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The reason I collected it: Freeman’s Journal & Philadelphia Mercantile Advertiser, Oct. 21, 1812…
May 1, 2023 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
Some 47 years ago when I (Tim Hughes) started collecting and selling early newspapers, the collector part of me want to keep any issues I found intriguing, unusual, and historic. I really just wanted the “business” side of the hobby to support my “collector” side.
Once a month I will highlight one of the saved issues and will explain why. Not all will be rare, not all will be valuable, and some will be simply bizarre. But they intrigued me, and so I share with all of you.
An eagle motif in mastheads is rather common, most rather small & proportional to the type used for the title. But the Freeman’s Journal & Philadelphia Mercantile Advertiser (the Oct. 21, 1812 issue is shown below) has perhaps the largest eagle I have found, with a wingspread of nearly 7 inches. I’m glad I saved one many years ago as I haven’t seen this title in quite some time.
They Put It In Print – Everyone Aboard The Titanic Survived!!?
April 19, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Eternally filed the bin labelled “Don’t Believe Everything You Read” is the report found in the Oakland Tribune, April 15, 1912, that all of the passengers aboard the Titanic survived. Yet another example of newspaper publishers pushing too hard to scoop all others. I wonder if they bothered posting a retraction in the following day’s issue.
Snapshot 1665 – The Oldest Continuously Published Newspaper is Born…
April 3, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
The London Gazette (eventually shortened to merely The Gazette) is the oldest newspaper in current publication, and reaches back into the mid 1600’s. Although the first issue under this name was published on February 5, 1666 (dated 1665 using the Julian/Old Style Calander), the first 23 issues were titled The Oxford Gazette, dating the onset of this renowned publication (i.e., issue 1, vol. 1) November 16, 1665. An image of this very first issue is shown below. You can read more about The London Gazette on their currently running website, and can view details of this initial printing at RareNewspapers.com.
Dramatic Headlines Speak for Themselves… The Assassination of JFK…
March 27, 2023 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with THE DALLAS TIMES HERALD, Texas, November 22, 1963, reporting on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy:
“PRESIDENT DEAD“
Finding little gems within volumes of old newspapers…
March 24, 2023 by LauraH · Leave a Comment
We (at Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers) often hear the following on the other end of our phone line: “I was going through my mother’s things and found these old newspapers…”. We have similar “discoveries” as well, but occasionally they are not what one might expect. While searching through volumes of newspapers for noteworthy articles, we often come across interesting news items we never knew existed but from time-to-time we also unearth fascinating “non-newspaper” items as well: an old handwritten letter from decades or centuries ago… a child’s artwork… a pressed leaf… When found, many of these historical trinkets are quickly displayed above our desks, creating a nostalgic space. However, sometimes they find their way onto our website. Such is the case with this Lottery Ticket from 1779. So, the next time you are perusing our catalogue, keep your eyes open for some of these exotic odds and ends.
The State of the Union… Did you know…?
March 20, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Did you know, starting with George Washington and lasting through much of the 20th century, most newspapers printed the entire text of each President’s Annual Message (State of the Union Address)? Although in some cases only excerpts were given, including the full text was the common practice, and would often take a page or more to print. One of the benefits of this practice was that it enabled newspaper recipients to read the President’s message in-line with a bit of editorial commentary, and then see how people reacted by reading related reports and letters to the editor over the course of the next several days (or more).
Although these issues are very popular with collectors, we (RareNewspapers.com) are always on the hunt for more to offer. Our current inventory may be viewed at:
*State of the Union Addresses
The addresses have been arranged in chronological order so even if you do not wish or are unable to add any to your collection, you can still enjoy reading portions through the images and descriptions to capture the progression of Presidential thought through time.
*The link contains newspapers with both S.O.U.’s and follow-up reporting.
Calendar Section of the Los Angeles Times … Mini-Time Capsules of Our Lives…
March 10, 2023 by LauraH · Leave a Comment
I recently went hunting for the opening day events of Splash Mountain, Disneyland. Some of you may be aware of the current hubbub surrounding this attraction which was first created for Disneyland, and then added shortly thereafter in Disney World. Fans of this ride based on the 1946 Disney film, Song of the South. Knowing fans of Splash Mountain would be seeking related collectible mementos, I quickly headed to our archives to search for a Calendar section of the Los Angeles Times as close to the original opening date as possible to see if it contained a large ad and/or review.
For those who may be unaware, several times each week the Los Angeles Times would include a tabloid-size insert called “CALENDAR“, providing a phenomenal entertainment-heavy cultural overview of the day which included a blend of movie ads and reviews, stage productions and concerts, cuisine and art, and more. Now, decades later, those who peruse them never fail to have their memories and emotions stirred as they travel back in time through their pages.
Oh, and as far as this specific quest is concerned… Success! The July 16, 1989 Calendar section contained a double-page advertisement for this new Disneyland attraction. Feel free to click on the link above to explore a selection of the content found in this specific insert.
In case your interest has been piqued… Our inventory of Los Angeles Times runs from early 1976 through late 2006 and contains approximately 90% of the newspapers printed during this period. If you have interest in anything associated with the Hollywood/entertainment scene from this timespan, feel free to be in touch (info@rarenewspapers.com).
PS Does the cover of this particular edition really feature the world-famous Wolfgang Puck?
Just for fun! “Historical” Crossword Puzzle from 1931…
February 24, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
We all have different interests. For example, some love to immerse themselves in history, while others prefer to plunge into crossword puzzles. But what about those who enjoy both? Can one explore the past by engaging in what I will call a (okay, “an”) historical crossword puzzle? It’s one thing to absorb a lot of knowledge about a particular time in history – and perusing through Rare & Early Newspapers from the period can certainly help the adventurer grasp how those who lived at the time perceived the world around them. However, learning to think as they did may be next to impossible. Language, available knowledge, education emphasis, social norms and variances, along with a plethora of other aspects of culture all combine to shape the way we think – and too much has changed. The quest to do so falls under the same umbrella as trying to walk in someone else’s shoes. For the sake of understanding we can do our best, but in the end, we know that while our efforts may be admirable, we can never come close to achieving the task.
Ok… too much seriousness for one post. Let’s have fun trying to think like someone who lived in the early 1930’s by indulging in a crossword puzzle printed in a Liberty (magazine), New York, dated January 31, 1931. I hope you enjoy the challenge.
Note: The answers can be found by clicking on the link at the bottom of this post. If you enjoy the adventure, let me know at guy@rarenewspapers.com. If enough respond affirmatively, we’ll post another from a different year.
Link to Answers
Reflection: George Washington’s Birthday…
February 20, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
My five siblings and I grew up on the “wrong side of the tracks”. There really were tracks… and refineries which lit up the night sky… and rodents running around the neighborhood… and other creepy-crawly things which kept us awake at night. We had little money, but our lives were full, and our parent’s efforts to indulge us on a shoestring (when they could afford them) budget were always met with enthusiasm and thankful hearts. Holidays were the best – always soliciting a high degree of anticipation, for our dad would never fail to bring home a special treat to celebrate the occasion. My personal favorite was Washington’s Birthday – the holiday where I discovered the joys of dark chocolate and sweet cherries – the former birthed by “silver coins” to celebrate his amazing talent of throwing silver dollars across the Potomac River, and the latter through delightful chocolate covered cherries which reminded us to never lie – especially about chopping down trees. I didn’t know much about Washington other than him being our first President, but one thing I knew for certain, he must have been pretty awesome – a truth confirmed with jubilance by my tastebuds.
While I embrace the profound value we all have as a result of being made in God’s image, and appreciate the contribution each president has made to this great nation, I was sad to see Washington’s Birthday downgraded to an “all inclusive/generic” holiday. As one of my favorite authors (David McCullough) once said: “If everyone is special, then no one is. If everyone gets a trophy, trophies become meaningless.”
As time went on and I became a bit more educated, I accepted the reality that Washington didn’t actually chop down a cherry tree (let alone own up to doing so); and, while I’m still a bit uncertain, the realization that he likely found better use for silver dollars settled in.
Still, these annual mini-celebrations, flawed as they were, helped awaken my appreciation for our “Founding Parents” in general, and for George Washington in particular. Is everything I learned about him accurate? Of course not. However, one thing I know for sure, the populace cried deep tears of sorrow when their beloved leader, to the amazement of the world, voluntarily steps aside so “We The People” could select their choice for the next to hold the reigns. Is his birthday still worth celebrating? Maybe so, or maybe not, but as for me, I’m picking up some chocolate covered cherries on the way home today.
In honor of this great leader, the pre-resignation announcement as it appeared in The Supplement To The Federal Gazette dated September 20, 1796, is shown below. A truly historic moment!
Meet the Staff of Rare & Early Newspapers: Lyndsay Miller
February 17, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Introducing Lyndsay Miller
Lyndsay is the youngest and newest member of the Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers‘ Staff. Her technical title is “Office Assistant”, but her daily tasks include interfacing with collectors, searching our archives for historic newspapers matching client requests, preparing orders, shipping orders, processing the many images we post on our website, helping us to increase our footprint in the world of social media, and more. She is mature beyond her years, has a fantastic work-ethic, and operates out of her strong faith. Married with a great husband and two Golden Retriever pups, she is a wonderful asset to our staff. In the video shown below, she highlights her 4 favorite collectibles within our archives. Please enjoy.