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Entry point to the Rare Newspapers Collectible… 19th Century…
January 20, 2011 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
In the past the History’s Newsstand Blog has featured posts on the upper end of the collectible: “Prices Realized” and “Most Collectible Issues“. We are now taking a look at the other end of the spectrum – (low cost) entry points into the hobby. A few weeks ago we explored low cost issues from the 20th century. This post moves back in time to the 19th century.
The following selection provides a glimpse of the wide variety of 19th century issues available valued at $15* and under. Areas of interest include the War of 1812, religious-themed, youth-themed, snap-shots of 19th century city life, and more. Many more exist on the Rare Newspapers’ website, but others can be found throughout the collectible community as well. The item numbers for each are linked to corresponding images.
Introductory Issue from the 1800’s…
209016 An original issue from the 1800’s to help jump start your collection. This issue is guaranteed to be original, complete, and to be dated in the 1800’s. We do not offer reproductions of any kind! There is a limit of 10 issues per customer at this price. See the images for examples of the condition and look of the issue you will receive. The image shows several issues to give you a sense of the various titles/conditions you may receive, but please know this listing is for a single issue – at a great price. $3.00*
The War of 1812…
207496 COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, dated during the War of 1812. The issue you will receive is similar to the issues shown in the image – slight wear, minor staining and foxing, etc.. The issue will be dated from during the War of 1812, and will have war related news and news of the day. A great issue to own at an incredible price. $7.00*
From France…
153338 GALIGNANI’S MESSENGER, Paris, 1837. An interesting newspaper from France but printed in English, and featuring a black-inked tax stamp on an inside page. Various news of advertisements. Four pages, nice condition. Note: The policy/purpose of this title was to promote good feeling between England and France, and was highly regarded. $13.00*
19th century publication for youth…
152963 THE YOUTH’S LEDGER, New York, NY, 1887. “An interesting monthly for the Young” as is printed in the masthead. See the photo for an example of the “look” of this title from our archives. This is a nice issue to have from this location and period in history. Six pages approximately 16″x11″. $11.00*
Pittsburgh, PA… just before steel production…
153013 THE PITTSBURGH LEADER, Pittsburgh, PA, 1873. State, local and national news from this era. Interesting to have news of the day from just before steel production hit in full force. See the photo for an example of this title from our archives. Note that the photo is “generic” and the issue you get will not have these specific photos or be of this specific date but will have the format as shown. 21″x17″. Four pages and in nice condition. $15.00*
Exploring the influence of war on domestic Life…
153036 ADVOCATE OF PEACE, (Hartford, Connecticut), 1834. An interesting magazine which has war as its theme, and the value of peace as opposed to war. Note that the photo is “generic” and the issue you get will not have this specific date but will have the format as shown. Forty-six pages, measuring 9″x6″, disbound without outer wrappers. $11.00*
Additional issues priced at $15* and under may be viewed at: Entry Level Newspapers
* All prices shown were valid as of the release date of this post.
First newspaper in Nevada…
January 18, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
“Nevada” received its name from a Spanish word meaning “snow clad”. Outside of the Native Americans one of the earliest settlements was by the Mormons at Genoa, in 1849, then part of California. It later would be attached to the Utah Territory, then became the Nevada Territory before being admitted as a state in 1864.
It was at the town of Genoa that the first newspaper in the state began in 1858, the “Territorial Enterprise“. Just a year later it moved to Carson City, and yet another year later to Virginia City where it continued until 1916. One of its claims to fame is having Samuel Clemens as a reporter and editor in the early 1860’s. Although issues from the 1870’s and 1880’s have been in our inventory for some years, issues from the 1860’s–particularly from the territorial period before statehood–are very difficult to find. (credit: “Printing In The Americas” by J. Oswald)
Is it true?
January 15, 2011 by TimHughes · 2 Comments
The “Democratic Watchman” newspaper from Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, July 30, 1886 has an interesting tidbit which, if true, unveils what it likely a little known and fascinating twist in American history: “Jefferson Davis, as an officer in the Black Hawk war, administered the oath of allegiance to Abraham Lincoln, entering the service as a lieutenant.” (see below)
Intriguing earthquake newspaper…
January 10, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
A newspaper I came across recently was one I nearly tossed in the trash believing it to be only the back leaf of a four page newspaper. We have, unfortunately, many such remnants lying around the warehouse. But before tossing the issue aside I noted a heading (see below) near the top of the first column: “FORM PIED ! ” In printing parlance “pied” means the set type was reduced to a jumble by being knocked, dropped, etc. The text notes: “Going to press this afternoon the first and fourth pages of the Dispatch forms were pied by the carrier to the press rooms. We are, therefore, unable to issue more than half a sheet of the paper to-day.” (see) So, this single sheet, without a banner masthead, was a complete newspaper after all.
But even more intriguing is that just below this “pied” report is an early report of the San Francisco earthquake of 1868, headed: “The Earthquake” which begins: “The reports from different quarters show that the great shock yesterday morning was felt with more or less intensity all around the Bay, to a great distance. It appears to have been most severe in Alameda county & the damage to property was large. In this city, the loss has been great, though probably not to the extent that was feared yesterday. Many buildings have been damaged…” with more on both sides of the newspaper.
Of curious interest is whether the type was pied as a result of an aftershock, which always accompany earthquakes. Indeed, a report at the bottom of the page is headed “Shock” and notes: “Another shock of earthquake was felt this morning a few minutes before one o’clock. It was quite perceptibly felt & several left their houses thinking it was the prelude to a heavier one…”. So did the printer’s assistant drop the type for pages 1 and 4 due to an aftershock? We’ll never know, but the combination of the early earthquake report–from the city where it happened–and the reduced state of this edition due to the type being dropped makes for an intriguing newspaper.
Mark Twain… on the Jews…
January 3, 2011 by GuyHeilenman · 2 Comments
We recently discovered an issue of Harper’s Monthly from September, 1899 which has a lengthy article by Mark Twain regarding Jews. While he is often viewed as America’s greatest writer, few are aware of his ongoing defense of minorities within the U.S., including Jews, Blacks, Native Americans, along with other minority groups. To kick off the new year on an upbeat, but challenging note, we invite you to view the text of “Concerning the Jews“, by Mark Twain. As we reflect on the 100+ years since this was written, it appears that many have heeded his words – a tribute to the melting pot potential of the citizens of the United States.
Happy New Year!
December 31, 2010 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
To: The Collectors and Friends of Rare & Early Newspapers…
Have a Happy New Year!
From: The Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers Staff
Merry Christmas!
December 25, 2010 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
To: The Collectors and Friends of Rare & Early Newspapers…
Have a blessed Christmas!
From: The Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers Staff
“Go West, young man…”
December 20, 2010 by TimHughes · 2 Comments
I know there is dispute over who first used the oft-cited phrase: “Go West, young man…” widely attributed to Greeley. The following provides some background:
“…That is a question that is still being argued more than a century later. Horace Greeley (1811-72), founder of the New York Tribune, has long been quoted for his line in a July 13, 1865 editorial. The authorship was disputed, however, in the 1981 book, The People’s Almanac, by David Wallechinsky & Irving Wallace. They were not the first to dispute the parentage, but they certainly popularized the argument. They claimed that John B. Soule (1815-1891) penned the line 14 years earlier, in 1851, in an editorial in the Terra Haute, Indiana, Express.
That was not the end of the argument and all its permutations, however, because in September, 2004, author Thomas Fuller confused the matter even further when he published an article in the Indiana Magazine of History in which he claimed that he could not find any such quote by Soule. In fact, he could not even find a published claim for Soule’s parentage before 1890. That revelation intrigued us because we have always noticed how odd it is that a date in 1851 has never been supplied. The lack thereof always rings an alarm and suggests that the writer is merely quoting someone else. So, let us look at the evidence.
Hal Gordon wrote this summary of Greeley’s editorial:
Greeley’s editorial in the New York Tribune in 1865 was addressed specifically to young civil servants in Washington, D.C. who were complaining that the government didn’t pay them enough, given the high cost of living in the nation’s capital. Greeley had scant sympathy for them. He wrote: “Washington is not a place to live in. The rents are high, the food is bad, the dust is disgusting and the morals are deplorable. Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country.”
Despite the controversy, there seems to be a general consensus among the many citations on the internet that Greeley used the phrase in his July 13, 1865 editorial, as noted above. I have the Tribune of the 13th and scoured through the issue yet never found the quote. The closest I could come is in “The Homestead Law” piece, page 4 col. 4, where he mentioned: “…We earnestly urge upon all such to turn their faces Westward and colonize the public lands…” (see below).
Am I missing something? Does the phrase actually exist somewhere in this newspaper? Could one erroneous citation many years ago have been cited again and again without anyone actually checking the newspaper to verify? Perhaps some collectors have this issue, or perhaps another edition with this famous quote. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who might be able to offer some helpful information.
A collector sells bound volumes in 1878…
December 11, 2010 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
This advertisement appeared in the “Scientific American” issue of June 22, 1878, noting a collector who has various bound volumes of the title, selling for $1 each. How prices have changed.
Lamenting the handwritten word…
December 4, 2010 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
In today’s world of email, instant messaging, and twitter, there are many who lament the “old days” when people took the time to type out a letter, sign it, and use a stamp & envelope to get it to its destination. This item, found in “The Townsend Messenger” of Montana, issue date of March 18, 1892, takes that “lament” back one step further when the typewriter replaced the handwritten note.