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History's Newsstand Blog

Bring Back the Old Names… Sports Stadiums Losing Their Charm…

January 15, 2024 by · Leave a Comment 
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Guaranteed Rate Field, M&T Stadium, Oracle Park… do any of these names ring a bell for you? Perhaps if they are housing “your team” they seem familiar however, for the rest of us (or maybe just me) they seem boring and generic.

Let’s try again with their classic names… Cominskey Park, Camden Yards, Candlestick. Ahhh, now that feels right. The other day I was talking with some friends and mourning the loss of the classic names for sports stadiums.  As I am sure you are aware, these days the name is offered to the highest bidder.  How long, we wondered, till Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium, Fenway Park are no more? Thankfully, we have record of these gems in Newspapers: THE NEW YORK TIMES, Sept. 14, 1920 … The top of page 13 has a column headed: “Terms Agreed Upon For Yankees’ Park”

Once again, history is preserved in newspapers of the day. Ok, so it may not be as critical to humanity as the founding of our nation but, to a baseball fan, it is still pretty sweet!

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Filed under: Sports, The 20th & 21st Centuries, The Collectible Community
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Taking Stock… Post-New Year’s Eve…

January 12, 2024 by · Leave a Comment 
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Now that the holidays are in the rear-view mirror…

New Year’s Eve is traditionally a time of reflective celebration with family and friends, accompanied by great fellowship, an abundance of food, and a drink or two… or three… or four… or…  Perhaps it was during just such an occasion back in the 1700’s which inspired Ben Franklin to (supposedly) pen, “”Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Before anyone fires off a corrective note in my direction, it doesn’t take a lot of internet-browsing to learn that while this rumor went viral in the 1990’s, his actual statement was in regard to wine – but the point is the same. This beloved forefather loved the company of others, and raising a glass while dining in their company was not a rare occurrence. For better or worse, and with few exceptions, the masses have embraced his lifestyle, with this reality on full display each New Year’s Eve.

No judgement here. After all, let’s review:  A wise man once concluded, “Beer (wine) is proof…”. However, an even wiser Source (also referred to in Franklin’s quote) admonishes us to not over-indulge.

Seizing this position, the famed 18th century doctor, Benjamin Rush, put together a “Moral Temperance Thermometer” (shown below) which was printed in multiple publications of his day – The Columbian Magazine for January, 1789 being the first. Does it have validity? Before deciding, why not give it a gander, chew on it a bit, and drink in Dr. Rush’s illustrated thesis on the matter?

Regardless of your final analysis, may 2024 be a year for us all to enjoy the blessing which come our way… in moderation. 🙂

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Filed under: The Collectible Community
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Q & A – Did older newspapers published on the same day vary in content?

January 8, 2024 by · Leave a Comment 
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In our opinion…

We recently received the following question regarding “different copies of the same newspaper of the same day” from a fellow collector:

Do you by any chance know of any scholarly articles dealing with the possibility of there being variants between different copies of the same early newspaper of the same date?

I ask because in the 1970s (before computers) I found an entry in the Morning Chronicle of London of 29 May 1816 and I published the text of that entry in a book which I published in 1977. I’m pretty sure that I found that entry in an actual copy of the Morning Chronicle at the British Library Newspaper Library at Colindale in London. But now a colleague tells me that he has hunted the text down on the various online archives of newspapers and that he doesn’t find it.

So I’m wondering whether one copy of that newspaper of that day might have had the item and another not. It was a review of a concert “last night”, so it might in theory have been the case that the newspaper office received the review only let’s say in the late morning and put it into only late runs of the newspaper.

Tim Hughes, founder

Tim Hughes’ response was:

To be brief, yes, we have encountered, several times over the past 48 years, issues of the same title and date with slightly different content. And my suspicions are the same as yours: if notable news arrives at the printing office later in the day’s press run I think they did reset some type to accommodate the news. 
There are some titles from the 19th century that are relatively common, so over the years we have had multiples of the same title and date, and upon occasion–yet rarely–we have encountered different content within like issues.
In more modern times the paper would have put out an “Extra” edition with the changed text, but when issues were handset and quite labor intensive, I think they just changed a portion of the paper to those issues late in the press run.
Hope this helps.
If anyone has insight concerning the above, feel free to send your thoughts to me at Guy@RareNewspapers.com

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Capturing the Vibe… July 4th…

January 5, 2024 by · Leave a Comment 
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Welcome back to our ongoing series “Capturing the Vibe” where we try to imagine what the world felt like to a newspaper reader from the past by immersing ourselves in their … “vibe of the day”. This month I was drawn to a paper which was around the celebration of Independence Day 1895. It certainly gives Summer Vibes which is greatly appreciated as Winter is in full swing!

So, on we go with this month’s issue…

 

The Helena Herald is out of Montana … Big Sky Country.

 

Summer is a time for weddings and in Helena, they warranted front page attention.

 

Celebrations will cover the whole state but the fireworks in Helena will “Excell Anything in the State”.

 

 

Full pages of old-fashioned ads delight the eyes.

 

The Wool Shearing has gone slower than normal however, The Yellowstone Valley is selling their wool for 8.5 cents – 10 cents.

 

Not much $ to use for gambling but no need to worry as “The Law Prohibiting Gambling is now in Force in Montana”.

 

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Filed under: The 19th Century, The Collectible Community
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‘Twas the Night Before Christmas in 1923…

December 24, 2023 by · Leave a Comment 
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Just in from Bethlehem…

Merry Christmas from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania,

compliments of The Globe, December 24, 1923!

(view previous Christmas-themed posts)

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Filed under: The 20th & 21st Centuries
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Ben Franklin – a Man of Endless Talents…

December 18, 2023 by · Leave a Comment 
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Perhaps it is the nerdy math-loving side of me that was recently drawn to a Gentleman’s Magazine for July 1768. Years ago, I remember listening to my kids read a book from the “Step into Reading” series: “Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares”. Although this Gentleman’s Magazine lacks the colorful images of a child’s early reader, it is no less fascinating to read about a wonderful mathematical discovery of one of our country’s most brilliant & diverse minds. This gem (the plate within this London publication) would appeal to any Franklin fan or science nerd… at least it jumped out and grabbed me.

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“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”…

December 13, 2023 by · Leave a Comment 
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The world-famous article shown below appeared in THE (New York) SUN on September 21, 1897. It is certainly one of the most challenging issues to collect as few are known to exist. It has been said this may very well be the most recognized editorial of all time. Found on page 6 and headed: “Is There a Santa Claus?”, this is the famous “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” editorial written by Francis Pharcellus Church, a sardonic Columbia College graduate & veteran Sun writer, he produced a masterpiece in fewer than 500 words.

Although the letter from Virginia and the famous response by Church have become well known (translated into 20 languages), few would know the prefacing paragraph which immediately precedes Virginia’s letter: “We take pleasure in answering at once and thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:…” and then Virginia’s letter and Church’s response.

The famous phrase “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus…” begins the second paragraph, and the letter closes with: “…No Santa Claus!  Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.”

The press tracked Virginia until her retirement as a 70-year-old school teacher, while Church remained anonymous as the author until his death in 1906.

As for Church, he was a hardened cynic and an atheist who had little patience for superstitious beliefs, did not want to write the editorial, and refused to allow his name to be attached to the piece. More than a century later, it is the most reprinted editorial in any newspaper in the English language. This reality is a great reminder to all of us to always give our best effort, even when we don’t necessarily agree with those whom are in authority over us – moral conflicts accepted.

So, for a few brief moments let’s set aside the weight of “enlightenment” which is pressed upon us by virtue of adulthood and attempt to appreciate the sweet exchange between a “cynical” journalist and a curious, yet innocent, young girl. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to ALL!

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Filed under: Noteworthy Issues, Post Civil War, The Collectible Community
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“Collecting Newspapers – The Basics” (Part III) – Newspaper Care…

December 11, 2023 by · Leave a Comment 
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We, (Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers), have been collecting and offering old and historic newspapers to the collecting community since 1976 (Tim’s first purchase was in 1975). For those who are either unfamiliar with or new to this amazing hobby, today we are kicking off a series of posts, “Collecting Newspapers – The Basics”, to serve en masse as a Primer for those interested in learning more about the collectible. This is the 3rd installment. Enjoy.

Additional information about the hobby can be found through this Blog and on the Rare Newspapers’ website.

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Filed under: Collecting Newspapers, Common Questions, Newspaper Collecting Ideas, The Hobby
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Capturing the Vibe… Christmas 1903…

December 8, 2023 by · Leave a Comment 
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Welcome to the 2nd post in our ongoing series “Capturing the Vibe” where we try to imagine what the world felt like to a newspaper reader from the past by immersing ourselves in their … “vibe of the day”. This month I was drawn to Illustrated Magazines as Christmas is right around the corner, and they usually offer a plethora of wintery images. 1903 was on a low shelf and so it called my name.

So, on we go with this month’s issue…

 

Sometimes the December 1900’s colored covers are Christmas related and sometimes they are just beautiful!

 

Even though the color cover wasn’t Christmassy, the inside cover was full of Winter spirit.

 

On a somber note, I found a fascinating article comparing Feast-days with Fast-days …  not something you hear in conversations of our days.

 

 

On a somewhat lighter note, I saw a multiple cell comic strip on “Pledges of Purity for the New Year”.

 

 

 

There was an article and intricate image of the New Williamsburg Bridge Christening in New York City…

 

 

 

A story by Robert Chambers…

 

and finally, a political Santa cartoon by W.A. Rogers who took over for Thomas Nast when he left Harper’s Weekly.

 

 

I count this find as an issue full of Christmas gifts!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed under: Harper's Weekly, The Collectible Community
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“Collecting Newspapers – The Basics” (Part II) – What to Expect…

December 4, 2023 by · Leave a Comment 
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We, (Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers), have been collecting and offering old and historic newspapers to the collecting community since 1976 (Tim’s first purchase was in 1975). For those who are either unfamiliar with or new to this amazing hobby, today we are kicking off a series of posts, “Collecting Newspapers – The Basics”, to serve en masse as a Primer for those interested in learning more about the collectible. This is the 2nd installment. Enjoy.

Additional information about the hobby can be found through this Blog and on the Rare Newspapers’ website.

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Filed under: Collecting Newspapers, Common Questions, Newspaper Collecting Ideas, The Hobby
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