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Admiral Franklin Buchanan...
The Confederate version of "Harper's Weekly"...
Admiral Franklin Buchanan...
The Confederate version of "Harper's Weekly"...
Item # 582561
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January 03, 1863
SOUTHERN ILLUSTRATED NEWS, Richmond, Jan. 3, 1863 A very rare publication from the Confederacy, only a few issues of which having come into our inventory over the past 35 years. Although much of the content was literary in nature, there are news reports and a few illustrations.
The front page features a nice print of: "Admiral Franklin Buchanan" with the balance of the ftpg. taken up with a lengthy biography of him. Page 2 has a nice editorial piece titled: "Our Paper" which reflects upon four month history of the "Southern Illustrated News", their troubles, struggles, and plans for the future, including; "...We have succeeded. The career of the 'Illustrated News' has been upward & onward from the very start..." & much more. Page 2 also has: "The Times" which takes over a full column to report the latest news from the on-going Civil War. Some bits include: "...When our last issue was published no conception had been formed of the enormous loss which the Yankees had sustained...The battle of Fredericksburg literally stunned the North. They are just beginning to recover...From the south side we hear of no movement of importance. From North Carolina we learn that the Yankees have certainly fallen back to Newbern. They committed the most horrible ravages in their advance...Charleston, Mobile and Savannah have not yet been assaulted...President Davis has issued a proclamation ordering Beast Butler, if taken to be hung on the spot & all his officers to be tried as felons..." and much more.
Perhaps the most unusual aspect of this issue is the page 4 illustration of: "The Adjutant's Tent" with a related article. Such war-related prints within this title are extremely rare, despite the title of the newspaper. The article begins: "We present our readers with 'The Adjutant's Tent', the first of a series of war illustrations which will appear from time to time..." with much more (see).
Also in this issue is a poem titled: "Richmond's A Hard Road To Travel", and there is an illustration of: "Governor John Letcher" with a biography of him. Another poem is on page 7: "Our Martyrs".
Begun on September 13, 1862 the "Southern Illustrated News" sought to fill the void left when the Southern States lost access to Harper’s Weekly and other illustrated newspapers from the North. In its “Salutatory,” in the first issue the editors state: "...We propose to issue an Illustrated Family Newspaper…devoted to literature, to public instruction and amusement, to general news, and to the cause of our country in this trying hour when she is engaged in a terrible, but resolute and hopeful struggle for her liberty and independence..." Although it could be argued it never lived up to all of these goals as reports from the war were very limited, it was an important publication nonetheless. At its peak boasting as many subscribers as the largest daily paper in Richmond. As with all Southern publications it suffered from lack of supplies, reporters, artists and engravers as many had been drafted either into the military or into the service of the Confederate administration to engrave paper money and stamps. The engravings were crude when compared to Yankee publications.
Eight pages, various light foxing, some minor margin tears, generally in very nice condition.
Category: Confederate
No Longer Available
