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Collecting Ideas: Charles Dickens…
April 4, 2011 by GuyHeilenman · 2 Comments
An area of collecting interest which continues to draw interest is collecting newspapers with Charles Dickens related content. Whether one’s passion is Harper’s Weekly Illustrated issues containing serialized versions of his writings, issues published by him directly
(All the Year Round & Household Words) , or newspapers with news concerning his travels and/or his thoughts on various topics, there certainly are a host of ways to enjoy this particular area of newspaper collectability.
Although not directly related to the hobby, we recently came across a post we thought our Dickens-collecting friends might enjoy: 15 Things You Never Knew About Dickens, by Emma Taylor. Feel free to share your Dickens knowledge with the collecting world via responses to this post.
First newspapers in Ohio…
March 21, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
Ohio was still part of the vast Northwest Territory when the first newspaper in present-day Ohio was published in 1793. The date was November 9 and William Maxwell’s newspaper the “Centinel of the North-Western Territory” was the first product of the printing press anywhere north of the Ohio River & west of the Allegheny & Blue Ridge mountains. The city of publication was Cincinnati, but just a few years earlier it’s name had changed from “Losantiville”. The newspaper would continue until June of 1796, although records show the newspaper was sold to Edmund Freeman in 1796 who changed the name to “Freeman’s Journal“. Records show, however, that it did not publish until July of 1800 and lasted less then 6 months.
The second newspaper published in Ohio was also done in Cincinnati, called the “Western Spy and Hamilton Gazette“, begun in May of 1799 and lasting till the end of 1822. Only one other pre-statehood (1803) newspaper published in Ohio, being the “Scioto Gazette” published in Chillicothe, it beginning January 8, 1801 and lasting through the end of 1803.
Galt, California, among our Old West titles…
March 17, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
We have many issues of the “Weekly Galt Gazette“, California, in our Old West inventory, but perhaps few of our collectors know this city–current population of some 23,000, in Sacramento County–had its start in the California Gold Rush.
In 1850, a group of farmers settled around the banks of a small stream, Dry Creek, close to Galt. Their plans were to grow beef and dairy products. In the year 1869, the town of Galt was laid out by the Western Pacific Railroad Company. The name Galt was given at the request of John McFarland, a local rancher, in honor of his home town in Canada. It was previously called Dry Creek Township after the stream by which they settled. By 1869, the community consisted of blacksmiths, dairymen and cattle ranchers. Raising cattle was the main occupation.
Galt was built almost entirely of wooden structures making fires the biggest problem for the town. However, many of the old original homes are still standing, in excellent preservation, around town.
In 1880, Galt had two general merchandise stores, one variety store, one hotel, one harness shop, two blacksmith shops, two wagon and carriage manufacture and repair shops, one wood yard, one livery stable, two barber shops, two shoe stores, two saloons, one meat market, one barely mill, Wells Fargo & Co.’s Express Office with three physicians and one attorney-at-law in town.
By the turn of the century, cattle raising and dairying gradually decreased and agriculture took over. The principal grain was wheat.
(credit: City of Galt)
The Traveler… Maine becoming a state?… the horses know the way!…
March 10, 2011 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
This week’s journey found me with the Middlesex Gazette issue dated March 7, 1811. This contained a headline “Another New State” in which the District of Maine (a part of the state of Massachusetts) had held a Convention in Boston and voted 56 to 18, that “it is expedient to take the sense of the people on a separation from Old Massachusetts.” However, they did not obtain their statehood until nine years later as part of the Missouri Comprise.
An amusing story (see below) is of a Coachman, who while fetching some straw for his seat, found his horses leaving without him. They proceeded to the next place (with the coachman in chase) and stopped as they would normally do. A countryman entered and called “go on!” and the horses took off again at full speed to the next place, four miles away. Early auto-pilot?
~The Traveler
The Traveler… Black Beard, somewhat live… “Wonderful Woman”…
February 24, 2011 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
This journey found me traveling to Boston via The Repertory dated February 22, 1811. I was instantly attracted to the front page of this issue when I spied “BLACK BEARD — The Pirate” front and center. I knew the time frame for his name would not 
be fitting which made me look even more so! I found that this was actually a five-act comedy musical about this monstrous pirate, of which they took some liberty in the story line as stated in the article. Inside the issue is an advertisement of the play.
Two headlines in the advertisements attracted my attention, “The Wonderful Woman!”, which I thought would have been unusual for that time period. The one was of a book being available about the life of Ann Moor, Tutbury, England, who had for more than three years lived entirely without food. The other advertisement was of a correct likeness, in wax, of Mrs. Moor, that was just added to the Columbian Museum. Was this the early beginning of the liquid diet fads or what??
~The Traveler
She prepared for the end…
February 21, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
Some news reports we discover in our newspapers are so beautifully written that they beg to be share with more than just the collector who buys the issue. This is one. Not only is the report of Martha Washington’s death eloquently presented, it is interesting how she knew her time was coming to an end and was prepared for it.
This report appeared in the “Farmer’s Museum or Literary Gazette” from Walpole, New Hampshire, June 8, 1802:
Searching for a husband…
February 12, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The following thought appeared in the “New York Illustrated News” of July 23, 1853. While many newspapers chronicle engagements, marriage, etc., this snippet stood out as a fitting warning to young men with cold feet. I believe the first word should be “Popping” and not “Poping”:
First newspapers in New Mexico…
February 7, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The first printing press arrived in New Mexico at Santa Fe in 1834 and just one year later the first newspaper was published, a Spanish-language paper titled “El Crepusculo de la Libertad” 
(Dawn of Liberty), beginning on Nov. 29, 1835 but lasting for only four numbers. It was presumed that New Mexican lawyer Lic Antonio Barriero published it to promote his candidacy for the Mexican Congress, and abandoned it after his election.
In 1844 another newspaper was published: “La Verdad” (The Truth) which lasted for over a year. A bi-lingual newspaper, “The Santa Fe Republican” began on Sept. 4, 1847 and two years later on Dec. 1, 1849 the first issue of the “New Mexican” appeared, which exists to this day.
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)