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The Civil War… 150 years ago… February 22, 1862…
February 22, 2012 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
An ongoing reflection on the Civil War… 150 years prior to this post…
On February 22, 1862, news was spreading that Jefferson Davis was soon to be elected President of the Confederacy. If so, what would this mean? Would the war soon be over? Would this entrench the opposing sides making an early end nearly impossible? Additional news was spreading that Fort Donelson either was, or was soon to be, under fire. It seemed as if every day brought discouraging news to the North, and quite the opposite to the South. Please enjoy the following original newspapers printed for the day, and see life unfold through the eyes of those present during this flash-point period in American history:
Original Newspapers Read On February 22, 1862
“History is never more fascinating than when it’s read from the day it was first reported.”, Timothy Hughes, 1976
Perhaps the precursor to the shell game?
February 18, 2012 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
The following “invention” appeared in the Scientific American dated November 23, 1878. Perhaps the “shell game” was developed to take advantage of the abundance of this unsold product?
The Civil War… 150 years ago… February 15, 1862…
February 15, 2012 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
An ongoing reflection on the Civil War… 150 years prior to this post…
Today we take a look back at a sampling of the original newspapers printed for February 8, 1862. It is hard to imagine what it was like to rely almost entirely upon newspapers for news concerning loved ones, battle reports, military movements, political decisions, etc. – all of which were rapidly changing the landscape of American experiment in self government. Please enjoy:
Original Newspapers Read On February 15, 1862
“History is never more fascinating than when it’s read from the day it was first reported.”, Timothy Hughes, 1976
The Civil War… 150 years ago… February 8, 1862…
February 8, 2012 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
An ongoing reflection on the Civil War… 150 years prior to this post…
150 years ago today, citizens, from both the north and the south, sat down over a cup of coffee (if they were lucky) to read newspapers telling of the capture of Fort Henry, the Battle of Mill Spring, the available (advertisement) speech by Frederick Douglass, and more, while perhaps looking over large detailed maps of related regions. The daily newspaper was their connection to the events touching nearly every household in America. Enjoy a glimpse of the issues printed for the day:
Original Newspapers Read On February 8, 1862
“History is never more fascinating than when it’s read from the day it was first reported.”, Timothy Hughes, 1976
The Civil War… 150 years ago… February 1, 1862…
February 1, 2012 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
An ongoing reflection on the Civil War… 150 years prior to this post…
On February 1, 1862, the following issues were all held… and read… by those living during the American Civil War. Feelings of fear, sorrow, and uncertainty were prevalent as readers searched for news which would provide a glimmer of hope that loved ones would be safe, the greater good would prevail, and soon all would be well. Experience a glimpse of their world as you browse through the following:
Original Newspapers Read On February 1, 1862
“History is never more fascinating than when it’s read from the day it was first reported.”, Timothy Hughes, 1976
The Civil War… 150 years ago… January 25, 1862…
January 25, 2012 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Today we continue our look back on the Civil War as reported within the newspapers held by those living during the Civil War… 150 years ago to-date (of this post). While many of the issues shown below are no longer available for sale, reading a snap-shot of what was printed for the given day will hopefully provide a glimpse of life during the critical period in American history. Each link shown will take you to the full description w/ images of authentic issues which were held by those living during the Civil War. Today’s selections are:
HARPER’S WEEKLY, NY, January 25, 1862 This issue features a nice full frontpage illustration entitled ‘Little Mac Out Again’ which shows McClellan on horseback. A fullpage features two halfpage illustrations ‘Fort Holt, Kentucky, Opposite Cairo’ and ‘Commodore Foote’s Gun-Boate Flotilla on the Mississippi’. A fullpage “Bird’s-eye View of the Vessels Composing the Burnside Expedition at Fortress Monroe, and Showing Norfolk and Its Approaches”. A halfpage “Map Showing Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds, and the Approaches to Norfolk From the South”. A very nice double page centerfold ‘Grand Reception at the White House, January, 1862’ shows Lincoln & many from the military. A half page “Embarkation of Part of General Burnside’s Expedition at Annapolix, on Board the ‘Hussar'” and a nearly half page “Execution of private Lanahan, of the Regular Army, for Murder, at Washington”. A full page “Birds-Eye View of Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Its Approaches”. A 1/3 page “War Map, Showing the Theatre of Operations of the Mississippi Expedition and General Buell’s Army. The back page features two political cartoons.
The prisoner left with them…
January 21, 2012 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
An interesting legal case reported in the “Harper’s Weekly” issue of May 7, 1859:
The Civil War… 150 years ago… January 18, 1862…
January 18, 2012 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Today we continue our look back on the Civil War as reported within the newspapers held by those living during the Civil War… 150 years ago to-date (of this post). While many of the issues shown below are no longer available for sale, reading a snap-shot of what was printed for the given day will hopefully provide a glimpse of life during the critical period in American history. Each link shown will take you to the full description w/ images of authentic issues which were held by those living during the Civil War. Today’s selections are:
Harper’s WEEKLY, Jan. 18, 1862 Ftpg. shows; ‘Fort Royal Ferry, Scene of the Battle of First Jan.’ & ‘Scene in the Parlor of Mr. Barnwell’s House at Beaufort, S.C.’ shows a Black family lounging & playing the piano. Fullpg: ‘The Vessels of Gen. Burnside’s Expedition at Annapolis’ halfpg: ‘The War In Va.–A Reconnaissance in a Laurel Brake’ ‘ & ‘Bringing In Rebel Prisoners’ & ‘The Union Prisoners at Richmond, Va.’dblpgctrfld: ‘The City of Richmond, Va.’ fullpg. by Winslow Homer: ‘The Skating Season’
One collector’s passion…
January 16, 2012 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Old newspapers are not only great “stand alone” collectibles, but many collect them to be used as companion pieces to a separate primary interest. A fellow collector recently obtained what would normally have been considered a rather nondescript issue of Harper’s Weekly. However, after reading his note, I was reminded of the breadth of our favorite pass-time… rare & early newspapers. Please enjoy his story:
Hello, Guy…
I received the above order this past Saturday [a Harper’s Weekly, November 12, 1904, from New York, with “A Bird’s-Eye View of New York’s Rapid Transit Plans for the Future” by H. M. Pettit]. Ordinarily, I would not go to this length to confirm receipt of your fine products, but this is about a unique affair…something very different for me, and one – quite honestly – I never imagined would “come true”.
As you know, I’ve been studying the history of New York’s original Pennsylvania Station for many years now, and these studies have taken me on some incredible “journeys” through the land of (original) archival documents that have, some how, survived the “test of time”. I purchased one of your portfolios because what I recently acquired is so exceptional, it deserves a special place to reside in my archive.
Earlier this month, I inadvertently came upon an issued/cancelled stock certificate that is directly related to the construction of Pennsylvania Station…undeniably the most distinctive “find” I’ve made since I first pursued this subject years ago. What I actually found was a PDF link to the pages of a Spink Smythe auction catalog (pictured below, as Lot #516), the event having taken place in February 2010…Spink, with offices worldwide, specializes in rare stocks, bonds, and paper currency.
The significance of this document is that the Pennsylvania, New York & Long Island Rail Road was one of two “pioneering” ventures (the other being the Pennsylvania, New Jersey & New York Railroad) created in 1902 by the Pennsylvania Railroad to basically enact the provisions of its franchise agreement with the City of New York to build Penn Station and its sub-river tunnels, uniting Manhattan (by rail) with mainland America. These two small railroads – with a combined length of less than 20 miles – were consolidated in 1907 to form one operating authority, the Pennsylvania Tunnel & Terminal Railroad. Given the short “lifespan” and relatively low profile of these two railroads during the years of Penn Station’s construction, any documents pertaining to their existence (that have survived to this day) are very scarce.
I’ve had previous – though limited – experience with the Spink auction house, so I immediately “launched” an investigation into this document, and learned it did not sell at this February 2010 auction! Within a week or so, I made contact with a Spink official (in London, their corporate location) who not only confirmed the status of this item at that auction, but referred me to its consignee, to whom Spink returned the unsold certificate.
Not knowing what I was “in for” from this point onward, I telephoned the consignee, only to discover he is a reputable vendor of stock certificates and bank notes in New Hampshire…extremely knowledgeable, and an absolute pleasure to do business with. I’m sure – privately – he couldn’t believe somebody was calling him (from California, no less!) about a certificate that didn’t sell at auction so long ago, but we, nonetheless, had a wonderful conversation. Lo and behold, after briefly searching his inventory (of Spink returns), he called me back to say he found the certificate I was interested in. He offered it to me at a good price, and I now have this most incredible document (previously, a “distant”, digitized image from a nearly two-year-old catalog) in my possession.
While the “railroad-related” signatures and seals on the certificate are “chock-full” of history (and worth everything to me), an unexpected “bonus” surfaced when the vendor made note of the individual to whom this stock was issued…Clement A. Griscom. He suggested this person might be worth researching, so – while I awaited the certificate’s arrival – I did just that! Born 1841 in Philadelphia (died in 1912), Clement Griscom – pictured in his
1899 portrait above – was not your “everyday” stockholder, but, rather, a prominent shipping magnate…President of the International Navigation (steamship) Company. In 1902, he engaged Pierpont (J.P.) Morgan to finance the merger of International Navigation with five additional steamship lines, including a portion of Holland America, and the White Star Line (of Titanic fame). The Pennsylvania Railroad also retained Mr. Griscom as a director in their Northeast region for many years.
To set this monumental document before you is nothing short of dazzling…printed on watermarked (almost parchment-like) paper, the graphics are precise and impeccably executed. Handwritten inscriptions, such as Clement Griscom’s name and a date (July 1, 1902) – presumably entered by a secretary – and two signatures along the bottom, are all in black (fountain pen) ink, and very legible. The legendary Vice President of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Samuel Rea, signed the certificate to the right, and a very curious Treasurer’s signature – that of eminent 50-year PRR veteran “T {Taber} Ashton – pictured below, graces the left hand corner.
Adjacent to Mr. Ashton’s signature is the “wonder of it all”…a perfectly-embossed seal of the Pennsylvania, New York & Long Island Rail Road, whose name encircles the words, “New York 1902”. On the reverse side of this certificate [IMG 0095] is another set (“trio”) of beautiful graphics that were intended to be “showcased” when the document was folded in “thirds”. Fortunately, it was never folded, which certainly enhances its value and charm. The certificate looks wonderful in the portfolio…a perfect place to keep it for future reference, and to ensure its posterity.
As always…many thanks…
Ed
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: