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How a change in plans could change the course of history…
October 5, 2026 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
One of the intriguing aspects of collecting early newspapers is the opportunity to learn–with hindsight–how some aspects of history, seeming mundane at the time, could change ever-so-slightly yet affect the course of history forever. Let me explain.
An inconspicuous report in the “Evening Bulletin” issue of Oct. 31, 1863 (shown below), from Providence, Rhode Is., is headed: “The Field of Gettysburg”. Remembering that the historic Battle of Gettysburg was fought nearly 4 months prior, it would have been no surprise that the cemetery at Gettysburg would be formally dedicated to the memory of the thousands who died in that struggle. The planning being of little consequence to anyone at the time, we are not surprised that this is the first such report we have seen in any newspaper.
The report has two points of curious interest. First, the dedication was originally planned for October 22, but it had to be postponed until November 19: “…by which time all the dead braves will be, probably, interred.” There is also mention that: “Edward Everett will deliver, probably, his finest oration…” plus more on the planned event. There was no mention of President Lincoln.
Lincoln was not formally invited to participate until November 2, just 17 days before the ceremony, and 11 days after the original date for the event. By contrast, Everett had been invited months prior. The committee did not expect Lincoln to give a major speech. David Wills’s official invitation letter specifically requested that the President provide just “a few appropriate remarks” to formally set aside the grounds after Everett’s grand oration.
Indeed, Everett gave a “grand oration”. He spoke for two hours (13,607 words), while Lincoln followed with his two-minute Gettysburg Address (272 words), which ultimately became one of the most famous speeches in human history.
What if Lincoln had not been invited at the last minute? The dedication of the Gettysburg Cemetery would still have been reported in most newspapers of the day, given Edward Everett’s speech, but over 16o years later, history would have had little memory of the event. It was Lincoln’s two-minute address that made the difference.
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.
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.
Reasons for the Declaration of Independence. . . Step by Step Logic…
August 28, 2026 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
Often as we have big decisions ahead of us, wise council around us may prompt us to ask ourselves the question. . . why? Knowing the whys can often help point us to answer the more logistical question of how. In April of 1776, the Pennsylvania Evening Post attempted to lay out the why of the enormous decision facing the colonies. Below, read the text and reasoning laid before the citizenry.
Reasons for a DECLARATION of the INDEPENDANCE of the American Colonies.
- THE Colonies will be delivered from two governments directly opposed to each other.
- The Colonies will be delivered from the disorders which arise from the unlimited, undescribed, and sometimes arbitrary powers of Conventions, Committees of Safety, and Committees of Inspection.
- A criminal correspondence with the enemies of this country will be prevented or punished under the article of high treason.
- The Colonies will be delivered from the danger of Crown officers, whose apparent interest it will always be to remain inactive, or to cooperate with the enemies of America.
- The British constitution may be immediately restored to each colony, with the great and necessary improvements of a Governor and Council chosen by the people.
- France will immediately attack Britain in the most defenseless parts of her empire and thus draw off her fleets and armies from our coasts.
- All the powers of Europe will conceive such ideas of our union, love of freedom, and military resources, that they will not be tempted to accept of a share in us upon the condition of conquering us.
If only we could all present our logical arguments in such a concise and impactful manner.
A recently released video related to this post is available at: Independence was Destiny – The Case for Independence
When crises happen, publishers can be creative… Ben Franklin & the Stamp Act…
August 24, 2026 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
Occasionally, a newspaper just doesn’t look like a newspaper. When crises happen, some newspaper publishers can be creative and angry, resulting in “newspapers” that are quite unusual. Here is one.
Looking very much like a broadside (although it is four pages), an issue we purchased many years ago is simply headed: “REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES”, having no date, no city of publication, and no issue number.
With some investigation, we learned that this is actually the November 14, 1765 issue of the famous “Pennsylvania Gazette” printed by Ben Franklin and David Hall. The hated Stamp Act took effect on Nov. 1, 1765. Therefore the paper was suspended and in its place a broadside entitled “No Stamped Paper to be had” was printed for Nov. 7, and this four page issue titled: “Remarkable Occurrences” was created for Nov. 14. The regular title and numbering were resumed with the Nov. 21 issue but without the imprint. No name of publisher appeared until the Feb. 6, 1766 issue printed by David Hall, as the partnership with Franklin had been dissolved.
Never, previously, have we ever handled either of these two issues.
The entire front page is taken up with Stamp Act content. Page 2 has content from Europe, and pages 3 and 4 have content with datelines from Boston, Newport, Philadelphia, and New York with again, much of the content related to the Stamp Act.
This is treasured as one of the more intriguing newspapers in our inventory, and is even more notable with its connection to the Stamp Act.
The reason I collect it: stunning graphics inside… Lincoln’s Funeral…
August 17, 2026 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
We have handled many Lincoln assassination and funeral issues, and many can be graphic in terms of type size and drama of the column headlines. Most notably, the ‘Philadelphia Inquirer’ had several issues from April 17 to 25 with very nice graphic appeal.
But never have we seen inside pages so dramatically presented as with the ‘Cleveland Morning Leader’ issue of April 28, 1865. Although the front page is focused on the capture and death of John Wilkes Booth, as well as reports on the Lincoln funeral (all page 1 and 4 columns have wide, black mourning rules), pages 2 and 3 are consumed with broadside-like graphics, offering no text save for that found within the graphics. Page 2 appears much like a monument in memory of Lincoln, and page 3 has a black border surrounding short poems and portions of a “Speech of Abraham Lincoln” and a line from his “Emancipation Proclamation”.
When first encountered I noticed the ink bleed-through on page 1 and thought it was offsetting from the previous issue (not uncommon). But when I opened the newspaper I discovered something I had never seen the likes of before.
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”.
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)
Strong Foundation … Liberty Takes Continual Work …
July 6, 2026 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
On October 4, 1862, the SOUTHERN RIGHTS out of Jacksonville, Florida had a fascinating issue with a story similar to that of the iconic Vicksburg Daily Citizen issue of July 4, 1863, when the Union troops found the newspaper still in the press, changed the final paragraph to report the Union takeover, and printed the issue.
The SOUTHERN RIGHTS newspaper’s story is found in a listing by the American Antiquarian Society and is as follows:
“Captain Valentine B. Chamberlain was in command of a company of the 7th Connecticut Volunteers who found the printing office and actually printed the issue for Oct. 4, 1862 from the standing type with Capt. Chamberlain’s addition in the first column on page 1 (see below). They then burnt the office and removed the press and types. The Oct. 4, 1862 issue was reissued in Hilton Head, South Carolina by Chamberlain, although retaining the Jacksonville imprint; and also reissued later in Jacksonville by the original printers once they had re-established their shop.
Printed at the bottom of this broadside issue is the following: Explanation–when the U.S. Forces under brigadier general J.M. Brannon visited Jacksonville, Fla., the form of the ‘Southern rights’ was found standing in this office just as it was left by the skedaddling rebels. The office was immediately ‘cleaned out,’ and–there being more ‘devils’ than printers present– the form was thrown into ‘pi’ in less time than it takes to write it. A proof sheet coming into our possession, we re-print the sheet as near like the original as possible, for the purpose of showing to our friends in the North, the ‘talent, vigor, heroism and military ardor’ that is not displayed in this trophy of Jacksonville.”–signed: Printers.
Captain Chamberlain’s addition mentioned above is headed: “Notice”, and reads, much tongue-in-cheek: “The Editor of this paper is absent from town for a few days on urgent business in the interior. It is therefore announced that the publication of this paper will hereafter be weekly suspended as it has been heretofore, weakly continued.
The taking of our battery after a loss of courage, but no blood, and the presence of the Yankee fleet, and the fearful proximity of Gen. Brannan and his forces, render the ‘Southern Rights’ precarious.”
Spinning the Yarn: The Power of Newspapers as Primary Sources…
June 21, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
A collecting friend of ours has published a newspapers-tethered book that might interest many of you. The following summary is provided in case you’d like to take a look:
Spinning the Yarn—written by author Paul M. Bohannon—offers a compelling and original contribution to early baseball history, grounded firmly in the rich evidentiary value of historic newspapers. Drawing extensively from period sources such as Porter’s Spirit of the Times and the Sunday Mercury, the book highlights how contemporary reporting captured not just the scores of early games, but the culture, personalities, and pivotal moments that shaped the sport.
One of the book’s most intriguing revelations centers on an 1855 dinner hosted by Samuel Godwin, president of Brooklyn’s Putnam Base Ball Club. This gathering—held after a decisive victory—brought together players, dignitaries, and crucially, newspaper representatives. As documented in these early publications, the evening marked a turning point: an intentional and strategic outreach to the press that helped ignite sustained baseball coverage. The following year’s reports, including detailed accounts of the Putnam Club’s contests, reveal the emergence of a narrative style that would evolve into modern sports writing.
We extend our thanks (and best wishes for success) to Paul for demonstrating so powerfully how (rare &) early newspapers serve as invaluable primary sources for uncovering and preserving… and in this instance, instrumental on forming the story of America’s past.
[newspapers with baseball content]