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Snapshot 1768 – Ben Franklin’s thoughts on the poor…
April 7, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
I am currently reading “Benjamin Franklin: An American Life” (by Walter Isaacson), and often struggle to put it down. One of the many new things I’ve learned about Franklin: he was always a “work in progress”. Many of his views on significant topics of the day changed over his lifetime – often as a result of his ongoing quest for new information. He was certainly the poster-child for a “life-long learner”.
Two among these adjustments were his thoughts regarding the capabilities of blacks (specifically slaves), and his royalist (devotion to England) inclinations – both which morphed into positions more in line with current thought. However, one stance which stood the test of time and adjusted only microscopically (if at all) was his strong posture towards personal industry – regardless of one’s societal rank. If you were poor, you should work to the best of your abilities in all you do. If you were wealthy, your industry should overflow into looking for ways to contribute to the betterment of society – which included caring for those who were less fortunate. While he was always compassionate toward those at the bottom of the economic ladder, he was also a firm believer in the mantra: “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” He was convinced that handouts to those who were not industrious would only inspire others to join the ranks of the lazy. As harsh as this sounds, his attitude towards those who personally consumed the bulk of their own abundance was no less gracious.
While he spoke on this topic quite often, he put his thoughts to paper through a letter printed in The Gentleman’s Magazine for April, 1768: “Hardheartedness to the Poor Considered”. As was often the case, he signed it using one of his many pseudonyms (Medius). The entire letter is shown below. Whether you agree with his stance or not, one can not argue that he was being vague.
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This Month in History – April…
April 1, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
What a month! As we consider the month of April one would be hard-pressed to find another which is pregnant with as many recognizable historic events. While any attempt to come up with the most noteworthy would certainly be anemic, most efforts to create a shortlist would likely include: Lincoln’s assassination, the attack on Fort Sumter, the end of the Civil War, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, the Pony Express’ maiden trek, the U.S. Mint, Microsoft, and Apple are born, Jesse James is killed, the Titanic sinks, Paul Revere (and his compatriots) make their famous ride, the Revolutionary War begins (i.e., “The shot heard ’round the world” is fired”), a mutiny occurred on the HMS Bounty, Benjamin Franklin dies, and more. The following link will take you to our available newspapers from the month of April:
NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN APRIL
*Although we do not have a contemporary newspaper report to offer (since what we call “newspapers” were yet to exist), far be it from me to not mention the most impactful April event of all time: the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Announcing: Catalog #353 for April, 2025 – Rare & Early Newspapers…
March 28, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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[The links above will redirect to the latest catalog in approx. 30 days
upon which time it will update to the most recent catalog.]
A Fly on the Wall… Ben Franklin at the Printing Press…
March 21, 2025 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
This post continues the series… “I wish I could have been a fly on the wall.”
My husband, Guy, is in the middle of reading the book “Benjamin Franklin: An American Life” by Walter Isaacson. Fortunately for me, each morning over coffee, he loves to share the latest adventures of Ben Franklin – from childhood to Founding Father. His creativity, resourcefulness and brilliance which was present from a young age is inspiring, and watching Franklin mature as the pages turn is a delight.
While I am sure any moment in Ben Franklin’s life is worthy of an, “I wish I could have been a fly on the wall” moment, today, a particular one came to mind which ironically involved newspapers:
THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, Philadelphia, July 19, 1753 is a highly sought after collectible issue regardless of the printer; however, the addition of “Printed by B. FRANKLIN, Post-Master, and D. HALL at the New Printing Office, near the Market” on the back of the newspaper (*when present) makes it even more so. I can just imagine Franklin pouring over his printing press – ruminating over a plethora of ideas for clever articles, puzzles, and tidbits of world-altering wisdom, and then watching some burst forth onto the pages of what was undoubtedly the most popular newspaper of the day, and the 2nd-most sought after publication (his Poor Richard’s Almanac claimed the top spot for a number of years). The image this solicits in my mind certainly leads me to include his “Franklin imprint” in the “I wish I could have been a fly on the wall” category. 
* His imprint, whether it was just his name or included D. Hall’s (depending upon the ownership status of the publication), was always printed at the bottom of the back page. Unfortunately, some issues tacked on an extra advertising leaf in which it was printed, and most of these were handled in the same manner as the advertising inserts of today. They were read and then thrown away. Thankfully, although increasingly rare, some of the issues containing these desirable imprints can still be found.
Artificial Intelligence, Alexander Hamilton, and The Funding Act of 1790…
March 13, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
“A jack of all trades, a master of none” is often how I feel in my role as the overseer of life at Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers. Since collectible reporting covers nearly every topic under the sun (politics, religion, flight, exploration, literature, social issues, war, and more), it is impossible to know everything about everything. Even the areas which are personal favorites are more than enough to drive my quest to be a life-long learner. One such topic involves the early years of American and the “Founding” of The United States. Still, my nearly 7 decades of knowledge-absorption still leaves me wanting. A case in point was recently brought to the surface by a set of 4 issues covering The Funding Act of 1790. I knew the father of the Act was largely Alexander Hamilton and that it was an essential step in the early formation of the U.S., but beyond these basic elements, I admittedly knew little. Since our desire when describing collectible items is to be as accurate as possible, whenever I/we would be presented with a knowledge gap “back in the day”, our bookshelves full of resource material was essential – but cumbersome. Then the internet came alive and our ability to gather information was drastically reduced – especially once we gathered a repertoire of reliable sources. BUT NOW…
The question of the day: “How reliable/accurate is AI?” Only time will tell, but I thought it might be fun to seek a little input as it relates to the topic at hand. I did a basic (“think”) search on Grok (Elon Musk’s AI) for: “Why was the 1790 Funding Act so significant?” The response was:
The 1790 Funding Act was a landmark piece of legislation in United States history, playing a pivotal role in shaping the young nation’s financial and political landscape. Proposed by Alexander Hamilton, the first Treasury Secretary, the act addressed the massive debt accumulated during the Revolutionary War by consolidating state debts under federal control and funding them at full value. Its significance can be understood through several key aspects:
(by John Trumbull)
### 1. **Debt Consolidation and Federal Authority**
The act allowed the federal government to assume the debts of individual states, centralizing financial responsibility. This move stabilized the economy by creating a unified approach to debt management. While controversial—some states that had already paid off their debts opposed subsidizing others—it strengthened the federal government’s authority over the states, marking a shift toward a more centralized system.
### 2. **Establishment of National Credit**
By issuing bonds to pay off old debts and funding them through tariffs and excise taxes, the Funding Act established the United States as a credible borrower. This was critical for gaining the trust of international creditors and investors, laying the foundation for future economic growth. It demonstrated that the U.S. could honor its financial obligations, a vital step for a fledgling nation.
### 3. **Foundation for a National Economy**
The act was a cornerstone of Hamilton’s broader financial vision, which included creating a national bank to manage government finances and issue currency. By addressing the debt crisis and introducing federal taxation, it set the stage for a stable, centralized financial system. This stability was essential for the nation’s economic development and influenced future fiscal policies.
### 4. **Political Impact**
The Funding Act deepened the divide between Federalists, who favored a strong central government, and Democratic-Republicans, who worried about federal overreach. This ideological conflict shaped early American politics and highlighted the act’s role in defining the balance of power between federal and state governments.
In summary, the 1790 Funding Act was significant because it marked the federal government’s first major step into financial governance, resolving the post-war debt crisis while establishing the U.S. as a financially credible nation. It solidified federal authority, built a foundation for economic stability, and influenced the political and economic trajectory of the United States for decades to come.
How did Grok do? Did it miss anything of critical significance?
If so, perhaps you would like to review Grok’s “DeepSearch“.
I’ll admit, AI makes me more than a little nervous; however, if properly constrained… Ok, I’d still be more than a little nervous.
Thoughts?
Announcing: Catalog #352 for March 2025 – Rare & Early Newspapers…
February 28, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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[The links above will redirect to the latest catalog in approx. 30 days
upon which time it will update to the most recent catalog.]
Celebrating Our History – Washington’s Birthday…
February 17, 2025 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
On a chilling February day during the Revolutionary War, the battle stopped long enough for Martha Washington and General Washington’s men to serenade him on his birthday. Although he would not become president for many years to come, no one can argue this was a (ok, an) historic celebration of Washington’s birthday. [Note: From this point on varying states did celebrate Washington’s birthday to honor our 1st Commander and Chief, however, Congress didn’t solidify this as a national holiday until 1879, and it wasn’t until 1885 the observance was extended to provide a day off for Federal workers (i.e., when it became a Federal Holiday). Many decades later Washington’s Birthday was combined with Lincoln’s to create what we now observe as President’s Day.
On February 20, 1885, THE NEW YORK TIMES had an interesting article noting that local Assemblymen had requested 3 1/2 days off to fully recover from the festivities. Perhaps it was this mindset which later caused the Federal Government to permanently link some holidays to a weekend, therefore allowing for plenty of time for all citizens to recover from the revelry and other raucous activities which are commonplace with such celebrations.
Confession: To-date I have yet to wake-up the morning after President’s Day with bloodshot eyes. It appears I need to up my celebratory game.
This Month in History – February…
February 3, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Today “This Month in History” turns the spotlight on the shortest month of the year – February. While searching through the available newspapers in order to select one to use as the representative photo, my initial short-list of possibilities included newspapers featuring coverage of the St. Valentine’s Day massacre in Chicago, the sinking of the Battleship Maine (which led to the Spanish-American War), the Death of Geronimo, the assassination of Malcolm X, and similar. As I pondered which to pick, it occurred to me all of my selections were focused on the reporting of “bad news”. Wishing to take a different approach, I searched again for reports of positive events and discovered coverage of the passage of the 15th Amendment, the founding of The Boy Scouts of America, Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, one with a mention of the opening of the first publicly funded school in the U.S., Abraham Lincoln’s famous “Cooper Union” speech, and more. Finally, after much consideration, I landed on the perfect choice – a newspaper announcing…
If you think this was a poor or inappropriate selection you probably haven’t seen the movie. While it may not be anywhere close to the most important, historic, or “collectible” newspaper published in the month of February, it nails the age-old proverb regarding a cure for much of what ails us: “A cheerful heart is good medicine…” (Proverbs 17:22).
So, as you take a gander at the list of newspapers published in the month of February, although a smidge belated, the Rare & Early Newspapers Family wishes you a cheerful and healthy New Year!
NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN FEBRUARY
Announcing: Catalog #351 for February 2025 – Rare & Early Newspapers…
January 31, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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[The links above will redirect to the latest catalog in approx. 30 days
upon which time it will update to the most recent catalog.]
A Time of Transition… Washington’s Funeral…
January 20, 2025 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
As I sit down to write this post, I wonder if there has ever been the death of a former president within 2 weeks of the inauguration of another. It is a lot of change for a country to lay to rest a former president (President Carter) while welcoming in a new leader (President Trump), however, it must have been significantly more unsettling for a nation to put to rest their 1st president. His legacy and wisdom were now gone from public discourse and there was still so much to be done. The blend of sadness and uncertainty must have been quite unsettling – yet, the nation moved forward.
We are now entering our own days of transition with hope that the upcoming weeks may not be days of tumult and that our new leaders will guide our nation with the same steady hand and heart General George Washington demonstrated during the early, formative, first-steps-era in our nation’s history. My prayer is that they look for wisdom and guidance from the same Source General Washington did so that 225 years from now, their life stories are also shared with pride and provide inspiration.