Most historic Civil War event (revisited)…

September 28, 2017 by · Leave a Comment 

Continuing with our discussion on the “most historic” reports to be found in newspapers, we have been discussing the events of American history by era, the last being the post-Civil War 19th century. This post will discuss the Civil War era of 1861 – 1865.

Of the many events of the 19th century which changed the course of American history few would argue that the Civil War was the most significant. But what single event during the Civil War would rank as the most significant? If you could only have one newspaper from the Civil War in your collection, what one event would you most desire?

There are a number of events to consider:

1) The election of Abraham Lincoln. Although it happened in late 1860 and not technically from the war, this event would would set the tone of American politics which would lead to the war. What would have happened had he not been elected?

2) The beginning of the Civil War in April, 1861, for obvious reasons.

3) The Emancipation Proclamation of September, 1862, providing freedom to all slaves in all states, although more in theory than practicality.

4) The battle of Gettysburg, as the turning point of the Civil War.

5) The assassination of Lincoln: how would the country been different had he not been assassinated and served out his 2nd four year term?

Perhaps other events should be considered as the most historically significant. What are your thoughts?

My vote would be for the battle of Gettysburg. If it was a given that a war was inevitable to settle the political, cultural & economic divide between the North & South, it’s arguable that the war’s end was decided at Gettysburg. The tide had turned in favor of the North and  at that point it was just a matter of when it would end and not who would win.

What’s your thought?

The best of the best from the mouth and/or hand of Abraham Lincoln…

September 25, 2017 by · Leave a Comment 

What is Abraham Lincoln’s most noteworthy speech, proclamation, letter, etc.? The Emancipation Proclamation? His Thanksgiving Proclamation or proclamation for a National Fast Day? Perhaps it was his 1862 Annual Message to Congress, his 2nd Inaugural Address, or his last public address in 1865? Of course the “go to” answer is often what we now refer to as The Gettysburg Address. The choices are almost endless. However, below is a candidate which appeared in an issue of The Crisis (Columbus, Ohio, May 4, 1864) I’d like to throw into the mix. Why it flies under the radar of notoriety and has never received more recognition is rather perplexing. What are your thoughts? Note: I’d like to thank a friend of Rare & Early Newspapers for suggesting I take a 2nd look.

An absolutely bizarre death report from 1911…

September 21, 2017 by · Leave a Comment 

Mark Twain is credited with posing: ““Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.” If a report our staff discovered on the back page of a Fitchburg Sentinel for October 28, 1911 is any indication… score one for Mr. Twain. View the photo below to see if you agree.

The Traveler… a man of determination…

September 18, 2017 by · Leave a Comment 

I traveled to Boston, Massachusetts today via the Columbian Centinel of September 17, 1817, where I found the obituary for Paul Cuffee. “…He was a descendant of Africa [African Ashanti]: But combated and overcame by the native strength of mind, and a steady adherence to principles which would have done honor to any white man, the prejudices with which the ill-starred inhabitants of the Land of his Fathers, all too generally viewed…”. Upon reading more about Mr. Cuffee on Wikipedia, I found that he was self-taught, a Quaker businessman, sea captain, patriot, and abolitionist, built a lucrative shipping empire and established the first racially integrated school in Westport, Massachusetts.

~The Traveler

The September (2017) Newsletter from Rare & Early Newspapers…

September 16, 2017 by · Leave a Comment 

Each month the staff of Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers sends out a newsletter to our members which includes special offers, discounts, alerts to new inventory, and information related to the rare newspaper collectible.

The September, 2017 newsletter is as follows:

Dear Friend of Rare & Early Newspapers,
Welcome to the September edition of our member’s newsletter. Below please find a handful of links to a free issue from 1865, a new set of issues priced at 50% off, and a few other goodies. Please enjoy.
Free Issue (regular price is $54) – We are offering a free issue (pay only the S&H) of the September 2, 1865 edition of Harper’s Weekly. This issue includes a variety of prints related to immigration (castle Garden, New York), cannibalism in Haiti, investing on Wall Street, the Housatonic Railroad disaster near Bridgeport Connecticut, and a portraits of multiple Civil War officers. The issue will be in average condition (not 2nd-rate), and includes additional prints not described. The issue may be viewed/purchased at: Harper’s Weekly, September 2, 1865. Note: This issue is only available through the provided link. Approximately 10 are available. Please, only 1 per collector.
*Discounted Newspapers – Nearly 250 newspapers have been reduced in price by 50% (through October 15th) and may be viewed at: Discounted Newspapers. The prices shown already reflect the discount. Some of the noteworthy content/issues include: Babe Ruth sets home run record, the Winecoff Hotel disaster, Orville Wright’s death, Bobby Jones wins Gram Slam, 1st robbery of the James Gang, Ethan Allen, General Greene (Rev War), and more.
Catalog 262 continues to be available. The following two links include the remaining items along with remnants for #261:
Recent Listings – Over 700 items have been listed within the last 20 days, many of which will never appear in catalogs. They may be viewed at: Recent Listings
Hollywood – Our listings of Los Angeles newspapers containing death reports of noteworthy actors/actresses and poster-sized ads for the Opening Day showings of many beloved movies continues to grow. They may be viewed at:

Additional Premiere movie ads are available via eBay auctions (opening day ads)
Note: If a favorite movie ad or actor/actress is not shown, feel free to ask. We’ll be happy to check to see if we have a corresponding issue.
History’s Newsstand Blog – Some of the recent posts include:

* Regarding our discounted issues… Why the extreme discount? Having over 15,000 items posted on the Rare & Early Newspapers website, with most links showing the most recently listed items first, there are undoubtedly a host of great items which simply become overlooked. These selected discounts enable us to bring a handful of these to light while benefiting our members.
 Thanks for collecting with us.

If you would like to receive these free monthly newsletters, along with additional news and alerts concerning the hobby, go to:

FREE RARE & EARLY NEWSPAPERS MEMBERSHIP

The Traveler… sail away… and away again…

September 7, 2017 by · Leave a Comment 

This week’s journey took me to London, England, by the means of The London Gazette dated September 5, 1667. This carried the report from Plymouth the that “The Virginia Fleet sailed from hence, and from Foy, on Friday, last are by contrary Winds put back again into this Port, and expect only a fair Gale to encourage them to pursue their Voyage.” What a great reminder as to the difficulties of early trans-Atlantic travel – that which we now take for granted.

~The Traveler

A September, 2017 stroll back thru time – 50, 100, 150, 200, & 250 years ago…

September 4, 2017 by · Leave a Comment 

What news was reported in the month of September – 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 years ago (1967, 1917, 1867, 1817, 1767)? Such a walk back through time via the eyes of those who read the daily and weekly newspapers of the period can be quite revealing. This is why we often say, “History is never more fascinating than when it’s read from the day it was first reported.” The following links will take you back in time to show the available newspapers from the Rare & Early newspapers website. There’s no need to buy a thing. Simply enjoy the stroll.
September:
1967 – 50 years ago
1917 – 100 years ago
1867 – 150 years ago
1817 – 200 years ago
1767 – 250 years ago
Wanting for more? Why not take a year-long gander at 1667, 1717, 1767, 1817, 1867, 1917, and/or 1967?

Announcing: Catalog #262 (for September, 2017) is now available…

September 1, 2017 by · 2 Comments 

Rare Newspapers’ monthly offering of collectible newspapers, Catalog 262, is now available. This latest collection of authentic newspapers is comprised of nearly 350 new items. Some of the noteworthy content includes:

• Newsbook dated 1548
• Boston newspaper with a report on the Battle of Bunker Hill
• A more rare edition of the Herald on Lincoln’s assassination
• Washington’s inaugural address
• Illustration shows the Lincoln assassination
• Confederate newspaper from Houston, Texas

To view the above key issues and a whole lot more, go to: Catalog 262

(The catalog links shown above will redirect to the latest catalog in approximately 30 days.)