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A Tale of Two Sides – Belle Boyd vs. Elizabeth Van Lew…
November 8, 2021 by LauraH · Leave a Comment
How often, as we are investigating the Civil War, do we come upon stories about families divided… brother fighting brother? The question was a bit rhetorical as any of us who have spent much time studying the Civil War knows, it was a tale of two sides and fractured relationships. Recently, I came upon a New York Times with fascinating coverage of an infamous female spy for the Confederacy named Belle Boyd. The issue describes her as follows: “Bello Boyd… being about twenty-five years of age, of sorrel hair, piercing gray eyes, closely knit form, strictly virtuous, very energetic, and decidedly ‘gabby’ “. The article goes on to say: “Her father, who is in moderate circumstances, was unable to endow her with a ‘magnificent fortune’, or ‘ superior education’. So much for this Southern heroine; and yet she has not failed to accomplishing her full share of treason, having undoubtedly betrayed our forces at Front Royal, whereby the First Maryland Regiment was so badly cut up”. Wikipedia states: “Boyd was arrested at least six times but somehow evaded incarceration. By late July 1862, detective Allan Pinkerton had assigned three men to work on her case.” [see the image below for more]
Intrigued by this Confederate femme fatale, I began to look for a Union counterpart. It wasn’t long before I came upon, Elizabeth Van Lew. Elizabeth lived in Richmond Va. but was born into a family with abolitionist ties and was educated in Philadelphia, the city where her abolitionist grandfather had been mayor. Working as a nurse to Union soldiers imprisoned in Richmond, she aided prisoners trying to escape and listened for information she could pass on to the Union Army. General Grant said of Van Lew, “You have sent me the most valuable information received from Richmond during the war.” On July 14, 1866, Harper’s Weekly covered this amazingly brave woman and her undercover work for the north.
Feeling as if I have just scratched the surface with these woman spies… perhaps there’ll be more to come.
WW2 Era Newspapers Found In The Attic… Are They Worth Anything?
October 25, 2021 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Perhaps the most common inquiry we receive concerns newspapers from World War II found in parents’ attics. As generations pass it is incumbent upon their children to sort out what is of value and what is not.
The list which follows is a guide for determining what to keep and what to dispose.
In general, there are only about 15 events which are sufficiently notable to excite most collectors. Those event not included on the list are considered “generic” or “atmosphere” issues which, although reporting much on the war, are generally not significant enough to draw the attention of the serious collector.
It’s worth noting that graphic appeal tends to trump title. Example: the New York Times remains one of the more notable newspapers of the 20th century, but their headlines were typically conservative, lacking any drama, flash, or graphic appeal. Small town newspapers with dramatic graphic appeal will be more desired.
Issues which fit the events and criteria noted below could well have collector value. Feel free to send the exact title and date of each along with photos of the entire front pages (showing margins) to: info@rarenewspapers.com
Note: Perhaps the mostly commonly reprinted issue of the war is the Honolulu Star-Bulletin of Dec. 7, 1941. Most of the issues on the market are the common reprint, still sold at the souvenir stand at the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in Honolulu. See this blog post on how to tell a reprint from the genuine issue.
Top 15 events of World War II:
1) Germany invades Poland, 9/1/1939
* This event marked what many regard as the start of the war. Although not an American
event, most collectors want this report among their holdings.
2) Attack on Pearl Harbor, 12/7/1941
* Japan’s naval air force attacks military bases on Oahu, Hawaii, thus thrusting the United States into the war. The more dramatic and shocking the wording in a banner headline the better.
3) U.S. Declares war against Japan, 12/8/1941
* Just one day after the attack on Pearl Harbor the United States officially declares war against Japan, formalizing America’s entry in the war in the Pacific.
4) U.S. declares war against Germany & Italy, 12/11/1941
* The United States enters the war in Europe as well, just 3 days after declaring war against Japan.
5) Battle of Midway, 6/4-7/1942
* Just six months after Pearl Harbor the United States scores a major naval victory in the Pacific against Japan. Being a multi-day event, collectors would pursue the best headline near the end of the battle reporting the American victory.
6) D-Day, 6/6/1944
* With Axis forces controlling much of Western Europe, this day marks the offensive of the Allied forces in re-taking conquered countries. The word “Invasion” is desired somewhere within the headlines.
7) Battle of the Bulge, 12/16/1944
* This was the last major German offensive on the Western Front taking place from December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945. Issues near the end of the battle which reported an Allied victory would be more desired.
8) Photo of the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima, 2/23/1945
* If there was a single, iconic photo of American successes in the Pacific it would be this Pulitzer Prize-winning photo. Many newspapers included it in their editions of a day or two later, many did not. Better if the photo is on the front page, as many newspapers—when using it—did so on an inside page.
9) Death of FDR, 4/12/1945
* Although arguably not a true war event, the death of the President who was Commander-In- Chief of the military through almost the entirety of the war cannot be missed as a notable event.
10) Death of Hitler, 4/30/1945
* Hitler’s suicide deep inside a Berlin bunker essentially ended the war in Europe as just days later terms of surrender were agreed to by Nazi officials. Most newspapers reported his death on May 2, and a few published the Nazi propaganda report that the Fuehrer: “…has fallen in battle at the head of the heroic defenders of the Reich capital…”. The blunt words: “Hitler Dead” are more dramatic than “Death of Hitler”.
11) V-E Day, 5/7/1945
* The official end of the War in Europe. This was one event where newspapers often used patriotic embellishments to celebrate the victory, some multi-colored, some incorporating war photos within letters, etc.
12) Atomic bomb drop on Hiroshima, 8/6/1945
* With the war in the Pacific still raging, the first atomic bomb ever deployed was dropped over the city of Hiroshima. Some newspaper down-played the horrific affects of the bomb. More desired are headlines which more accurately reported the incredible devastation.
13) Atomic bomb drop on Nagasaki, 8/9/1945
* Just 3 days after Hiroshima, the second atomic bomb was dropped, which prompted the Japanese to pursue surrender terms. Again, bluntly accurate reporting in the headline is desired over a more subdued report.
14) V-J Day, 8/15/1945
* Terms for surrender were agreed upon, and the world announced the end of World War II. Much like V-E Day, newspapers typically became very creative in patriotically celebrating the end of the war. The more creative the front page the better.
15) Formal surrender of Japan, ending WWII, 9/2/1945
* Signing of the surrender terms happened on board the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Although most collectors would consider V-J Day as the end of the war, and in many respects it was, collectors often pursue this event as well.
There are also 2nd-tier items which could be collectible, but the extent of coverage and graphic appeal are paramount, and in some cases the title/publisher is essential. The list below contains such items, and will be updated from time-to-time.
Pre-War
Nuremberg Laws enacted, 9/15/1935
Jews no longer permitted to own property (various)
Opening of Concentration Camps (various)
Kristallnacht, 11/9-10/1938
During The War
Fake Report of attack on Los Angeles, “Battle of Los Angeles” (2/25/1942)
Bismarck Sunk, 5/27/2941
Star of David Badge, 9/7/1941
Doolittle Raid , 4/18-20/1942
USS Lexington Lost, 6/12/1942
Bataan Death March, 1/28/1944
JFK PT Boat, 6/11/1944
MacArthur returns to the Philippines, 10/20/1944
Post-War
USS Missouri – Peace Treaty Signed, 9/2/1945
Louis Zamperini Found, 9/9/1945
Patton’s Death, 12/21/1945
All Things Nautical… 1773…
October 18, 2021 by LauraH · Leave a Comment
In our thoroughly modern world, many of us chuckle when we see photos of Bigfoot or The Loch Ness Monster gracing the front of a supermarket tabloid. However, in 1773, Gentleman’s Magazine, a more reputable publisher, featured several seafaring articles including one which stated: “…a most hideous sea monster was seen”. Not to worry, they did balance out this salacious coverage of all things nautical with a more noble seven page article on : “Capt. Wallis’s Voyage round the World”. Pick your passion, sea monsters or great explorers. Both awaken the imagination and draw our interest.
Beer and electricity had a common admirer…
October 11, 2021 by LauraH · Leave a Comment
All of the Founders are worthy of a great deal of respect however, some grab your attention more than others. From George Washington’s noble bearing to Jefferson’s nation building writing. I would argue none capture the imagination more than Benjamin Franklin. Larger than life, with his bifocals and kite in a lightning storm, he makes a great historical figure for kids to study while inspiring adults with his witty wisdom such as, “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”
Among the many issues we have at Rare Newspapers covering Franklin is one which is described as follows:
”The earliest account of the electrical experiments made by Benjamin Franklin, at Philadelphia (where he was then the post-master) appeared anonymously in ‘The Gentleman’s Magazine for January, 1750‘.”
This article mentions several of Franklin’s important discoveries, including: “…that it will live in water…that it is more strongly attracted by slender sharp points than by solid blunt bodies…that bodies replete with this fire strongly attract such as have less of it, and repel such as have an equal quantity…”.
Beer, electricity, bifocals and chess – take a look at this brilliant, yet quirky Founder with new eyes by reading about him in the papers of his day.
“Things I Never Knew”… Fredrick Douglass Edition…
October 7, 2021 by LauraH · Leave a Comment
It’s amazing how one can work intimately with history for years-on-end and still find so much you don’t know – and I’m certainly a case in point. I find that after 2 years of exploring (technically called working) at RareNewspapers, I am still surprised & delighted on nearly a daily basis. Just yesterday, as I began to dig into the background of one of America’s heroes, Frederick Douglass, I discovered he had served as U.S. Marshal – a fact which may have been known to many of the readers of the History’s Newsstand blog, but was new(s) to me:
“When Republican Rutherford B. Hayes was elected president, he named Douglass as United States Marshal for the District of Columbia, the first person of color to be so named. The Senate voted to confirm him on March 17, 1877.[147] Douglass accepted the appointment, which helped assure his family’s financial security.[51] During his tenure, Douglass was urged by his supporters to resign from his commission, since he was never asked to introduce visiting foreign dignitaries to the President, which is one of the usual duties of that post. However, Douglass believed that no covert racism was implied by the omission, and stated that he was always warmly welcomed in presidential circles.” (Wiki)
I love how I get to spend my days!
Hurricane Season… ALREADY???
September 27, 2021 by LauraH · Leave a Comment
Each year as the beginning of June rolls around, some of us who live near or have trips to the Eastern Coast of the United States begin to watch the hurricane trackers. By late August through September they are really on our minds as we plan for impact on our homes or vacation destinations. For Virginia Colonists in 1668, even June would have been too little too late to prepare as Virginia had already been hit by a destructive hurricane which would eventually be covered in the April 13, 1668 issue of THE LONDON GAZETTE. So, for the storm trackers out there who have an interest in the past, accounts of tropical storms through Category 5 monsters often appeared in rare & early newspapers.
A Thankful Heart from the Mouth of Babes…
September 20, 2021 by LauraH · Leave a Comment
Sometimes an image perfectly captures an emotion or a moment in time. Sometimes that moment is in the present but sometimes it won’t be noticed for decades. Recently, as I was putting together issues for one of our collectors, I came across an image on the front of a Harper’s Weekly dated January 4, 1902 which was that perfect snapshot. Our culture seems to have gotten murky and a bit hard to decipher at times., but on the front of the photo of a little boy captured the simplicity of his life. He was thankful for a man who had sacrificed greatly to make his life better. Perhaps, as a way to cut through the muck and mire of our time, a thankful heart is just what our culture… what we… what I need.
Special Moment: Father and Daughter – A Handshake for the Century…
September 13, 2021 by LauraH · Leave a Comment
Hiking with kids can teach LOTS of life lessons, not the least of which is: “Don’t forget the snacks”. However, a more obscure lesson is more impacting for the long term. Hiking often leads us down a path to a moment we never saw coming… maybe the sunlight is dappling the trail ahead as we turn a corner or a mother deer lifts her head to check on her fawn as we step into a quiet glen. Life can mimic like these treasured moments. Perhaps we make a choice without much thought one day which leads to hidden treat a year or two down the road or hobby we start with our loved one can pay undreamt of dividends at a perfect future moment in our lives. Such is the story below. Take the few minuets to watch as it is uplifting and encouraging and honestly, isn’t that what we could all use right now at this moment in time? Here at RareNewspapers, our small part of the story came about as the father of this remarkable young girl contacted us to see if we had the April 19, 1946 issue of The New York Times which contained this priceless image. After some research, our success elicited the only appropriate outcry: HOMERUN!!!!!!!!!!! We are always grateful for moments like these when history leaps off the page and touches our hearts. ENJOY!!!
Handshake for the Century
One More Reason to Love Collecting Historical Newspapers… Revisiting 9/11…
September 10, 2021 by LauraH · Leave a Comment
A wise man once said: “There is nothing new under the sun“, which is typically accepted as valid. Today, however, the headline, “Everything Changed, Nothing Changed” (page A10 of a September 11, 2016 Los Angeles Times) caught my attention. As I read the corresponding article covering the 5th anniversary of 9/11, I was struck by the varying perspectives which exist concerning an event I personally thought was cut and dry, and in so doing, realized this “wise man” may not have captured the whole story. While it is true that history repeats itself (over and over and over again), it’s also true each person has their own unique human experience and paradigm – their own lens through which they interpret events from as little as a five-year window. Thus, any historical event can impact people quite differently and for some people, certain life events, although in the past (recent or otherwise), may seem new. Fortunately for us, as collectors of historic newspapers, we have the opportunity to read a vast array of perspectives covering a wide range of situations as presented the day they were first reported, and are provided with a much broader scope of humanity than what we merely see around us. Just one more thing to love about this hobby!
It All Depends On Your Paradigm…
September 6, 2021 by LauraH · Leave a Comment
Recently, while in Cancun, Mexico I was struck by a small yet complicating life perceptive… one man’s villain may very well be another man’s hero. Here at Rare Newspapers, we see varying sides of news stories on a daily basis… from American Revolutionaries vs. the British perspective to The Confederate troops vs. The Union soldiers. This day, however, as I stood in the Mexican sun, talking history with a young man who was the age of my children, I realized there was a new paradigm I had not considered. As he questioned what I did back in the states, his eyes lit up as he asked if we had any issues covering Pancho Villa. I quickly responded, “Oh, I’m sure we do. Let me check and I will get back to you.” Later as I scrolled through our inventory, I realized I would be hard pressed to find an issue that would excite him since the American perspective of this controversial figure was very different from my new Mexican friend’s view. I determined to find something to show him and finally settled on a rather benign Harper’s Weekly image without a splashy headline. He seemed pleased enough. My take away was a reminder to analyze my own heroes more carefully and to be sensitive to other people’s paradigms. There may only be one truth however, our paradigm can make it hard to distinguish at times.