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Highlights from Catalog 330 (May, 2023)…
May 8, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
At the start of each month we (RareNewspapers.com) release a catalog of newly discovered rare & early collectible newspapers. Whenever possible, along with the announcement of the catalog’s availability, we also like to include a brief video highlighting a selection of the key issues along with a few examples of interesting newspapers for those on a tight budget. This month’s video is shown below. We hope you enjoy.
The Birth of a Holiday… Mother’s Day Becomes Official!
May 5, 2023 by LauraH · Leave a Comment
As I was researching a collector’s Mother’s Day themed request this past week I happened upon a striking Rotogravure Section with a front page image of a mother and her 2 children. The image, titled “MATERNAL LOVE”, by Hughes Merle, perfectly captured the warmth, innocence and depth of a mother’s love for her children and her children’s trust of and love for her. Completely taken with the image, I checked to see if there was any correlation with Mother’s Day. This Rotogravure was not only published on Mother’s Day but more specifically, the 1st official Mother’s Day.
History.com notes the following:
“The official Mother’s Day holiday arose in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. Following her mother’s 1905 death, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children.
After gaining financial backing from a Philadelphia department store owner named John Wanamaker, in May 1908 she organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration at a Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia. That same day also saw thousands of people attend a Mother’s Day event at one of Wanamaker’s retail stores in Philadelphia.
Following the success of her first Mother’s Day, Jarvis—who remained unmarried and childless her whole life—resolved to see her holiday added to the national calendar. Arguing that American holidays were biased toward male achievements, she started a massive letter writing campaign to newspapers and prominent politicians urging the adoption of a special day honoring motherhood.
By 1912 many states, towns and churches had adopted Mother’s Day as an annual holiday, and Jarvis had established the Mother’s Day International Association to help promote her cause. Her persistence paid off in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.”
On April 15, 1914, the New York Times had a small article stating… “The Federal Government is lending its assistance to the movement, and on that day the clergy of the whole country will be asked to preach sermons regarding the general welfare of the home and so help to make Mother’s Day of practical value. The celebration of this day is in no way connected with woman suffrage, although the association is friendly to the suffrage movement wherever it may benefit the home.”
While the above statement may not hold the warmth and tenderness often associated with Mother’s Day, it is nice to see formal recognition of the truth often summed up as, “the Mother is the heart of a family and home.”
With Mother’s Day merely a week away…
In addition to the various Mother’s Day themed original newspapers we have posted at RareNewspapers.com, our staff also created a Mother’s Day related video to go along with our sister-store on Etsy. Enjoy.
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
