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A rousing call for freedom…
July 1, 2015 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment 
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We occasionally find nice editorials or letters in newspapers of the colonial era which express a concern for the relationship between England and the colonies. Most appear during the midst of the Revolutionary War, but they can be found, at times, in newspapers dated between the Stamp Act of 1765 and the outbreak of war ten years later.
The “Essex Gazette” of March 14, 1775 contains on page two a very rousing “call to arms” in support of freedom from the “tyranny” of England (one is shown below -both are viewable through the link). Hint is made for the need for freedom from British control some 15 months prior to the Declaration of Independence.
Take a moment to read this great letter, headed: “May Truth’s bright Beams and Freedom’s Rage, Confound the Villains of the Age.” A very appropriate piece as we now celebrate the 239th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
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Golden Nuggets… the “hits” just keep on coming…
June 29, 2015 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment Email This Post
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At Rare & Early Newspapers we always enjoy hearing about the various “finds” that permeate the collectible. While most significant content is know before one purchases an issue to add to their collection, due to the nature of the hobby, golden nuggets cannot help but be buried, yet 
undiscovered, deep within the pages of a newspaper. In some instances, the discoveries are quite significant – that is, significant to all having a general knowledge of history. In other cases, the find might be a little more subtle – yet still worthy of bringing to light.
The following account was sent to us not too long ago. Feel free to send along your own stories as well (send to guy@rarenewspapers.com).
Hi, I just wanted to let you know the papers arrived in great shape as usual but what was really great was once I went through them were the other stories I found.
In the May 8, 1930 New York Times on page 11 there was a story about how a newspaper in Havana, Cuba was fearing Al Capone was about to move there they feared he would turn it into “a second Chicago.”
In the inner pages of the Dec. 27, 1941 L.A. Times there was a story about five Iowa brothers joining the Navy and will serve together. This is an article about the Sullivan brothers who were later killed inaction in the Pacific and the Hollywood movie The Fighting Sullivans was made about them.
This is why I love collecting newspapers it’s not only about the main story you might have kept the paper for but the inner page stories you might have not paid attention to at first.
Thanks C.H. for sharing your story with the Rare & Early Newspapers’ Family.
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Great Headlines Speak For Themselves… death of Groucho Marx…
June 26, 2015 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment Email This Post
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The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the LOS ANGELES TIMES, Aug. 20, 1977: “GROUCHO MARX DIES“…
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The Traveler… A commuted sentence… the angry mob and more…
June 22, 2015 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment Email This Post
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Today I traveled to New York City by the way of The New York Times of June 22, 1915. There I found the headlines announcing Governor Slaton of Georgia had commuted the sentence of 
convicted killer Leo Frank to life in prison. “The death sentence imposed on Leo M. Frank for the murder of Mary Phagan has been commuted to one of life imprisonment by Governor John M. Slaton, and Frank is now in the State Prison at Milledgeville…” This news was not received well by the community and soon a crowd of up to 10,000 marches were upon the governor’s home. An effigy of the governor was burned. In the meantime, Leo Frank was secretly moved from the Atlanta prison to one in Milledgeville. This issue carries extensive coverage on this matter.
~The Traveler
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You decide… Which is really the best? Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr…
June 19, 2015 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment Email This Post
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When it comes to placing a value on collectible newspapers, past prices realized can be invaluable. However, in most instances, due to the vast number of variables which exist even within a common event (city of publication, condition, dramatic appeal, etc.), finding comparables can be difficult.
We recently came across two issues which illustrate this point – both containing front-page 1st reports of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – one being the newspaper from where he was born and raised containing perhaps a little more detailed reporting (The Atlanta Constitution, Georgia), with the other being a nice issue from where the assassination took place (The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN). Which is the more collectible newspaper? The answer may not be as easy as one might think. Years of experience have shown the Dallas Morning News‘ reporting of the JFK assassination to be hands-down the most desired issue – that is, the issue from where he was killed. In contrast, collectors find the Wapakoneta Daily News (Neil Armstrong’s hometown paper) with coverage of Man’s 1st Moon Walk to be the best.
What about Dr. King’s assassination? It is rare we can view each side-by-side (see below). We have our thoughts, but feel free to weigh in with thoughts of your own.
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The put it in print… America will become the greatest nation ever!
June 15, 2015 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment Email This Post
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One of the joys of reading old newspapers is the opportunity to discover what were, in fact, very prophetic statements made long before anyone could have known they would become true. As they say, hindsight does provide 20-20 vision.
One of the best is found in “The London Chronicle” issue of Nov. 2, 1765. Some 150 years before the per-eminence of America as a world power both military and economically, a writer begins an article: “Little doubt can be entertained that America will in time become the greatest and most prosperous empire that perhaps the world has ever seen…”.
How true that statement would become, but to predict that future nearly a dozen years before America would even declare independence from the mother country was truly a stretch. It’s a neat find in an otherwise inconspicuous newspaper.
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Post-Boys from London… A collector asks…
June 12, 2015 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment Email This Post
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The following is a guest post from a collecting friend. Feel free to weigh-in on any of his questions or comments:
“While I have been buying newspapers for 10 years [from Rare Newspapers], I have yet to see numbers of estimates printed for the popular London Post-Boy (most of my collection is the Post-Boy). Over the years, I have not found any numbers on the web until just this week! I was again urged on my watching Art and Coin TV, in which the 1899 Morgan Silver Dollar for sale, was mentioned to be very rare, with only 300,000 minted! Ha!
In the publication ‘Publishing Business in Eighteenth-Century England’, by James Raven, he states surviving records list the thrice-weekly printing in 1704 was 9000 a week, so 3000 per date! Quite a bit less then Morgan dollar for sure. But what of the total numbers that survive today?
My best guess would be at most, 1-2 percent of any one date, under 100 copies held in intuitions and private hands? Any one here found any estimates published on surviving copies? As an off-set pressman by trade, I enjoy showing off the Post-Boy at work, to the delight of all.”
Lawrence Garrett
Follow-up from Lawrence:
“I know a phrase from a London Gazette I have been trying to fully understand, without success. {It is found within] a September 24, 1666 issue you have. It states a ship ‘struck on the sands of the riff-raffes’. This sounds like a Sandbar, but I have seen sandbars called just that in these old newspapers. Despite much research, I cannot find any slang term for sandbars from any time period, let alone 1666. It would be nice to find published information confirming these Riff-Raffes are indeed sandbars. Is it possible these sea/lake/river bottom features were called Riff-Raffes BEFORE land use for rough trouble making people? Any other readers found this in other newspapers?”
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They put it in print… the best UFO alien abduction newspaper ever?
June 8, 2015 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment Email This Post
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UFO stories, with supposed “photos” have become rather commonplace in tabloids over the last 50 years, but few are accounts of alien abductions, and even fewer are accounts of abductions with eye-witness corroboration.
The small town of Show Low, Arizona, has a weekly newspaper and its issue of Nov. 14, 1975 has a terrific account (see image below) of perhaps the most famous alien abduction case in American history. It appears dramatically in this newspaper because it is essentially the “hometown” paper for the event: it published 38 miles from the abduction site (very rural Arizona) and less than 20 miles from the home of Travis Walton, the man abducted for 5 days before being returned to earth.
See the link to the issue of the “White Mountain Independent” for further details including multiple images showing snippets of much of the coverage. For any UFO enthusiastic this could well be the very best UFO newspaper report to be had. Is it even better than a Roswell newspaper from 1948?
Note: While the link above states the issue is no longer available, it is currently listed on eBay at: Thomas Walton Abducted By Aliens?
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The Civil War (post conflict)… June, 1865
June 5, 2015 by GuyHeilenman · 1 Comment Email This Post
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What news was reported in June, 1865 – 150 years ago? Such a walk back in time through the eyes of those who read the daily and weekly newspapers of the period can be quite revealing. This is why we often say, “History is never more fascinating than when it’s read from the day it was first reported.” The following link will take you back in time to show the available newspapers from the Rare & Early newspapers website. There’s no need to buy a thing. Simply enjoy the walk back in time:June, 1865
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Historic Newspaper Catalog #235 Is Now Available…
June 1, 2015 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment Email This Post
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Dateline June 1, 2015…
Catalog 235 (historic and collectible newspapers) is now available. This latest offering of authentic newspapers is comprised of over 350 new items. Some of the noteworthy content includes the Conciliatory Resolution (1775), Lincoln is assassinated (and still alive), thoughts on independence and Common Sense, the second of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, a letter from Ethan Allen in captivity, a Map of the Mason-Dixon Line from 1769, and more. Key items which include the remaining items from the above may be viewed at: Noteworthy Catalog 235
- 1500-1799 (full view OR quick-scan “compact” view)
- 1800-1899 (full view OR quick-scan “compact” view)
- 1900-2015 (full view OR quick-scan “compact” view)
DISCOUNTS: We have over 150 newspapers priced at 75% off (not a typo), through June 14, 2015. The prices shown already reflect this incredible discount. This is not a set of junk issues. Coverage includes Babe Ruth, the Jew Bill, early Gunnison (Colorado), Francis Lloyd Wright, Jackie Robinson, Charles Ponzi, Booker T. Washington, along with Confederate newspapers, a Winslow Homer print, and Civil War map issues are included within this batch – some priced at under $10! They may be viewed at: Discounted Issues
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