoln the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws...", an interesting fact unknown to many.
Among the front page one column heads on the Civil War are: