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The prisoner left with them…
January 21, 2012 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
An interesting legal case reported in the “Harper’s Weekly” issue of May 7, 1859:
The Civil War… 150 years ago… January 18, 1862…
January 18, 2012 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Today we continue our look back on the Civil War as reported within the newspapers held by those living during the Civil War… 150 years ago to-date (of this post). While many of the issues shown below are no longer available for sale, reading a snap-shot of what was printed for the given day will hopefully provide a glimpse of life during the critical period in American history. Each link shown will take you to the full description w/ images of authentic issues which were held by those living during the Civil War. Today’s selections are:
Harper’s WEEKLY, Jan. 18, 1862 Ftpg. shows; ‘Fort Royal Ferry, Scene of the Battle of First Jan.’ & ‘Scene in the Parlor of Mr. Barnwell’s House at Beaufort, S.C.’ shows a Black family lounging & playing the piano. Fullpg: ‘The Vessels of Gen. Burnside’s Expedition at Annapolis’ halfpg: ‘The War In Va.–A Reconnaissance in a Laurel Brake’ ‘ & ‘Bringing In Rebel Prisoners’ & ‘The Union Prisoners at Richmond, Va.’dblpgctrfld: ‘The City of Richmond, Va.’ fullpg. by Winslow Homer: ‘The Skating Season’
A gem in the American Antiquarian Society… The Michigan Essay…
January 14, 2012 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
In celebration of its 20oth anniversary the American Antiquarian Society published a beautiful exhibition catalog titled “In Pursuit Of A Vision – Two Centuries of Collecting at the American Antiquarian Society”. Featured are a fascinating array of books, documents, maps & other paper ephemera, as well as several very rare & unusual newspapers we felt worthy of sharing with our Rare & Early Newspapers’ collectors (with permission from the A.A.S.).
“Michigan Essay; or, The Impartial Observer“, Detroit Michigan, August 31, 1809
Isaiah Thomas devoted substantial space in The History of Printing in America (Cat.9) to a history of American serial publications, closing with an eight-page census of newspapers “Published in the United States in the beginning of the year 1810.” Thomas sought help in its compilation in March 1810 by placing a widely reprinted notice in The Massachusetts Spy, requesting publishers “to forward one or two of their papers … that the right titles of their several Newspapers, may be correctly inserted.” Many responded, and the newspaper issues sent to Thomas were later donated to AAS.
This example — the first and only extant issue of the first Michigan newspaper — arrived too late for inclusion in Thomas’s checklist. The manuscript notation on the side reads, “Utica, (N.Y.) Aug. 3d 1810. Mr. Thomas, Sir I send you this paper printed by a friend of mine to insert in your ‘History of Printing.’ If he sees your advertisement, he will send more, perhaps of a later date. Your obt. Servt. C.S. McConnell.” The Michigan Essay was printed by James M. Miller on Michigan’s first press, brought to Detroit from Baltimore in 1809 by Father Gabriel Richard. Most of the text is in English, but a few articles and advertisements are in French.
A suggestion by young men…
January 14, 2012 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The following items from the March 21, 1874 issue of “Harper’s Weekly” is self-explanatory:
The Civil War… 150 years ago… January 11, 1862…
January 11, 2012 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Today we look back on the Civil War as reported within the newspapers held by those living during the Civil War… 150 years ago to-date (of this post). While many of the issues shown below are no longer available for sale, reading a snap-shot of what was printed for the given day will hopefully provide a glimpse of life during the critical period in American history. Each link shown will take you to the full description w/ images of authentic issues which were held by those living during the Civil War. Today’s selections are:
Very large Civil War map show the Beaufort vicinity…
THE NEW YORK HERALD, Jan. 11, 1862 Most of the front page is taken up with a huge Civil War map headed: “The Scene Of Operations at Port Royal Ferry…” with a subhead. The map shows much detail of the Beaufort vicinity. There are also first column heads: “Additional Details of the Affair at Port Royal Ferry” and “Our Map of the Scene of General Stevens’ Operations” & others (see images).
Lincoln compares unfavorably to King George III…
DAILY RICHMOND EXAMINER, Virginia, January 11, 1862 Page two includes the always interesting editorial which focuses in part on a comparison of King George III of England and Abraham Lincoln, one part noting: “George III is dead and gone. He was probably a bad man, as he certainly was a mistaken one; but it is a gross insult to his memory to compare such a person as Lincoln to him. He was a gentleman and a king; Lincoln is an upstart, buffoon and boor. To say that Lincoln is a second edition of George III is to dignify him unworthily, and to slander the dead…” with more. Also on page 2 is: “The Latest Northern News–Movements and Spirit of the War” “The Northern Congress–Discussion Of The War” “The Case of Mr. Hinrich” “The City Fortifications Again” “Legislature of Virginia” ‘The Mississippi Sound–Biloxi” “Surveillance Over the Newspapers”.
1862 Port Royal, South Carolina…
THE NEW YORK TIMES, January 11, 1862 This 8 page newspaper is in nice condition due to the use of cotton and rag paper during this very historic time in U.S. history. This issue is loaded with advertisements and Civil War reports throughout from the day it was first reported which includes the following headlines: “IMPORTANT FROM PORT ROYAL”, “Full Details of the Late Battle at the Ferry”, “Valuable Information Obtained from the Negroes”, “Three Thousand Additional Troops Sent to Tybee Island”, “The Mississippi Expedition Moving”, “Important From Missouri”, and more.
Union Officers Hanged 1862 Civil War…
BOSTON SUNDAY HERALD, MA, January 11, 1862 This 4 page issue is in somewhat damaged condition with irregular spine with some text loss and some margin tears. This issue is loaded with advertisements and Civil War reports throughout from the day it was first reported which includes reports: “THE EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS OF WAR” “20,000 Of Our Paroled Prisoners Restored to Active Service” “Ten Union Officers Hung In Arkansas” “Latest From Burnside’s Army” “LATEST FROM VICKSBURG” “GEN. SHERMAN SUPERSEDED IN COMMAND !” & much more.
Charleston Harbor… The Battle at Green River, Kentucky…
HARPER’S WEEKLY, New York, January 11, 1862 The ftpg has print: “Sinking the Stone Fleet in Charleston Harbor”. Fullpg prints include: “The Battle of Dranesville”, “In and About Port Royal, South Carolina”, “The Defences of Washington–Fort Lyon and Fort Ellsworth” and “The Battle at Green River, Kentucky”. Doublepg centerfold is of “Fairy Tales Told By The Little Folks”. 1/3 pg: ” The Landing of Ohio Troops at Louisville, Kentucky”. 1/2 pg: “Gen. Bruell’s Body Guard”.
The Civil War… 150 years ago… January 4, 1862…
January 4, 2012 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
We continue our weekly series of reflections on the Civil War with a new twist for 2012. Each week we will provide access to descriptions and images of newspapers (and occasionally other periodicals) printed exactly 150 years ago… to-date. While many are no longer available for sale, reading a snap-shot of what was printed for the given day will hopefully provide a glimpse of life during the critical period in American history. Each link shown will take you to the full description w/ images of authentic issues which were held by those living during the Civil War. Today’s selections are:
HARPER’S WEEKLY, January 4, 1862 Full front page by Homer: “Christmas Boxes in Camp, 1861” does show some mild wear, as this was the first page in the volume. Fullpg. with 3 scenes of “Ship Island”. Fullpg: “Bird’s-eye View of the Coast from Savannah, Ga. to Beaufort, S.C.” Nice dblpgctrfld. is a large: “General Bird’s-Eye View of Washington & Vicinity”. Small print of: “Green River Bridge, Kentucky” & a fullpg. with 2 scenes of: “Gen. Burnside’s Expedition” showing many ships. This issue also contains “Charles Dickens’ New Christmas Stories – 1. Picking Up Evening Shadows, and 2. Picking Up A Pocket-Book”, by Charles Dickens, taking nearly 5 entire pages of text.
BOSTON EVENING TRANSCRIPT, Boston, MA, January 4, 1862 * Fort Pickens Florida FL – Prestonburg, Kentucky… and much more. This 4 page newspaper is in nice condition due to the use of cotton and rag paper during this very historic time in U.S. history.
Curious names of newspapers…
December 26, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
There is a piece in Oswald’s “Printing In The Americas” which discusses early names of newspapers which is interesting and worth sharing with fellow collectors:
“The names selected for early American newspapers afford material for interesting study. The world “News”, now so common, was not used except in combination with some other name. Such names as “Museum” and “Repository”, that would in these hustling journalistic days be fatal designations, appear frequently in the colonial list. The most overworked word among them all was “Gazette”. Every district & nearly every town had a “Gazette”. Several had more than one. Three numbers under that name were published under different ownerships at the same time in Williamsburg, Virginia, & three with the same title but with different subtitles were published at the same time at both Richmond, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina.
The “Mercury”, signifying alertness and swiftness, was a popular newspaper name. There were militant titles like the “Scourge”, “Inquisitor”, “Anti-Monarchist and Republican Watchman” “Sun of Liberty” and “Tree of Liberty”, and conciliatory titles like the “Olive Branch”, the “Philanthropist” and the “Missionary”. The “Lighthouse” and the “Intelligencer” would each seem to give promise of a certain amount of intellectuality, while at the opposite pole we find the “Idiot”, published in 1810 in Boston…”.
Other interesting titles of the pre-1820 era found in Brigham include: “Federal Spy” “Genius of Liberty” “Mirror of the Times” “Minerva” “Oracle of Dauphin” “People’s Friend” “Polar Star” “Rural Visiter” “Torch Light” “American Constellation” “Post-Angel” “Anti-Aristocrat” “Asylum” “Backwoodsman” “Kaleidoscope & Literary Rambler” “Boston Satirist” “Strength of the People” “Bye-Stander” “Candid Review” “Cornucopia” “Crisis” “Mountain Echo” “Engine of Liberty” “Political Banquet & Farmer’s Feast” “Honest American” “Magic Lantern” “Occasional Reverberator” “Spirit of ’76” “Temple of Reason” “Trump of Fame” “Wasp” “Temperate Zone” and so many more.
The Civil War… December 7, 1861…
December 7, 2011 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
This week we return to our reflection upon the Civil War events of 150 years ago… as seen through the eyes of the original readers of the Harper’s Weekly issue printed for December 7, 1861.
Note: The following commentary was written by Dr. James Robertson* as part of a weekly review for the reprint edition of the “Harper’s Weekly” which was done at the 100th anniversary of the Civil War. It provides much insight into the events of the day and scholarly commentary on both the illustrations and reporting found in the original 1861 newspaper.
* The Virginia Tech website provides the credentials of Dr. James Roberson:
“One of the most distinguished names in Civil War history, Dr. Robertson was Executive Director of the U.S. Civil War Centennial Commission and worked with Presidents Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson in marking the war’s 100th anniversary. Today his Civil War Era course at Virginia Tech, which attracts 300 students per semester, is the largest of its kind in the nation.
The Danville, Va., native is the author or editor of more than 20 books that include such award-winning studies as “Civil War! America Becomes One Nation”, “General A.P. Hill”, and “Soldiers Blue and Gray”. His massive biography of Gen. “Stonewall” Jackson won eight national awards and was used as the base for the Ted Turner/Warner Bros. mega-movie, “Gods and Generals”. Robertson was chief historical consultant for the film.”
The Traveler… Battle of Tippecanoe…
December 5, 2011 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I traveled to December 5, 1811 where I found the Middlesex Gazette from Middletown, Connecticut carried an extract of a letter sent to a Member of Congress. This was reporting on “an action between the troops under Gov. Harrison and the Indians under the Prophet… There were 170 whites killed and wounded, and as many Indians… The battle was fought in sight of the Prophet’s Town…. There has been dreadful slaughter…”, being a report on the famous Battle of Tippecanoe.
Governor William Harrison later became our ninth President of the United States which had the campaign slogan “Tippecanoe and Tyler, too”. He also the shortest serving president and the first president to die in office.
A little tidbit of history for this day… 200 years past!
~The Traveler
The Civil War… November 30, 1861…
November 30, 2011 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
For a little more than 6 months we have reflected upon the Civil War by posting details of the CW era Harper’s Weekly issues which were printed for exactly 150 years prior to the post. This week’s corresponding issue is the HW dated November 30, 1861. Over the past few months we have enjoyed Dr. James Robertson’s* summary of each Harper’s Weekly issue chosen. Unfortunately we do not have access to his summary of the Nov. 30, 1861 issue. If anyone does have access to his summary, please let us know and we will revise this post by including it below (and give credit to the provider). 🙂 In the meantime, the link above will still enable our readers to view an authentic issue for November 30… from exactly 150 years ago today.
Our other posts re: Dr. James Robertson’s summaries may be accessed at: The CW… 150 Years Ago Today.
* The Virginia Tech website provides the credentials of Dr. James Roberson:
“One of the most distinguished names in Civil War history, Dr. Robertson was Executive Director of the U.S. Civil War Centennial Commission and worked with Presidents Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson in marking the war’s 100th anniversary. Today his Civil War Era course at Virginia Tech, which attracts 300 students per semester, is the largest of its kind in the nation.
The Danville, Va., native is the author or editor of more than 20 books that include such award-winning studies as “Civil War! America Becomes One Nation”, “General A.P. Hill”, and “Soldiers Blue and Gray”. His massive biography of Gen. “Stonewall” Jackson won eight national awards and was used as the base for the Ted Turner/Warner Bros. mega-movie, “Gods and Generals”. Robertson was chief historical consultant for the film.”