Search
The Rare & Early Newspapers Hobby
Receive the Newsletter
Buy Historic Newspapers
Contest Winners… “In Search for the Unusual and Bizarre”
March 18, 2009 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
AND the winners are…
A few weeks ago the History’s Newsstand Blog ran a contest asking members to contribute unusual and/or bizarre articles they’ve discovered through the years. Many unique entries were submitted, and the voting, done by both members and staff, resulted in a photo finish. The results:
1st Place ($100 website gift certificate) -Phil Howland who submitted a St. Louis Missouri Republican, June 22, 1826, regarding “A MISSOURI TRAPPER”
2nd Place ($50 website gift certificate) – Joe Rainone, who submitted THE DAY’S DOINGS, February 10, 1872, regarding General Custer and Miss Spotted Tale”
3rd Place ($25 website gift certificate) -Erik Anderson, who submitted The Gentleman’s Magazine, dated March, 1732, regarding “Vampires”
The entire text all of entries may be viewed at:
“In Search for the Unusual and Bizarre”
Thanks to all those who took the time to submit an entry. Many members indicated by e-mail as to how much the enjoyed reading the entries. The MISSOURI TRAPPER:
Words of wisdom…
March 14, 2009 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
“Harper’s Weekly” of Dec. 5, 1857 has a small item:
“Dr. Stone, of New Orleans, speaking of yellow fever, says–‘The fever has a certain course to run. Keep the patient from dying, and he’ll get well.’ There’s wisdom for you.”
Which was more useful?…
March 7, 2009 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The “Morning Post and Daily Advertiser” newspaper of London, Dec. 4, 1792, has a report:
“A man in the county of Hereford advertises a Mare that has strayed, for which he offers a reward of Five Guineas. In the subsequent advertisement he advertises the elopement of his Wife, for the discovery of whom, he offers a reward of Five Shillings!”
Contest: “In Search for the Unusual and Bizarre”…
March 2, 2009 by GuyHeilenman · 13 Comments
Back by popular demand… A History’s Newsstand Blog contest…
“In Search for the Unusual and Bizarre”
Have you ever discovered an unusual or bizarre report while perusing a rare and early newspaper? If so, our members would love to hear about it. From March 2nd through March 9th we will be accepting your contributions/discoveries. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes will be offered for the most unusual/bizarre postings. To enter the contest simply find your most bizarre report and enter it as a comment to this post. Only one entry may be submitted per person. Please include the title and date of the issue along with the report (or a summary of the report if it is long).
How will the winners be determined? Anyone may “vote” on their favorite choice starting March 10th – only one vote per person please. To vote, submit your selection by e-mail to guy@rarenewspapers.com. Choices must be made by the end of the day on 3/13/2009. Each Rare Newspapers’ staff member will also have one vote. The winners will be announced through the blog and by personal e-mail sometime during the week of 3/16/2009.
What will the winner receive? Winners will have their stories recognized on the blog, will receive a Rare Newspapers gift certificate worth $100 (1st place), $50 (2nd place), and $25 (3rd place), and will have the satisfaction of knowing they contributed to the enhancement of the rare newspapers collectible community.
You may want to view some of our own unusual/bizarre discoveries to help get you started. These are not eligible for the contest. They may be viewed at: https://blog.rarenewspapers.com/?cat=116
Please don’t hesitate. Share your bizarre or unusual report with the world!
Humorous content: Patience, my dear…
February 28, 2009 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
A brief bit in the “Ocean Chronicle” newspaper of February 14, 1887 reads:
” ‘My dear’, said a young wife to her husband, ‘you have never taken me to the cemetery yet!’ ‘No, my love,’ he replied: ‘that is a pleasure I have yet in anticipation.’ “
No comments necessary. 🙂
The first newspaper in Utah…
February 23, 2009 by TimHughes · 2 Comments
There was a great migration to the West in 1847, just two years before a more historic wave of travelers prompted by the California gold rush, when about 2000 Mormons crossed the western plains seeking a location in which they could peacefully follow their religion. Led by Brigham Young, among the many items they included on their journey was a printing press purchased in Philadelphia.
What is now Utah belonged to Mexico in 1847 but the Mexican War, ongoing in 1847, would result in the 1848 treaty which would pass ownership to the United States. But since federal authorities never established a system of government for this new land, the Mormons took matters into their own hands and in 1849 organized the “State of Deseret” (land of the honey bee) with Brigham Young as governor.
Volume one, number one of the DESERET NEWS newspaper, an eight page newspaper just 8 by 10 1/2 inches, appeared in Salt Lake on June 15, 1850 making it the very first newspaper published in Utah. It printed for just over one year before it was suspended for several months for lack of paper. Begun as a weekly, after just four months it became a semimonthly but returned as a weekly in 1854. Conditions for printing were harsh and crude so far from the more settled areas of the country over 1000 miles to the east.
We are pleased to share with our collectors the August 17, 1850 issue of the DESERET NEWS from our private collection, just the tenth number printed.
A Bizarre Report: Maybe she was angry about her name…
February 21, 2009 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The “Courier of New Hampshire” newspaper from Concord, Nov. 21, 1795 has a page 3 item:
“Whereas my wife Sukey, having behaved herself much unbecoming a kind and dutiful Wife, and treated me in a cruel and inhuman manner, by beating, bruising, and otherwise ill-treating me–and having taken from me, without my leave and consent, and carried from my house our only child Robert Osgood, in the 7th year of his age; I therefore hereby forbid any persons harbouring or trusting said Sukey and Robert, or either of them, on my account, as I shall not pay any debt of their contracting after the date of this public notice.”
He should have known better…
February 7, 2009 by TimHughes · 1 Comment
Just for fun…
Sometimes it can take 75 years for a tinge of humor to be found in a tragic report, such as the one in the photo. The headline certainly makes one ask: what was he thinking???
This appeared on the front page of the COLDWATER DAILY REPORTER newspaper, Michigan, Sept. 21, 1934.
18th century American magazines: one to share…
February 2, 2009 by TimHughes · 3 Comments
Magazines published in 18th century America were relative few & far between when compared with newspapers of the same era. From the first magazine in 1741 through the Revolutionary War only 18 magazine titles were published, most lasting but a few issues. During the Revolutionary War only one magazine was in print, and it only lasted from January, 1775 through July, 1776, this last issue containing the Declaration of Independence.
Magazines have always been of interest to me since almost all titles carried various news of the day, typically within the back several pages, much like the British “Gentleman’s Magazine” had done since 1731. Some American magazines contained plates as well, but finding issues with the plates still intact can be extremely difficult and frustrating. The more noteworthy the plate, the less likely it will be present, typically removed by some previous owner many years ago. So when issues come on the market with significant plates still bound within the issue, it’s a moment of much excitement.
Here is one from our private collection, The Columbian Magazine from Philadelphia dated January, 1787, which contains a full page plate of “General Washington”, in addition to a foldout plate of the “Meteorological Observations” for the month of December, 1786. We are pleased to share these photos with our fellow collectors, and wish all of you the great luck in finding your own American magazine with notable prints!
It’s a family affair…
January 31, 2009 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
Just for fun… Another interesting report…
A report in the CONNECTICUT COURANT of Hartford, April 16, 1790 notes:
“A gang of thieves, near 30 in number, which has for a long time infested Middlesex county, has lately been broken up. Thirteen of them, belonging to one family, were tried last week at Concord, from the Grandfather down to the grandchild.”