Search
The Rare & Early Newspapers Hobby
Receive the Newsletter
Buy Historic Newspapers
A truth… a story… a myth… a discovery – What to do with a 1666 London Gazette?
September 28, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Collectors seek out “rare & early” newspapers for a host of reasons. Some use them as primary source material for research. Others collect them to grasp the contemporary response to an historical event, while others use them to chronical a non-revisionist view of an era. Framing them for display is quite common – whether it be to set a mood, or, as is quite common with museums, to aid in telling the story regarding a display of unique items. Yet another group loves to obtain them to enhance their primary collectible (ex. those who collect early sewing machines finding newspapers with matching advertisements, patents, or early commentary on various stages of development). The possibilities are almost endless.
The topic at hand was recently revived when a collector, who had just purchased a London Gazette dated August 9, 1666 containing a brief report on the week’s mortality bill from the Great Plague (shown below), informed us of his purpose in collecting the newspaper – which we found fascinating… and which eventually led to a discovery.
A Purpose – He purchased to use as inspiration for an event-tethered short story (historical fiction?). If you have a little time, I’m sure he would not mind if you took a gander: THE KING’S BAKER
A Discovery – After reading his story I decided to dig a little deeper into the 1665-6 London Plague and was drawn in by an article posted by the London Museum titled: THREE MYTHS ABOUT THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON
A MYTH – I don’t want to give anything away, but suffice to say, I need to go back to a lot of people and correct what I once thought was true. Yikes!
A Truth – For those who like to pine for the past, during the week prior to the above newspaper’s distribution in 1666, 42 people in London alone were known to have died from the bubonic plague. Life was not easy; but death often was.
September 2026 Newsletter – Rare & Early Newspapers…
September 18, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
|
|
Did it All Start with a Laugh?… Political Cartoons Across Time…
September 14, 2026 by Laura Heilenman · 1 Comment
Which of us doesn’t love a good laugh, especially when we need a healthy way to relieve a bit of the built-up pressure? The presence of political cartoons can sometimes take the sting out of the craziness of reality. While still popular today in print and digital form, political cartoons have been with us for centuries. Originally, they were not printed in newspapers but sold as individual prints, such as William Hogarth’s “An Emblematical Print on the South Sea Scheme” (1721), a satirical engraving which critiques the financial speculation, corruption, and public credulity that fueled the South Sea Bubble of 1720–21. Eventually, these satirical statements on society made their way into the newspapers of the day and across the ocean to the New World. Benjamin Franklin’s famous “Join, or Die,” appearing in the Pennsylvania Gazette, helped spur the colonies toward Revolution. Decades later, Thomas Nast’s work in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper and Harper’s Weekly aided Lincoln’s reelection and helped define the modern two-party system by popularizing both the Republican elephant and the Democratic donkey. Eventually, these artistic gems ventured into color, impacting audiences at a whole new level. Today we are inundated with political satire, some of which is comparable to the talent of the 1700s and 1800s and much of which falls well short. Regardless, our culture would be less rich without this creative way to help us laugh our way through more stressful times.
Catalog 370 (for September, 2026) is now available!
September 1, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
September’s catalog (#370) is now available. This latest offering of authentic newspapers is comprised of over 300 new items, a selection which includes the following noteworthy issues: the earliest printed Treaty of Jamestown?, one of two “protest” issues of the ‘Pennsylvania Gazette’, a newsbook report re: the inauguration of Oliver Cromwell, the famed Old West newspaper ‘Tombstone Epitaph’, the Louisiana Purchase Treaty, the Declaration of Independence, and more. To view the entire catalog, go to:
Catalog #370 (for September, 2026)
– – – – – – – – –
We know a piece like the Treaty of Jamestown isn’t an everyday acquisition; however, the 1652 newsbook is so special we couldn’t resist bringing it to center stage. We invite you to take a look and enjoy a truly one-of-a-kind piece of history.
– – – – – – – – –
What remains of last month’s discounted issues may be viewed at:
Discount (select items at 50% off)
Recent posts on the History’s Newsstand Blog may be accessed at:
Our most recent video:
A Nation at its Birth – Shaping the Future (Fight for a Nation – E2)
|
Reasons for the Declaration of Independence. . . Step by Step Logic…
August 28, 2026 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
Often as we have big decisions ahead of us, wise council around us may prompt us to ask ourselves the question. . . why? Knowing the whys can often help point us to answer the more logistical question of how. In April of 1776, the Pennsylvania Evening Post attempted to lay out the why of the enormous decision facing the colonies. Below, read the text and reasoning laid before the citizenry.
Reasons for a DECLARATION of the INDEPENDANCE of the American Colonies.
- THE Colonies will be delivered from two governments directly opposed to each other.
- The Colonies will be delivered from the disorders which arise from the unlimited, undescribed, and sometimes arbitrary powers of Conventions, Committees of Safety, and Committees of Inspection.
- A criminal correspondence with the enemies of this country will be prevented or punished under the article of high treason.
- The Colonies will be delivered from the danger of Crown officers, whose apparent interest it will always be to remain inactive, or to cooperate with the enemies of America.
- The British constitution may be immediately restored to each colony, with the great and necessary improvements of a Governor and Council chosen by the people.
- France will immediately attack Britain in the most defenseless parts of her empire and thus draw off her fleets and armies from our coasts.
- All the powers of Europe will conceive such ideas of our union, love of freedom, and military resources, that they will not be tempted to accept of a share in us upon the condition of conquering us.
If only we could all present our logical arguments in such a concise and impactful manner.
A recently released video related to this post is available at: Independence was Destiny – The Case for Independence
When crises happen, publishers can be creative… Ben Franklin & the Stamp Act…
August 24, 2026 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
Occasionally, a newspaper just doesn’t look like a newspaper. When crises happen, some newspaper publishers can be creative and angry, resulting in “newspapers” that are quite unusual. Here is one.
Looking very much like a broadside (although it is four pages), an issue we purchased many years ago is simply headed: “REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES”, having no date, no city of publication, and no issue number.
With some investigation, we learned that this is actually the November 14, 1765 issue of the famous “Pennsylvania Gazette” printed by Ben Franklin and David Hall. The hated Stamp Act took effect on Nov. 1, 1765. Therefore the paper was suspended and in its place a broadside entitled “No Stamped Paper to be had” was printed for Nov. 7, and this four page issue titled: “Remarkable Occurrences” was created for Nov. 14. The regular title and numbering were resumed with the Nov. 21 issue but without the imprint. No name of publisher appeared until the Feb. 6, 1766 issue printed by David Hall, as the partnership with Franklin had been dissolved.
Never, previously, have we ever handled either of these two issues.
The entire front page is taken up with Stamp Act content. Page 2 has content from Europe, and pages 3 and 4 have content with datelines from Boston, Newport, Philadelphia, and New York with again, much of the content related to the Stamp Act.
This is treasured as one of the more intriguing newspapers in our inventory, and is even more notable with its connection to the Stamp Act.
Blockbusters of the Past. . . Movies Bring Nostalgia…
August 21, 2026 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
Summer blockbusters and Christmas releases are often a highlight as family and friends gather for celebrations. As evenings grow darker in late summer, or as the last of the Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner dishes are washed and dried, those big-budget Hollywood movies often tempt merrymakers out of the house and down the street to the local theater. One of the delights of working at RareNewspapers is unearthing nostalgic ads for movies from our past. We often shake our heads and remark to each other, “They don’t make them like that anymore.” While that sentiment may or may not be true, those films will always hold a special place in our hearts. If you love old movies. . . especially those from the final decades of the 20th century. . . perhaps the following full-page movie ads from the Los Angeles Times, Hollywood’s hometown paper, will renew your memories, hopefully bringing a smile to your face and possibly inspire a trip down the street to your local theater.
The reason I collect it: stunning graphics inside… Lincoln’s Funeral…
August 17, 2026 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
We have handled many Lincoln assassination and funeral issues, and many can be graphic in terms of type size and drama of the column headlines. Most notably, the ‘Philadelphia Inquirer’ had several issues from April 17 to 25 with very nice graphic appeal.
But never have we seen inside pages so dramatically presented as with the ‘Cleveland Morning Leader’ issue of April 28, 1865. Although the front page is focused on the capture and death of John Wilkes Booth, as well as reports on the Lincoln funeral (all page 1 and 4 columns have wide, black mourning rules), pages 2 and 3 are consumed with broadside-like graphics, offering no text save for that found within the graphics. Page 2 appears much like a monument in memory of Lincoln, and page 3 has a black border surrounding short poems and portions of a “Speech of Abraham Lincoln” and a line from his “Emancipation Proclamation”.
When first encountered I noticed the ink bleed-through on page 1 and thought it was offsetting from the previous issue (not uncommon). But when I opened the newspaper I discovered something I had never seen the likes of before.
August 2026 Newsletter – Rare & Early Newspapers…
August 14, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
|
|
Ballot Box Standoff…Veterans Bring Justice…
August 7, 2026 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
On August 2, 1946, as reports from the previous night’s violence in McMinn County began reaching national newsrooms, The New York Times carried early accounts of the Ballot Box Standoff in Athens, Tennessee. Initial wire dispatches described a chaotic election-day confrontation in which returning World War II veterans, alleging that a corrupt local machine was preparing to steal the vote. Clashes ensued with heavily armed deputies, and one early headline erroneously claimed a sheriff had been slain, reflecting the confusion of overnight bulletins as the story was still unfolding. By the next morning’s August 3 edition, the Times gave the story prominent front-page treatment with an Associated Press report headlined “Armed Veterans Run Town After Tennessee Bloodshed.” Datelined Athens, August 2, the article detailed how GI-backed citizens had besieged the county jail after deputies seized ballot boxes, exchanged gunfire for hours, used dynamite, and ultimately forced the surrender of roughly fifty deputies. Eighteen people were wounded; the veterans then patrolled the streets with rifles to maintain order while the ballots were recovered and counted. An editorial on page 10, titled “Election in Tennessee,” weighed the deeper meaning of the events. It acknowledged the veterans’ conviction that a dictatorial political machine had long falsified results and that peaceful avenues of reform seemed closed. Yet the editorial also cautioned that taking the law into one’s own hands—however understandable the grievances—threatened the orderly processes essential to democracy, leaving readers with a sober reflection on both the courage and the risks of the armed stand for honest elections.