Search
The Rare & Early Newspapers Hobby
Receive the Newsletter
Buy Historic Newspapers
Who’s Who in Newspapers? Lewis H. Latimer edition…
January 16, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · 1 Comment
The 11th installment of: Who’s Who in Newspapers
Lewis who? A collecting-friend recently asked us if we had the death report of Lewis H. Latimer. He sends us similar requests quite frequently, but it rare that I have never heard of the person who’s obit he is seeking. Lewis Latimer is one of the exceptions, and the time spent bringing myself up to speed was worth the effort. Such explorations are one of the attributes of collecting historic newspapers so fascinating. Shown below, absent of any editorializing, is what was found in The New York Times for December 13, 1928, followed by a bit of background. I hope you enjoy.
Our Listing on www.RareNewspapers.com:
Black Americana: Lewis H. Latimer’s death report – member of the Edison Pioneers…
THE NEW YORK TIMES, Dec. 13, 1928
* Death report of Lewis H. Latimer
* Member of the Edison Pioneers
* Credited for drawing plans for Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone
Page 29 has a 2-paragraph obituary headed: “LEWIS H. LATIMER DEAD”, which tells of the death of Black-American Lewis Latimer, a member of the Edison Pioneers. See background details below.
Other news of the day is found throughout.
Complete in 60 pages, slightly irregular along the left spine, in very good condition.
Background (Lewis Latimer): Lewis Howard Latimer (1848–1928) was a groundbreaking African American inventor, engineer, and draftsman whose work significantly shaped modern technology. Born in Massachusetts to parents who had escaped slavery, Latimer faced racial barriers throughout his life but persevered through self-education and determination. After serving in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War, he taught himself mechanical drafting and was hired by a Boston patent law firm.
Latimer played a key role in drafting the patent drawings for Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone in 1876. He later worked with Hiram Maxim and Thomas Edison, where he improved the carbon filament for incandescent light bulbs, making them longer-lasting, more affordable, and suitable for widespread use. He also authored Incandescent Electric Lighting (1890), the first technical book on the subject.
Lead-up to a Nation… as reported in the newspapers of the day (December, 1775)…
January 9, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
The Battle of Great Bridge – Decisive Patriot Victory (Lead-up to a Nation – E18)
The Capture of Montreal – High-water Mark (Lead-up to a Nation – E19)
Proclamation of Rebellion – Colonial Response (Lead-up to a Nation – E20)
Prohibiting Trade – Stopping trade between England and the Colonies (Lead-up to a Nation – E21)
We hope you are enjoying this year-long trek to the 250th anniversary of The United States through the eyes of those who were fully engaged, first hand. As mentioned previously, all accounts are 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)
1776-2026: The Dream Still Shines at Dawn’s Early Light!
January 5, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Whether we call it the Semiquincentennial, America250, the Quarter Millennial, the Sestercentennial, or simply the 250th birthday of the boldest experiment in self-government, 2026 rises like a new dawn—filled with promise, reflection, and hope for every American and every friend of liberty across the world.
The front page below, taken from a newspaper celebrating the Centennial Fourth of July in 1876, carries us back to that earlier moment of celebration—a time when a young nation looked proudly to its past and eagerly toward its future. It reminds us of the countless generations whose courage and sacrifices made possible Franklin D. Roosevelt’s enduring truth:
“We are a nation of many nationalities, many races, many religions—bound together by a single unity, the unity of freedom and equality.”
That vision still lights our way. Yet we are also called to remember Frederick Douglass’s wise and urgent reminder, spoken on the 23rd anniversary of emancipation in the District of Columbia:
“The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful and virtuous.”
As we celebrate this extraordinary milestone, may we lift our hearts in gratitude for the Divine grace that has guided us through triumph and trial alike. And as we look ahead, may we renew our shared promise—to preserve every hard-won freedom and to keep lifting the banner of justice, opportunity, and dignity for all who call this land home.
Here’s to the journey still unfolding. Here’s to the dream still alive.
Happy 250th, America!
Christmas through the eyes of a newspaper from 1794…
December 25, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
As I was searching through our newspapers published on Christmas from the past in the hopes of finding one which would be potentially meaningful to our collecting friends, I came across a December 25, 1794 London Gazette which seemed to hit the mark. I’d love to know if you agree.
Under the heading “AMERICA” on page three I found the entire text of President George Washington’s State of the Union address. It is quite lengthy, and the entire text can be found online, but I was struck by the first and last paragraph – both of which are shown below. Is it me, or could these words have been penned today? Merry Christmas!
Snapshot 1775 – North Carolina Declares itself Independent!
December 19, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · 1 Comment
According to The Cape-Fear Mercury (from Wilmington, North Carolina) dated June 3, 1775, North Carolina declared itself independent long before the 13 colonies did so in early July, 1776. However, there is a slight problem. The issue containing this announcement was a forgery! Whereas we’ve included a copy of the article below, to grasp the extent of this complex forgery, it would be best to read Tim Hughes’ explanation on the issue’s listing itself: The Cape-Fear Forgery. Enjoy.
Thomas Jefferson helps to codify George Washington’s footsteps…
December 12, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
When it comes to collecting rare and early newspapers, those containing the text of presidential annual messages are quite desirable. While a handful are well known (Lincoln’s 2nd annual address, Washington’s 1st, Kennedy’s 1st, etc.), others fly well under the radar. A recently discovered broadsheet (Republican Argus, Extra, Oct. 16, 1808), containing Thomas Jefferson’s final address in 1808 brought this latter group to mind, yet, upon analysis in light of current events, seems to hold its own historically. The summary below, modified from multiple AI sources, is provided so you can draw your own conclusion. Enjoy.
Thomas Jefferson’s Eighth Annual Message to Congress, delivered on November 8, 1808, came at the close of his presidency during a time of international conflict and domestic unrest. He used the address to defend the Embargo Act of 1807, which aimed to protect U.S. neutrality and avoid war with Britain and France by halting foreign trade. Despite its economic toll on American farmers and merchants, Jefferson maintained that economic pressure was preferable to military conflict. The speech also reflected ongoing foreign policy tensions, particularly regarding maritime rights, and the young republic’s efforts to uphold sovereignty amid European aggression.
Jefferson’s speech highlighted the challenges of maintaining neutrality, the importance of strengthening U.S. military defenses, and his vision for internal development, including peace through trade with Native American tribes. It also revealed the political friction of the time, with Jefferson facing criticism from both Federalists and members of his own party over the embargo and proposed federal infrastructure projects. This period of political division underscored deeper questions about the role and limits of federal power in a republic still defining itself.
Most significantly, Jefferson’s 1808 address signaled the end of his presidency and affirmed his decision not to seek a third term. Although he had announced this publicly in 1807, his final annual message served as a symbolic and practical demonstration of his commitment to republican principles. By following George Washington’s example, Jefferson helped establish the precedent that presidents should serve no more than two terms. This voluntary transfer of power reinforced the principle that no individual should hold executive power indefinitely, a safeguard essential to American democracy.
Jefferson’s choice not to pursue a third term, especially during a time of national strain, cemented a critical political norm that influenced every president until Franklin D. Roosevelt. The importance of this precedent lies in its protection against the concentration of power and its promotion of leadership rotation—core values in a constitutional republic. Jefferson’s 1808 address, then, is not just a reflection on policy but a foundational moment in American political tradition, ultimately leading to the formalization of the two-term limit through the 22nd Amendment.
Publishing Under Fire: The Nippon Fijii and the Aftermath of Pearl Harbor…
December 8, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
It’s difficult to fathom what it must have been like to be a Japanese-American living in Hawaii at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack. According to the 1940 census, more than 150,000 Japanese-Americans—roughly 35% of Hawaii’s population—suddenly found themselves in an impossible position, caught between loyalty to their home and suspicion from their neighbors.
Fear quickly swept through the islands. While the sheer size of the Japanese-American community made mass internment in Hawaii unfeasible, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested, many later sent to internment camps on the mainland. Their lives—and their trust in the nation they called home—were forever changed.
It was in the midst of this uncertainty and fear that the staff of NIPPON FIJI, Hawaii’s leading Japanese-language newspaper, produced their December 8, 1941 issue. The paper stands today as one of the most striking and rare firsthand publications from that dark and defining moment in American history.
The December, 2025 Catalog (#361): Must-Have Newspapers for the 250th Anniversary of American Independence (1776–2026)
December 6, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
As the United States approaches its semiquincentennial in 2026, collectors, museums, and history lovers are hunting for the most evocative newspapers from the Revolutionary era. This month’s RareNewspapers.com catalog is packed with exactly those treasures—original issues that let you hold the birth of the nation in your hands. Here are the top standouts that speak directly to the 250th anniversary celebration:
1. #703265 – Massachusetts Centinel, Boston, January 16, 1788 – $5,885
The iconic “Federal Edifice” pillar cartoon showing the 11 ratified states holding up the new Constitution. One of the most famous visual celebrations of the successful Revolution and the founding of the permanent United States government.
2. #687284 – Norwich Packet, Connecticut, December 18, 1783 – $4,275
George Washington’s emotional farewell to his officers at Fraunces Tavern – the moment the Commander-in-Chief resigned his commission and returned power to the people. A perfect “end of the Revolution” companion piece for 2026 displays.
3. #718898 – The Cape-Fear Mercury, Wilmington, North Carolina, June 3, 1775 – $3,995
A rare (and intriguingly forged) Southern colonial newspaper from just weeks after Lexington & Concord. One of the scarcest North Carolina titles from the fateful year 1775.
4. #703479 – The Pennsylvania Gazette, Philadelphia, August 2, 1753 – $3,925
With Benjamin Franklin’s own imprint in the masthead. Franklin, the ultimate Founding Father, printed this very newspaper—making it an ideal pre-Revolutionary artifact leading into the 250th.
5. #703307 – Connecticut Courant, Hartford, February 10, 1777 – $1,485
Prints more than half of Thomas Paine’s legendary “American Crisis” Number 2 (“These are the times that try men’s souls…”). Paine’s words kept the Revolution alive during its darkest winter.
6. #703299 – New-England Chronicle, Cambridge, January 4, 1776 – $895
Major General Charles Lee’s fiery open letter to British General Burgoyne, plus the exposure of Dr. Benjamin Church’s traitorous letter to the British—the first known act of American espionage.
7. #701110 – Boston Gazette & Country Journal, July 9, 1770 – $975
Paul Revere’s famous patriotic masthead engraving of Liberty releasing the dove of peace, combined with fiery coverage of the Non-Importation Agreement in the wake of the Boston Massacre. Pure 1770 resistance spirit.
Also noteworthy in the Revolutionary-era spotlight this month:
• The definitive three-day Battle of Gettysburg coverage is stunning (#705943), but for the 250th focus, the issues above are the true headliners.
If you or your institution are building a 2026 exhibit, creating a museum-quality timeline, or simply want to own the actual newsprint read by Patriots 250 years ago, what remains from the above are viewable HERE.
Which one will be the centerpiece of your America 250 collection? Let us know in the comments!
Lead-up to a Nation… as reported in the newspapers of the day (November, 1775)…
December 5, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Continental Currency – No Power to Tax or Regulate (Lead-up to a Nation – E14)
League of Friendship-Articles of Confederation Underscored National Power (Lead-up to a Nation-E15)
James Rivington – From Impartial to Loyalist (Lead-up to a Nation – E16)
The Liberty Bell – Proclaim Liberty Through the Land (Lead-up to a Nation – E17)
We hope you are enjoying this year-long trek to the 250th anniversary of The United States through the eyes of those who were fully engaged, first hand. As mentioned previously, all accounts are 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)
Announcing: Catalog #361 for December, 2025 – Rare & Early Newspapers…
December 1, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
|
|