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A truth… a story… a myth… a discovery – What to do with a 1666 London Gazette?
September 28, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Collectors seek out “rare & early” newspapers for a host of reasons. Some use them as primary source material for research. Others collect them to grasp the contemporary response to an historical event, while others use them to chronical a non-revisionist view of an era. Framing them for display is quite common – whether it be to set a mood, or, as is quite common with museums, to aid in telling the story regarding a display of unique items. Yet another group loves to obtain them to enhance their primary collectible (ex. those who collect early sewing machines finding newspapers with matching advertisements, patents, or early commentary on various stages of development). The possibilities are almost endless.
The topic at hand was recently revived when a collector, who had just purchased a London Gazette dated August 9, 1666 containing a brief report on the week’s mortality bill from the Great Plague (shown below), informed us of his purpose in collecting the newspaper – which we found fascinating… and which eventually led to a discovery.
A Purpose – He purchased to use as inspiration for an event-tethered short story (historical fiction?). If you have a little time, I’m sure he would not mind if you took a gander: THE KING’S BAKER
A Discovery – After reading his story I decided to dig a little deeper into the 1665-6 London Plague and was drawn in by an article posted by the London Museum titled: THREE MYTHS ABOUT THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON
A MYTH – I don’t want to give anything away, but suffice to say, I need to go back to a lot of people and correct what I once thought was true. Yikes!
A Truth – For those who like to pine for the past, during the week prior to the above newspaper’s distribution in 1666, 42 people in London alone were known to have died from the bubonic plague. Life was not easy; but death often was.
September 2026 Newsletter – Rare & Early Newspapers…
September 18, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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Who’s Who in Newspapers? Larry Walters edition (1982)…
September 4, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
If you’re a fan of quirky American folklore, you might recognize the name “Lawn Chair Larry.” Yet few realize the sheer audacity – and immediate, nationwide intrigue that surrounded the moment 33-year-old Larry Walters actually took off into the Southern California sky.
On July 2, 1982, Walters tied 42 helium-filled weather balloons to an ordinary aluminum lawn chair in the backyard of his girlfriend, Carol Van Deusen, in San Pedro. Armed with a pellet gun, a CB radio, a camera, and a parachute, his plan was simple: float lazily across San Pedro toward the Mojave Desert. Instead, when his tether line unexpectedly snapped, Walters shot skyward like a rocket, losing his glasses in the process and soaring to an astonishing 16,000 feet! Freezing in the high-altitude air, he startled commercial airliner pilots who radioed in shock to report a man sitting in a lawn chair in controlled airspace. To descend, Walters systematically popped several balloons with his pellet gun, eventually landing tangled in power lines in a Long Beach neighborhood – unharmed, but briefly causing a local blackout.
His story came to light quite by accident during a search through our archives for something completely unrelated. Our gaze was immediately drawn to the front page of the Los Angeles Times from July 3, 1982, which featured a remarkable photograph of a man taking flight from the comfort of a lawn chair.
If you are fascinated by eccentric dreamers who take “seat-of-the-pants” ambition to literal new heights, spending a little time reading contemporary accounts of Larry Walters’ flight is pure joy. It serves as an amusing, incredible reminder of human ingenuity, boundless determination, and the unpredictable nature of backyard aviation.
Below is a photo from the front page of the Los Angeles Times our friend was seeking, complete with the bold headlines “Seat-of-the-Pants Pilot Goes Aloft in Lawn Chair” and the iconic snapshot showing Walters airborne over San Pedro.
Catalog 370 (for September, 2026) is now available!
September 1, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
September’s catalog (#370) is now available. This latest offering of authentic newspapers is comprised of over 300 new items, a selection which includes the following noteworthy issues: the earliest printed Treaty of Jamestown?, one of two “protest” issues of the ‘Pennsylvania Gazette’, a newsbook report re: the inauguration of Oliver Cromwell, the famed Old West newspaper ‘Tombstone Epitaph’, the Louisiana Purchase Treaty, the Declaration of Independence, and more. To view the entire catalog, go to:
Catalog #370 (for September, 2026)
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We know a piece like the Treaty of Jamestown isn’t an everyday acquisition; however, the 1652 newsbook is so special we couldn’t resist bringing it to center stage. We invite you to take a look and enjoy a truly one-of-a-kind piece of history.
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What remains of last month’s discounted issues may be viewed at:
Discount (select items at 50% off)
Recent posts on the History’s Newsstand Blog may be accessed at:
Our most recent video:
A Nation at its Birth – Shaping the Future (Fight for a Nation – E2)
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August 2026 Newsletter – Rare & Early Newspapers…
August 14, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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Who’s Who in Newspapers? George Ray Tweed edition (1944)…
August 10, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · 1 Comment
If you’re a World War II history enthusiast, you might recognize the name George Ray Tweed — a U.S. Navy radioman known to the world as the “Ghost of Guam.” Yet few realize the sheer grit, luck, and quiet resistance required to pull off one of the most remarkable survival stories in American military history.
When Japanese forces invaded Guam in December 1941, Tweed refused to surrender alongside his comrades. Instead, he slipped into the island’s rugged jungle with little more than a rifle, a radio, and an unwavering determination to stay free. For over two and a half years, Tweed evaded intense enemy patrols, relying on the immense courage of local Chamorro families who risked torture and execution to keep him hidden, fed, and supplied. Using his background as a technician, he even built a crude radio receiver to gather Allied news, transforming himself into a symbol of hope for the occupied islanders.
If you are fascinated by human resilience—and the incredible bravery of civilians who risked everything in wartime—spending a little time researching Tweed’s survival on Guam is deeply inspiring. It serves as a powerful reminder of how ingenuity, faith, and the loyalty of brave allies can overcome seemingly impossible odds.
We discovered him quite by accident as we were searching for a client’s request for a “birthday newspaper“ from the same week. Thankfully, while extracting the date he wanted, we noticed this headline and corresponding photo (in the Minneapolis Morning Tribune, Aug. 11, 1944) which motivated us to see what we could learn about him.
Below is a photo featuring the bold front-page headline: “Dodges Japs 2 1/2 Years on Guam”.
Catalog 369 (for August, 2026) is now available!
July 31, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
August’s catalog (#369) is now available. This latest offering of authentic newspapers is comprised of over 300 new items, a selection which includes the following noteworthy issues: Cornwallis surrenders to Washington at Yorktown, Washington’s first inauguration, the “Cherokee Phoenix”, the Battle of Bunker Hill, a rare 18th century newspaper from Canada, a huge headline on 
the end of World War II, a displayable issue on the death of Marilyn Monroe, and more. To view the entire catalog, go to:
Catalog #369 (for August, 2026)
What remains of last month’s discounted issues may be viewed at:
Discount (select items at 50% off)
Recent Posts on the History’s Newsstand Blog may be accessed at:
Our most recent video:
The Declaration Proclaimed – Military Challenges + Growing Confidence
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July 2026 Newsletter – Rare & Early Newspapers…
July 17, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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Welcome to the latest July, 2026 newsletter from
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Lead-up to a Nation… as reported in the newspapers of the day (reflecting back on June/July, 1776)…
July 15, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · 1 Comment
- Revolution Gaining Momentum – Building on Resistance (Lead-up to a Nation – E44)
- Irreconcilable Actions of England – Royal Authority Suppressed (Lead-up to a Nation – E45)
- The Brink of Independence – England Clings to Hope of Peace (Lead-up to a Nation – E46)
- The Virginia Convention – Colonies urged toward Independence (Lead-up to a Nation – E47)
- Centuries of Struggle – One Declaration that Changed the World (Lead-up to a Nation – E48)
We hope you’ve are enjoyed this year-long trek to the 250th anniversary of The United States through the eyes of those who were fully engaged, first hand. As we continue with the next phase of the journey, as mentioned previously, all accounts will be rooted in what they read in the newspapers of the day.
“History is never more fascinating than when read from the day it was first reported.” (Timothy Hughes, 1975)
Catalog 368 (for July, 2026) is now available!
July 2, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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Catalog #368 (for July) is now available. For those residing in the United States: Happy 250th! For everyone… the links below will take you to the new catalog, a new video in the “Lead-Up to a Nation” series, a set of discounted newspapers, and the most recent post on the History’s Newsstand blog. Please enjoy!
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