Search
The Rare & Early Newspapers Hobby
Receive the Newsletter
Buy Historic Newspapers
A suggestion by young men…
January 14, 2012 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The following items from the March 21, 1874 issue of “Harper’s Weekly” is self-explanatory:
The Traveler… seeking Governor Wilson… the cats meow…
January 9, 2012 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I traveled to January 9, 1912. While reading The Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Massachusetts I discovered that not unlike many in 2012, scores of citizens were also looking for the right man to run in opposition of the President in the upcoming presidential election. The headline read “Democrats Turn To Gov. Wilson As Man to Defeat Mr. Taft”, with the subheads, “Decide They Must Nominate Radical to Oppose president, as Conservative, and Thus Avert a Third Party”, “Find Him Popular” and “National Committeemen Surprised to Discover Sentiment Among Rank and File for New Jersey Candidate”. It is interesting to see history playing out many of the same themes over time.
I realize that Christmas has passed, but a small article on “Presents Given To Cats and Dogs” caught my eye. I know that pampering of four-legged friends is very trendy now, but I did not know that it was “cats meow” then as well!
~The Traveler
Be careful what you print…
January 7, 2012 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
“The Norwich Gazette” newspaper from England, May 24, 1729, includes the sentences for several people involved in publishing a certainly issue of “Mist’s Journal” which apparently had content unfavorable to the authorities. Once defendant was sentenced: “…to walk round the four courts in Westminster Hall with a paper on his forehead denoting his offence, and to suffer one month’s imprisonment…”. See the other sentences as well:
A reason to drink?
December 31, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
This front page item from the “Prescott Journal-Miner” of Arizona, October 29, 1929, is self-explanatory. Perhaps some can commiserate. There’s a New Year’s resolution here somewhere…
One never knows… Merry Christmas!
December 24, 2011 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
The Christmas Season is a wonderful time of reflection for many… of love… of giving… of sacrifice. A few weeks ago a man came to us with a story involving rare newspapers (indirectly) which reminded us of the importance of caring for others. The icing on the cake is the involvement of a soldier who had given much… and received so little, until…
Richard Storrs was in the military in 1950 and had the unfortunate fate of being on a train as it traveled through Ohio when it was rammed by another. “221 Guardsman Dead” was the headline of the “Detroit News” of Sept. 11, 1950. Richard Storrs was among the survivors, but he injured his leg causing a disability.
He never received pension benefits from the incident, perhaps not believing it was possible as the years passed. But a prompt from others to pursue let to the need to prove the incident happened. Searching online in 2010 the Storrs’ found our website, which by good fortune happened to have the mentioned newspaper with details of the report on the front page. With this evidence his proof was secured and he was not only able to get pension benefits, but payments missed over the previous 60 years.
One never knows how our newspapers are actually used. We assume only collectors treasure them for historical information related to their interests, but obviously they can provide to be the missing link to family events, solve historical conundrums, and evidence needed to right a wrong from many years past.
The heros of this story are the “others” who will likely forever remain nameless, who saw a friend in need and prompted him to take action. Who can we be an “other” to during this wonderful season? We may never know the results of our kindnesses, but there is Someone who certainly will… and regardless, a child of God will be blessed.
Merry Christmas (Luke 10:25-37)!
The Staff of Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers
The Traveler… promise to pay…
December 19, 2011 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I found myself in London, England with the Post-Boy dated December 20, 1711. I also found that even with traveling back three hundred years, a portion of this paper would fit right into today’s newsstands. An article on the front page of this issue was the reporting “…to Bribe an honest member of the Church of England, to vote against the interest of that church, and his own conscience…”. The text of the “promise to pay” note is included in the article as well.
On the back page of this issue also contains a notice posted by a husband, stating that he would no longer be responsible for his wife’s debts. The description of his wife is very interesting!!
Until next year, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
~The Traveler
Must have sounded better than gunshots…
December 17, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The “Norwich Gazette” of England had this notice (see below) in their August 23, 1729 newspaper. There must have been a heated rivalry between the bell ringers of Norwich and those of Eye in the county of Suffolk. Too bad YouTube wasn’t around then….would have liked to have seen the video.
For sale: an army, and more…
December 10, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
This tongue-in-cheek “For Sale By Auction…A Warlike Nation” advertisement appeared in “The Connecticut Courant” newspaper of Hartford, August 19, 1783, shortly after the end of the Revolutionary War. It offers some biting commentary on thoughts of the politicians of England and the military leadership after losing the Revolutionary War. Enjoy…
The Traveler… Battle of Tippecanoe…
December 5, 2011 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I traveled to December 5, 1811 where I found the Middlesex Gazette from Middletown, Connecticut carried an extract of a letter sent to a Member of Congress. This was reporting on “an action between the troops under Gov. Harrison and the Indians under the Prophet… There were 170 whites killed and wounded, and as many Indians… The battle was fought in sight of the Prophet’s Town…. There has been dreadful slaughter…”, being a report on the famous Battle of Tippecanoe.
Governor William Harrison later became our ninth President of the United States which had the campaign slogan “Tippecanoe and Tyler, too”. He also the shortest serving president and the first president to die in office.
A little tidbit of history for this day… 200 years past!
~The Traveler
A cynical view on the Constitutional Convention…
December 3, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
Perhaps it would not be a surprise that a British report on the beginning of the American Constitutional Convention would have a cynical slant, but this report seems to stretch the point. This observation appeared in the London “Gentleman’s Magazine” issue of July, 1787.