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“Bigfoot” in 1831…
February 4, 2012 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
This article appeared in the “New Hampshire Gazette“, Portsmouth, on February 15, 1831. Apparently “bigfoot” legends have been around for many years:
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:
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.
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
And I thought we were the lazy generation…
November 26, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
See what the “Scientific American” magazine of June 18, 1846 considered “Healthy Recreation”. The article notes that: “…it would be much more conducive to the health and happiness of the world if more encouragement as given to such modes of recreation among children & young people as are accompanied with wholesome exercise rather than the dull stagnating amusements of the nursery or parlor.” (see below)
The Traveler… the President’s State-of-the-Union address… a wife’s rebuttal…
November 7, 2011 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I traveled to the Columbian Centinel dated November 9, 1811 where I found the second page of this issue contained James Madison’s state-of-the-union message which was delivered on November 5th and is signed in type: JAMES MADISON. In the message, he reflects on the past year. He closes the address with “I cannot close this communication without expressing my deep sense of the crisis in which you are assembled…“. As we know we would soon be in the War of 1812.
Under a heading of “NOTICE” (see below) is an unusual, albeit difficult to read, posting for this time period. It is from a wife in response to a “notice” that had been posted earlier by her husband. From the reading of this, I think that he should have thought twice before making public notice!! The editor was kind enough to reprint her husband’s initial appeal above her response.
~The Traveler
Ten Golden Rules…
November 5, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The very first issue of “The British Workman” from 1856, our item 541456, contains a list of “Ten Golden Rules” which are as appropriate today as they were over 150 years ago:
Advice to the working men of England…
October 22, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The very first issue of: “The British Workman” from London, our item 541456, offers advice from Lord Palmerston, a British statesman and two-time Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, which included forward-thinking comments no the use of tobacco. The comments on alcohol are very appropriate today as well:
Newspaper publisher shows his bias…
October 1, 2011 by TimHughes · 1 Comment
This curious item appeared in “The Weekly Crescent City” newspaper from New Orleans, August 15, 1841. He goes to some length to show the value in paying for a subscription…
The Traveler… the frigate Huzza… struck by lighting!
July 25, 2011 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
In today’s travels, I found the July 25, 1811 issue of the Middlesex Gazette from Middletown, Connecticut was carrying a lengthy article from Thomas Pickering to the People of the United States pertaining to Commodore Roger’s actions in the “Little Belt” incident.
There is also a report of the DIVING BELL which had just located the British frigate Huzza which had sunk during the Revolutionary war period. The frigate had 28 guns and was heading to Boston with money to pay the British troops when it struck a rock and sunk.
A death notice is also mentioned for Richard Penn, Esq., former governor of Pennsylvania. He was also the grandson of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania.
Also within is a report from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, of a miraculous event. A boy was struck by lightning, which went through him and even instantly killed the horse he was riding. The boy escaped with but a singe behind his ear and his side somewhat scorched and blistered. He managed to make it the rest of the way to his home (less than a mile) on his hands and knees, and recollects nothing whatever of the circumstances.
~The Traveler