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Announcing: Catalog #358 for September, 2025 – Rare & Early Newspapers…
August 29, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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September’s catalog (#358)
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Snapshot 1866 – Slavery: A Wound on the Soul of a Nation…
August 25, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Few institutions in human history have inflicted more suffering or revealed deeper moral failings than slavery. Its cruelty was evident to many, even in its own time, and voices of conscience spoke out with clarity and passion against it.
Frederick Douglass exposed the hypocrisy of those who justified such inhumanity in the name of religion:
“The man who wields the blood-clotted cowskin during the week fills the pulpit on Sunday, and claims to be a minister of the meek and lowly Jesus.”
Abraham Lincoln, never one to shy away from blunt truths, offered this biting reflection:
“Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.”
William Lloyd Garrison cut to the heart of the injustice:
“The slave is doomed to toil, that others may reap the fruits.”
And Harriet Tubman, who risked everything to lead others to freedom, distilled its evil to its core:
“Slavery is theft — theft of a life, theft of work, theft of any opportunity to shape one’s own destiny.”
While President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863, marked a turning point, the road to slavery’s demise was long, brutal, and soaked in the blood of those who fought to end it. The institution did not go quietly—it clung on with all its bitter force until finally it was defeated, leaving behind a scar but also a renewed hope for the American promise.
This complex and painful chapter was not lost on poet William Cullen Bryant. In 1866, just a year after the Civil War’s end, he shared his reflections in a powerful poem published in the July issue of The Atlantic Monthly. That poem, in its entirety, is presented below—a poignant reminder of what was endured, and what was overcome.
One that didn’t get away: a golden nugget discovered within an 1884 newspaper…
August 11, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Over the years we have emphasized one of the pleasures that is relatively unique to the hobby of collecting rare and early newspapers; that is, discovering hidden gems within their pages. These “finds” are most-often unearthed by those who call to tell us what we missed, and their stories rarely disappoint. In some cases the golden nuggets may significantly impact the collectible value of the issue – such as finding a period mention of Abraham Lincoln prior to him entering the national stage buried deep within a newspaper, or, thanks to the advanced search capabilities now available through the internet, learning that an unsigned letter in an issue of The Gentleman’s Magazine out of London was actually written by Ben Franklin. However, in other instances the value gained is personal.
Such was the case with the January 1, 1884 issue of The Prattsburgh Breeze (NY) – and thankfully, it was discovered while we still had the issue in hand. We already knew it was the 1st issue (vol. 1, #1) of this extremely rare title, and it was listed as such. However, when someone from a (ok, “an”) historical society contacted us to ask if there was a mention of a the neighboring town, as we carefully read through the pages, we discovered the following:
While this may not seem significant to most, it delighted my wife who is an avid fan of all things Joel Chandler Harris in general, and Uncle Remus in particular. If you are unfamiliar with either Mr. Harris or the beloved Uncle Remus, a deep dive into this tandem will be well-rewarded.
Since the saying ‘Happy wife, happy life’ is emphatically true—and since this discovery just upgraded my wife’s happiness—once again, I am compelled to proclaim: ‘I love this hobby!’.
Announcing: Catalog #357 for August, 2025 – Rare & Early Newspapers…
August 1, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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August’s catalog (#357)
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Announcing: Catalog #356 for July, 2025 – Rare & Early Newspapers…
June 27, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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June 19, 1865 – The historical foundation of “Juneteenth”…
June 19, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
“Juneteenth”, also known as “Freedom Day”, traces its roots to June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3, officially freeing the last enslaved people in the western Confederacy. Though President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863, its enforcement relied on Union military presence, leaving remote areas like Texas unaware of their liberty until Granger’s announcement more than two years later.
In the years that followed, formerly enslaved communities in Texas and beyond began marking June 19th with readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, songs like “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and family gatherings. These early observances blended solemn reflection on the horrors of slavery with joyful celebration of resilience and community, laying the groundwork for a distinctly African American holiday honoring freedom and heritage.
Though Texas led the way by making Juneteenth an official state holiday in 1980, its recognition spread gradually until June 17, 2021, when it became a federal holiday—Juneteenth National Independence Day. Today, Juneteenth invites all Americans to reflect on our nation’s delayed promise of liberty, celebrate African American culture, and renew the commitment to racial equality and justice.
Since Juneteenth’s elevation to a federal holiday in 2021, collectors have eagerly hunted for contemporary newspaper accounts of those first celebrations following General Granger’s Order. Yet, such early reports remain elusive—a notable exception being a brief item in the June 21, 1866 issue of The New York Times (shown below).
Although firsthand press coverage is scarce, that scarcity in no way diminishes the profound significance of American slavery’s end. Our nation’s work to fulfill the promise enshrined in the Declaration of Independence—“that all men are created equal” and endowed with “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”—remains unfinished. We must press on with unwavering resolve, viewing one another through the lens of divine dignity birthed by our Creator and allowing that vision to guide how we honor and uplift each and every person.
For those who would like to explore additional related topics through the eyes of “rare & early” newspapers, feel free to peruse the issues found through the following links:
Slavery
Emancipation
Abolition
Does anyone know about this obscure Thomas Nast print from 1877?
June 6, 2025 by TimHughes · 33 Comments
Amongst our holdings is an obscure newspaper called “The People” from New York City, dated November 3, 1877. A closer look notes this is the volume 1, number 1 issue, and more curiously, we can find nothing about this newspaper online. This may be the only issue published, and with no mention of it in Gregory’s “Union List of American Newspapers” one wonders whether any institution is aware it even exists.
Compounding this obscurity is the large comic illustration (shown below) of John Morrissey, done by the famed artist Thomas Nast, verified by a small front page article headed: “Our Cartoon”. It verifies: “The accompanying admirable portrait of Our Great Municipal Reformer is one of the earliest made by Nast, and cost $100. It was engraved by a peculiar process which reversed the artist’s signature; but by holding it before the glass the Nast’s familiar handwriting will be recognized.”
Nothing can be found online of the existence of a Thomas Nast print captioned as noted above, let alone being in a newspaper titled: “The People”. With as much academic research that has been on this famed political artist, I find it interesting that nothing seems to be known of it.
So I reach out to all the Thomas Nast scholars, collectors, and admirers. Is anything out there that we are missing as to the existence of this print? Photos accompany this post. It exists; we just want to know more, and hopefully someone can be of help.
Announcing: Catalog #355 for June, 2025 – Rare & Early Newspapers…
May 30, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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The June catalog (#355) is now available. Shown below are links to various segments of the catalog, our currently discounted
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[The links above will redirect to the latest catalog in approx. 30 days
upon which time it will update to the most recent catalog.]
Announcing: Catalog #354 for May, 2025 – Rare & Early Newspapers…
May 2, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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The May catalog (#354) is now available. Shown below are links to various segments of the catalog, our currently discounted
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[The links above will redirect to the latest catalog in approx. 30 days
upon which time it will update to the most recent catalog.]
Americana at it’s best… The annual Egg Roll on the lawn of The White House…
April 20, 2025 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
I apologize upfront for the fact that so many of my posts lean heavily on nostalgia. Truth be told, I often have to apologize to my kids for how quickly I tear up when I think of the past. Keeping my soft pot for the “good” of the past in mind, it will come as no surprise that I chose the following issue for today’s installment.
The FRANK LESLIE’S ILLUSTRATED for April 23, 1887 featured a delightful full-page illustration of the annual White House Egg Roll. Whoever the artist was (it was described as being from a “staff artist”), they perfectly captured the best of America in all its innocence and deep-felt sense of community. American traditions are part of our core essence as a unified people and they build bonds between us which help us stand firm during the hardships of life. Keep in mind, as Spring and Summer arrive, we are about to be flooded with National Holidays drenched with American traditions. Especially during the upcoming year, in light of our nation’s 250th birthday, may we all pause to appreciate the small but powerful traditions which help define us as Americans.
PS “Red and yellow back and white”… playing out in 1887 🙂
PPS As much as I get weepy when thinking about the past, I do find myself very misty-eyed at what I see and experience in my present as well. Perhaps I’m just a softie?!!