Historic Newspapers: Search Results

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…

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…

MASONIC MIRROR, Boston, Feb. 27, 1830   

* Masonic - Masons - Freemasonry - Freemasons
* Supported by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts 

Subtitled: "Science, Literature & Miscellany", and in the masthead is: "The Masonic, is a 'Society Whose Liberal Principles are Founded on the Immutable Laws of Truth & Justice.'--Washington". 
This is a newspaper by & for the community of Masons, which includes: "Antimasonry in Massachusetts," "My Wife's Influence" & more.
Eight pages, 9 1/4 by 11 1/2 inches, nice…

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…

NEW YORK HERALD, August 22, 1812 

* Scudder's American Museum
* Leatherback sea turtle display

A back page notice for the: "Mammoth Turtle In Scudder's American Museum" takes nearly half a column and offers many details about this enormous creature. Includes a rather large woodcut of the turtle's head as well.
Complete with all 4 pages, nice condition.

Background: This August 22, 1812, issue of the New York Herald captures a fascinating intersection of early American pop culture and wartime…

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  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 to note that they did find one…

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  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, page 3 has a half column editorial on it, headed: "The…

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. Its 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,…

NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, May 29, 1819 and March 5, 1825  

* Precursor to the Jew Bill - extremely historic
* Equal rights for Jews - voting
* Henry Marie Brackenridge's speech

A pair of issues on the passage of the Maryland "Jew Bill".

May 29, 1819 issue: Certainly the best content is full text of the speech presented by of H.M. Brackenridge in the Maryland House of Delegates when the Jew Bill was under consideration. The text of Brackenridge's speech is headed: "Religious Liberty" and…

SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN, Massachusetts, Nov. 8, 1865 

* Samuel Bowles' serialized travelogue : "Across The Continent"'

Over half of the front page is taken up with a portion of the Samuel Bowles book: "ACROSS THE CONTINENT" "Letters From Mr. Bowles--No. 29" "Our Farewell to Frisco--Dinner & Ball...A final Review of the Mining Questions...Latest News from the Mines--Copper and Quicksilver--The Petroleum Questions--Oil vs. Wine--Through the Golden Gate". Fascinating reading from just after the end…

PUCK, New York, Jan. 24, 1883  

* Color political prints

Puck was a highly influential illustrated satirical magazine, famous for pioneering colorful political cartoons and sharp commentary on American politics, religion, and society. Founded by Joseph Keppler, the magazine used humor and elaborate chromolithographs to criticize corruption, political machines, monopolies, and cultural controversies. 
The key priunt is the doublepage centerfold cartoon “Gambling with Death,” which depicted a…

MASONIC MIRROR, Philadelphia & New York, Sept. 1, 1858  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. Some masonic content but other items as well.
Twelve pages, 8 1/2 by 11 1/4 inches, great condition.

THE WORLD, New York City, March 11, 1861 

* Start of the Civil War close (Fort Sumter)
* Tensions at a boiling point in the South
* Southern slavery and the Confederacy
* History about to be made

From just weeks before the outbreak of the Civil War, this issue has some reports on the impending conflict.
The top of page 4 has a one column heading: "STATE OF THE NATION" with various subheads. (see images)
Complete with 8 pages, uncut and untrimmed, light creasing with toning and a little wear at the…

NEW YORK TIMES, April 21, 1868  

* President Andrew Johnson
* Reconstruction era impeachment trial

The entire front page is taken up with reports on the Johnson impeachment trial, with first column heads: "IMPEACHMENT" "Further Testimony Offered by the Prosecution" "All the Evidence Submitted and the Case Closed" "Arguments to be Commenced on Wednesday" "The Impeachment Trial".
Page 4 has an editorial on the impeachment trial, as well as: "The Issue In Impeachment".
Eight pages, minor light foxing,…

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, July 6, 1865  

* Soldiers' National Monument
* Gettysburg battlefield cemetery 
* Laying the cornerstone celebration

Much coverage on the celebration of the 4th of July, the first since the end of the Civil War. The front page includes: "The Gettysburg Celebration" "Laying the Corner-Stone of the Monument--An Oration and a Poem--A Letter from the President".
Page 4 includes: "Home, Sweet Home!" which begins: "Mrs. Jefferson Davis...writes in March last from Montgomery, that she…

COMMERCIAL HERALD & MARKET REVIEW, San Francisco, Jan. 29, 1880  The focus of this newspaper seems to be on the mining industry, not surprising given the era. The issue is mostly taken up with advertisements and notices.
Four pages, minimal margin wear, good condition. Folder size noted is for the issue folded in half.

THE CONTRA COSTA GAZETTE, Martinez, California, April 24, 1875  An early newspaper from Northern California, just east of San Francisco on the bay. It published in Pacheco until 1873 when it was removed to Martinez.
this is a quite scarce title, as only a few scattered issues are held by institutions outside of the California State Library. The Bancrsoft Library holdings were deaccessioned many years ago, from which this issue came.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed with wide margins, a news…

BOSTON GAZETTE, Jan. 12, 1807

* Edgar Allan Poe's father & mother theater ads
* "The Secret" and "Robin Hood" comedy plays 
* Eliza Arnold Hopkins Poe & David Poe Jr.

The top of page 3 under "Boston Theatre" is a  notice for the performances of "THE SECRET", with Mr. Poe as "Henry Torrid" and "ROBIN HOOD" with Mrs. Poe as "Clorinda" re. the parents of Edgar Allan Poe.
Complete with 4 pages, nice condition.

background: The performance on January 12, 1807, at the Boston Theatre serves as a vital…

GUNNISON REVIEW-PRESS, Colorado, March 11, 1884 

* Rare Old West publication
* Woodstock, Colorado avalanche 
* Gunnison County ghost town 

An uncommon title from this boom mining town in the southwestern quadrant of Colorado tucked in a valley amidst the Rocky Mountains. Gunnison boomed in the late 1870's and early 1880's and was once the home of Wyatt Earp and "Texas Jack". Today there are some 5500 residents of Gunnison.
The top of the front page has a one column heading: "ANOTHER AVALANCHE !"…

THE NEW YORK HERALD, Oct. 25, 1873

* Yellow Fever epidemic of 1873
* Memphis, Tennessee & more

The top of page 4 has a one column heading: "PLAGUE-STRICKEN MEMPHIS" with subheads. (see images) Text takes up over 1 1/2 columns.
Complete with 12 pages, very minor margin wear, nice condition.

Background: The 1873 Mississippi Valley yellow fever epidemic was a devastating outbreak that primarily struck river cities such as Memphis, Vicksburg, and New Orleans, killing thousands and causing widespread…

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Dec. 27, 1817 

* Grand Lodge of Massachusetts notice
* Masonic - Masons - Freemasonry - Freemasons
* The Elephant 'Columbus' engraving
* Asian Pachyderm from India on display
* First ever male exhibited in America 

The front page has a notice for a upcoming meeting headed: "Grand Lodge of Massachusetts" Also contains the seal of the lodge. (see image)
Page 3 has a 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch notice for an exhibition of "The Elephant Columbus", which includes an engraving of an…

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Feb. 28, 1876

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

The top of page 2 has a one column heading: "TURNING MEN TO CHRIST" with subhead. Text takes up almost 2 full columns.
Other news of the day. Complete with all 8 pages, very 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…

GUNNISON DAILY REVIEW, Colorado, Dec. 28, 1881

* Rare Old West title
* Volume 1 issue

An uncommon title from this boom mining town in the southwestern quadrant of Colorado, tucked in a valley amidst the Rocky Mountains.
Gunnison boomed in the late 1870's and early 1880's and was once the home of Wyatt Earp and "Texas Jack". Today there are some 5500 residents of Gunnison.
This is a volume I issue of this early and uncommon title from Colorado. Four pages, a little irregular along the spine with a…

THE NEW YORK TIMES, August 12, 1878

* Wallingford, Connecticut
* F4 tornado storm disaster

The top of the front page has a one column heading: "THE RUIN AT WALLINGFORD" with subheads. (see images)
Complete with 8 pages, good condition.

Background: The Wallingford tornado struck Connecticut in 1878, killing 29 people and injuring over 70, making it the deadliest tornado in the state's history. Likely an F4 in strength, it carved a half-mile-wide path through Wallingford, destroying homes, churches,…

THE WOMAN'S JOURNAL, Boston, Sept. 18, 1880

* Rare publication
* Women's suffrage

Rare women's suffrage paper founded in 1870, produced by--among others--Lucy Stone, Alice Blackwell, Julia Ward Howe, and Mary Livermore. Published: "...to the interests of Woman, to her educational, industrial, legal & political Equality, & especially to her right of Suffrage" as noted on the front page.
Of course, the majority of the articles have to do with women's rights.
Eight pages, a few tiny binding holes and…

HOUSEHOLD WORDS, London, England, Dec. 14, 1850

* Charles Dickens publication

This 24 page issue is in nice condition and measures 6 x 9 inches. This was a weekly journal which was conducted by Charles Dickens as noted in the masthead. This magazine has mainly literary reading (stories, poems etc.), some by Charles Dickens himself.

Background: The historical significance of Household Words lies in its role as a bridge between the high-brow Victorian literary world and the emerging mass-market…

NEW-YORK TIMES, Sept. 23, 1870  Page 3 has: "Base-Ball The Championship Contest--Mutual vs. Atlantic--The Mutuals Win the Champion Pennant --Score 10 to 4". The summary (see) mentions that there was: "...a very large gathering of spectators on the Union Grounds...despite the fact that the admission fee was double the usual charge." Also says there was the largest gathering of fence peepers ever seen at a baseball match, and because there was such an interest in the game: "...the telegraph…

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, New York, March 30, 1878

* Historic Phonograph invention
* Thomas Edison - inventor

Page 3 has a nice 4 1/2 by 4 1/2 inch illustration of Edison's recent invention--the phonograph. Amazed by this uncomplicated apparatus, the report begins: "It is a peculiar feature of the Edison phonograph that no mere description can impart any real adequate idea of its performances. Fully familiar as we are and have been with the machine since its inception, it is still impossible for us to…

THE DUBUQUE HERALD, Iowa, Jan. 5, 1879 to Jan. 28, 1879

* Uncommon Midwestern publication
* Lot of 17 consecutive issues sill bound
* Missing dates Jan. 10 & Jan. 11
* From Dec. 21, 1878 to Jan. 4, 1879

These (17) uncommon 4 page issues have news of the day with several interesting advertisements, many which are illustrated. 
All issues are complete with 4 pages, larger than normal sized paper which measures 27 x 22 inches, light toning and minor wear at the margins, , generally nice. Should be…

NEW YORK TIMES, May 2, 1863  Among the front page column heads on the Civil War are: "From Gen. Hooker's Army" "Rumors of a Battle & a Victory" "The Rappahannock Crossed Both Above & Below Fredericksburgh" "Important From the Mississippi" "Gen. Grant's Army to Motion with Six Days' Rations" "Skirmishing Near New Bern and Little Washington" "Defeat of the Rebels & Capture of Prisoners" and more.
Additional war-related reports inside as well including: "The War In the Far West" & "Jefferson Davis…

SECOND SECTION only of the San Francisco Call, May 8, 1898 

* King Neptune makes a visit onboard the USS Oregon
* United States Navy martime  "Line-Crossing Ceremony"
* "Race of the Oregon" from San Francisco to Florida
* Spanish-American War - "Pollywogs" to "Shellbacks" 

The front page of this section has a terrific illustration of the "Line-Crossing Ceremony" with banner heading: "GLORIOUS VISIT OF NEPTUNE ON BOARD THE BATGTLE-SHIP OREGON" and more. (see images) 
Other illustrations throughout.…

SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Jan. 3, 1872  Very early from San Diego--a volume 2 issue--when the population was just 2,300, with a nice engraving of the harbor in the masthead.  All four pages have various news tidbits of the day, including local, regional, and national reports. A great wealth of advertisements as well, several of which are illustrated.
Four pages, 11 3/4 by 17 3/4 inches, printed on high-quality newsprint, very nice condition.

THE EVENING TRIBUNE, San Diego, May 6, 1898

* Battle of Manila Bay, Philippines
* Admiral George Dewey's victory
* Spanish-American War

The top of the front page has a one column heading: "MANILA BOMBARDED" with subheads. (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. Rare as such.
Complete with 4 pages, 23 x 19 1/2 inches, a few small library stamps within the masthead, a few…

THE CONSTITUTION, Washington, D.C., Aug. 17, 1859  

* Rare pro-slavery publication 
* Pre-American Civil War D.C.

The front page contains five documents headed: "By the President Of The United States", each signed in type by him: James Buchanan.
This was a strongly democratic (pro-slavery at the time) paper with an editorial stance that was decidedly anti-Republican. It stands in dramatic contrast to the Northern papers, which certainly dominate in the collector market. They almost exclusively…

THE EVENING TRIBUNE, San Diego, July 8, 1897

* Nikola Tesla & Thomas Edison 
* "War of Currents" heated  rivalry 
* "Glow Lamp" (cold light) invention

The top of page 3 has a one column heading: "Electric Lighting" with subheads and small engraving of Edison. (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, a few tiny binding holes along the spine, nice…

THE TIMES, London, May 8, 1840

* The disappearance of Father Thomas
* Led to the severe Jewish persecution
* Profoundly historic - notorious instance of Judaica "blood libel"

On page 5, under the unassuming heading, "MONEY-MARKET AND CITY INTELLIGENCE", is the inconspicuous but noteworthy report which includes in part: "

The issue is complete in eight pages, is printed on high-quality newsprint, and is in very good condition. A rare and historic issue.
A related post is available on the History's…

NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, July 27, 1822  

* Denmark Vesey slave rebellion... free black man in Charleston, SC
* The 1820  state-by-state slave population and projection for 1830
* Steamboat Robert Fulton, 1st built for ocean travel

The most historic item is found on the back page: a report of the Denmark Vesey slave revolt, noting that eight slaves were executed in Charleston.
The report has a small heading: "South Carolina", followed by updated particulars regarding the slave revolt. See…

BOSTON GAZETTE, April 10, 1809 

* Edgar Allan Poe's mother theater ad (Eliza Arnold Hopkins Poe)

A curious literary item here as the top of page 3 has an advertisement for the "Boston Theatre" for the performance of: "BARBAROSSA", a theatrical performance, with one of the actors being Edgar Allan Poe's mother ("Mrs. Poe) playing "Irene" (see image)
News of the day and other interesting advertisements. Four pages, nice condition.

Background: In the spring of 1809, just months after the birth of her…

The DAILY PROGRESS, New Bern, North Carolina, Aug. 2, 1861 

* Very rare Confederate publication

This is a single sheet newspaper with just a one column masthead, not uncommon from the Confederacy where newsprint was often difficult to come by. From the early part of the Civil War with many items relating to it, including article headed "Resolutions of Mississippi on the Victories in Virginia" is concerning Bull Run; and "Admission of Missouri as a Member of the Southern Confederacy" includes the…