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It looks like we might make it to 2013…
December 28, 2012 by GuyHeilenman · 2 Comments
While the jury is still out, it looks like we just might make it to 2013. The Mayans certainly gave us a few things to think about (or at least the head of the Mexican Bureau of Tourism – what a genius). Apocalyptic fears have generated quite a bit of stir over time and have motivated (inspired?) many to think through the eternal vs. the temporal. While this version of the “end of days” may have been misconceived, the process of giving our mortality serious consideration is certainly worth the exercise. In the meantime, please enjoy a newspaper-based look back at similar end of the word fears posted by the British Newspapers Archives:
It’s not the end of the world!
Historical Newspaper Stories About the End of the World
“The United States of America”… humble beginnings?
September 14, 2012 by GuyHeilenman · 2 Comments
One of our rare newspaper friends recently discovered an interesting news item regarding the (potential) first use of “The United States of America” as referring to the American colonies. If true, the first use appeared in a newspaper – a Revolutionary War Era issue of The Virginia Gazette. To add to the intrigue, the origin of the phrase still retains an element of mystery as the article in which it appears was merely signed, A Planter. Thanks to the Byron DeLear of The Christian Science Monitor, and to NBCNEWS.com for bringing this to light. To view the entire article, please see: Who coined ‘United States of America’? New twist to mystery…
Period printing… Did you ever notice…?
April 30, 2012 by GuyHeilenman · 1 Comment
A few months ago we received an inquiry from one of our friends wondering why pre-1900 newspapers included a period after the newspaper’s title in the masthead. While I hold hundreds of such issues in my hands each week, I had never taken notice of this. Wondering if this was in fact the case, I quickly began searching through our 19th and 18th century archives, and low and behold, every title ended with a period. Searching through our 20th century inventory I discovered that none of the issues did. I asked Tim Hughes his thoughts on the matter, and his response was as follows:
Regarding the query about periods at the end of 19th century titles, I don’t believere there is a reason beyond it simply being the grammatical style of the 
period. In fact the practice goes back to the 17th and 18th centuries as well. It was just the way newspapers (and magazines) were laid out, perhaps following some sort of grammatical “rule” of the day. There was also–compared to today–an excessive use of commas within text, which again was just the style of the day.
Perhaps the more interesting question would be when & why was the period eliminated at some point in the 20th century? I would suspect one paper just made the decision and everyone else eventually followed, as there was much competition and copying among newspapers. Sorry I don’t have a more intriguing answer!
If any of our readers have additional information in regards to this, feel free to respond.
Topsy the elephant… Thomas Edision vs. Nikola Tesla…
April 18, 2012 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Each day at Rare Newspapers brings new discoveries. Today we found an item which is quite historic. In 1903, the battle between Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla (and Westinghouse) as to which form of electrical current (DC or AC) was to become the standard, was largely decided – with Edison’s DC current being the loser. Not willing to give up without a fight, Edison attempted to win public and political support by stressing the greater danger of death by electrocution from contact with AC current. In a highly publicized dramatic event, Edison organized and helped supervise the filming and electrocution by AC current of Topsy, a Coney Island circus elephant which had recently killed three men. While the execution was successful, and was overseen by the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Edison was highly criticized for the event which did not accomplish his desired goal. The report was found on the front page of the ALLEGHENY COUNTY REPORTER, Wellsville, New York, January 6, 1903. I wonder if the S.P.C.A. would support such an action today?
Marriage ceremony etiquette infraction?
March 31, 2012 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
I thought the groom was not supposed to “see” the bride on her wedding day until she walked down the isle? The groom apparently had other pressing concerns he felt trumped proper wedding etiquette. His behavior is quite revealing as to his true intentions (New York American, December 18, 1827):
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
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.
Ten Golden Rules…
November 5, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The very first issue of “The British Workman” from 1856, our item 541456, contains a list of “Ten Golden Rules” which are as appropriate today as they were over 150 years ago:
Advice to the working men of England…
October 22, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The very first issue of: “The British Workman” from London, our item 541456, offers advice from Lord Palmerston, a British statesman and two-time Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, which included forward-thinking comments no the use of tobacco. The comments on alcohol are very appropriate today as well:
Actual headlines…
September 10, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
We offer thanks to fellow collector Morris Brill for some of the following headlines which appeared in recent newspapers:
“Iraqi Head Seeks Arms”
“Cold Wave Linked To Temperatures”
“Man Struck By Lightning Faces Battery Charge”
“Many Antiques At Senior Citizens’ Sale”
“Lack of Brains Hinders Research””
“Prisoners Escape After Execution”
“No Cause of Death Determined Fro Beheading Victim”
“Teacher Dies; Board Accepts His Resignation”
“Experts Are Sure The Dow Will Either Rise Or Decline”
“Lucky Man Sees Friend Die”
“Voluntary Workers Strike For Higher Pay”