Hidden Gems within Rare & Early Newspapers/Magazines… 1792 edition…
May 12, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
We recently listed a Massachusetts Magazine from 1792 with the following description:
Benjamin Franklin’s Will…
The bulk of the issue is taken up with a wide range of eclectic articles as noted on the full title/contents page.
The issue begins with: “Extracts from Dr. Franklin’s Will” which takes over a full page and provides many details on various beneficiaries.
Also within: “Thoughts on Dueling” “The Child Trained up for the Gallows” “A Description of the Dismal Swamp in Virginia” “The Distresses of a Frontier Inhabitant” “Fourteen Causes which Enrich a Country” “On the Climate of South Carolina” and much more.
Near the back is a: “Collection of Publick Acts Papers, etc.” including 3 Acts of Congress, each noted as: “Approved by the President…”, and also: “Abstract of the Proceedings of Congress” taking several pages. Then: “Domestick Chronicle” with news of the day, state-by-state and which includes much on Indian troubles.
Based on only the abbreviated list of articles we included within this issue’s listing, if you could only read one article, which one most attracts your attention? For me it would be Ben Franklin’s will, with “The Child Trained up for the Gallows” and “Thoughts on Dueling” a distant second and third choice. But what if I was from Ohio… perhaps even a region steeped in history related to westward expansion and the Northwest Territory? Well, one such collector fits this description, and without providing the title of the article, perhaps you can guess which captured his interest.

One never knows what one may find within the pages of Rare & Early Newspapers.
PS Food for thought: Viewing the past through a romanticized lens may not always provide the most accurate view.
Highlights from Catalog 330 (May, 2023)…
May 8, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
At the start of each month we (RareNewspapers.com) release a catalog of newly discovered rare & early collectible newspapers. Whenever possible, along with the announcement of the catalog’s availability, we also like to include a brief video highlighting a selection of the key issues along with a few examples of interesting newspapers for those on a tight budget. This month’s video is shown below. We hope you enjoy.
Announcing: Catalog #330 for May, 2023 – Rare & Early Newspapers…
April 28, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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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.]
They Put It In Print – Everyone Aboard The Titanic Survived!!?
April 19, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Eternally filed the bin labelled “Don’t Believe Everything You Read” is the report found in the Oakland Tribune, April 15, 1912, that all of the passengers aboard the Titanic survived. Yet another example of newspaper publishers pushing too hard to scoop all others. I wonder if they bothered posting a retraction in the following day’s issue.
The April (2023) Newsletter from Rare & Early Newspapers…
April 15, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Monthly Newsletter ~ Rare & Early Newspapers
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From the Vault: Best of the 20th century?
April 10, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
As newspaper collectors we dream of “the event” we’d like to add to our collection. It’s the search for that issue–or issues–which make this a fascinating hobby. This is, after all, a very visual hobby. How displayable are stamps and coins? Huge headlines proclaiming a cataclysmic event or magnificent achievement lend themselves so well to display, much more so than an original document about the event.
The 20th century had a great wealth of interesting events. But what is the best? If you could only make one choice, what single headline of the 20th century would you most want to see in your collection?
I wrestle with how to approach this thought: most life-altering? most recognizable? most historic? most appealing for display? I believe the first Wright brothers‘ flight is the most life-altering; “Dewey Defeats” Truman” as the most recognizable; and a great “Titanic Sinks” report as the most displayable. Some newspapers did much with the events of the gangster era, and certainly the “careers” of Bonnie & Clyde, John Dillinger and Al Capone are well known and significant reports would be attention-grabbers on any wall. On a more positive note there are some spectacular “V-E Day” and “V-J Day” issues celebrating the end of World War II. But limiting myself to just a single issue I would take “Titanic Sinks”. ….what’s your thought?
Note: The History’s Newsstand Blog went live for the first time in 2008. Since then our goal has been to provide informative of interest to both novice and well-oiled collectors of Rare & Early Newspapers. The focus of the “From the Vault” series is to introduce the current generation of collectors to posts from the past (with occasional updates as appropriate). The original post shown above can be viewed at:
Highlights from Catalog #329 – Rare, Early, & Historic Newspapers…
April 7, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
A few days ago we announced the release of our latest catalog of Rare & Early Newspapers (released for April, 2023). Some were wondering if we were going to post a corresponding video showing the highlights – along with a few budget-friendly items. The answer? YES! Please enjoy.
Snapshot 1665 – The Oldest Continuously Published Newspaper is Born…
April 3, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
The London Gazette (eventually shortened to merely The Gazette) is the oldest newspaper in current publication, and reaches back into the mid 1600’s. Although the first issue under this name was published on February 5, 1666 (dated 1665 using the Julian/Old Style Calander), the first 23 issues were titled The Oxford Gazette, dating the onset of this renowned publication (i.e., issue 1, vol. 1) November 16, 1665. An image of this very first issue is shown below. You can read more about The London Gazette on their currently running website, and can view details of this initial printing at RareNewspapers.com.
Announcing: Catalog #329 for April, 2023 – Rare & Early Newspapers…
March 31, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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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.]
The State of the Union… Did you know…?
March 20, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Did you know, starting with George Washington and lasting through much of the 20th century, most newspapers printed the entire text of each President’s Annual Message (State of the Union Address)? Although in some cases only excerpts were given, including the full text was the common practice, and would often take a page or more to print. One of the benefits of this practice was that it enabled newspaper recipients to read the President’s message in-line with a bit of editorial commentary, and then see how people reacted by reading related reports and letters to the editor over the course of the next several days (or more).
Although these issues are very popular with collectors, we (RareNewspapers.com) are always on the hunt for more to offer. Our current inventory may be viewed at:
*State of the Union Addresses
The addresses have been arranged in chronological order so even if you do not wish or are unable to add any to your collection, you can still enjoy reading portions through the images and descriptions to capture the progression of Presidential thought through time.
*The link contains newspapers with both S.O.U.’s and follow-up reporting.




