“Collecting Newspapers – The Basics” (Part III) – Newspaper Care…
December 11, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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We, (Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers), have been collecting and offering old and historic newspapers to the collecting community since 1976 (Tim’s first purchase was in 1975). For those who are either unfamiliar with or new to this amazing hobby, today we are kicking off a series of posts, “Collecting Newspapers – The Basics”, to serve en masse as a Primer for those interested in learning more about the collectible. This is the 3rd installment. Enjoy.


Additional information about the hobby can be found through this Blog and on the Rare Newspapers’ website.
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- Collecting Newspapers – The Basics (Part II) – What to Expect…
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- Welcome to the History’s Newsstand Blog!
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Capturing the Vibe… Christmas 1903…
December 8, 2023 by LauraH · Leave a Comment
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Welcome to the 2nd post in our ongoing series “Capturing the Vibe” where we try to imagine what the world felt like to a newspaper reader from the past by immersing ourselves in their … “vibe of the day”. This month I was drawn to Illustrated Magazines as Christmas is right around the corner, and they usually offer a plethora of wintery images. 1903 was on a low shelf and so it called my name.
So, on we go with this month’s issue…
Sometimes the December 1900’s colored covers are Christmas related and sometimes they are just beautiful!

Even though the color cover wasn’t Christmassy, the inside cover was full of Winter spirit.

On a somber note, I found a fascinating article comparing Feast-days with Fast-days … not something you hear in conversations of our days.

On a somewhat lighter note, I saw a multiple cell comic strip on “Pledges of Purity for the New Year”.

There was an article and intricate image of the New Williamsburg Bridge Christening in New York City…

A story by Robert Chambers…

and finally, a political Santa cartoon by W.A. Rogers who took over for Thomas Nast when he left Harper’s Weekly.

I count this find as an issue full of Christmas gifts!!
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- Capturing the Vibe… July 4th…
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- Merry Christmas… looking back…
- Christmas in July…
- The Peace of Christmas… An image reminiscent of my own experience…
“Black Friday” goes viral…
November 24, 2023 by LauraH · Leave a Comment
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Have you ever been in a room and said something funny and no one seemed to hear or if they did, they didn’t respond until someone else repeated your witty remark and then the room burst into laughter? My youngest daughter (youngest of 6) voices her frustration with this sibling scenario regularly. Apparently, “the louder (and older?) speaker gets the laugh” phenomenon is not my witty daughter’s alone to bear. On November 24, 1975, The New York Times carried an article describing the Friday after Thanksgiving as “Black Friday”. From this “appearance” forward the name took hold and across the country Black Friday became a recognizable label for the day after Thanksgiving. Ironically, other city papers had used this jargon before, however, it wasn’t until the New York Times took up the banner that the term was seared in people’s vocabulary. I have to wonder, was there some reporter from Philadelphia out there feeling the same frustration my daughter feels on a regular basis?
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November/Thanksgiving Newsletter – Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers…
November 20, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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- Announcing: Catalog #348 for November, 2024 – Rare & Early Newspapers…
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- The November (2017) Newsletter from Rare & Early Newspapers…
- Announcing: Rare Newspapers’ Catalog #252 is now available…
Happy Thanksgiving, 2023…
November 17, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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Each year as Thanksgiving approaches my thoughts (rightfully) bend a knee in the direction of gratitude which I try to express, for better or worse, in a simple post. In so-doing, while the feedback has been generally positive, on occasion I have been accused of being rather verbose, loquacious, over-talkative, etc., when what I tried to communicate could have been delivered with a higher degree of eloquence with considerably less long-windedness (i.e., I can be a bit wordy). In an effort to reign in this default behavior, in expressing this year’s thoughts I’ve elected to let a series of photos taken from a single issue of Harper’s Weekly from 1900 do the talking. I hope you find them thought-provoking. 




Happy Thanksgiving!
By the way, if pictures really do say a thousand words, success! My verbose, loquacious, over-talkative streak lives on!!!
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- Thanksgiving – only days away…
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- Last words can say it all – John Hancock’s thankful heart… Happy Thanksgiving!
Some comic relief should be found in every collection… Early parachute attempt in 1785…
November 13, 2023 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
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There seems to be a preponderance of tragic, dismal events that dominate our collections. After all, they tend to be very historic and life-altering. Think of all the “great” wars, various assassinations, the Titanic, Lusitania, & Hindenburg, and so much more.
So the occasional report with comic overtones can be refreshing. I recently wrote up an issue of the London Chronicle, July 14, 1785, with American content, but it also contains on the back page a very early parachute demonstration that went awry.
The report concerning a man who scheduled a parachute demonstration at the Blanchard Aerostatic Academy in England, planning to: “…let himself down from a prodigious altitude, and to manifest his composure by playing on a violin during his descent. To fulfill these promises, the ingenious operator had provided machinery, by which he might have been raised about 45 feet!
When the time arrived, he, with his Cremona [high-quality violin], entered the vehicle, and was raised with infinite precaution…”.
Okay, read the article to see how it plays out.
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Reprinted Newspapers – Identified as of 1931…
November 10, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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In 1931, Joseph Gavit, the senior librarian at the New York Public Library, published a list of known newspaper reprints: “A List Of American Newspaper Reprints”. This well-known but seldom found 16 page booklet begins: “This is an attempt to bring together, in one list, notes on all the complete separate reproductions of early or historic issues of American newspapers…”, with more to follow. At the time the list included nearly 150 reprint editions. Although the list has grown to more than 500 editions, most of the more common reprints were identified by Gavit.
We’ve created a listing “For Information Purposes Only” on the Rare & Early Newspapers website which includes photos of his work. We hope you find it useful.
An expanded list of newspaper reprints can be explored at Common Reprints – several which can be explored through this Blog by searching for “reprint“.
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- Extensive list of reprinted newspapers…
- Your help would be appreciated…
- Lincoln Assassination Newspapers Atlas…
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- The reprint issues of the “Honolulu Star-Bulletin” Pearl Harbor issue… and the reprint set…
Capturing the Vibe – January 3, 1938…
November 6, 2023 by LauraH · Leave a Comment
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A new year and a new edition of “Capturing the Vibe” where we try to imagine what the world felt like to a newspaper reader from the past by immersing ourselves in their … “vibe of the day”… perhaps with a cup of coffee in hand on a snowy day where you are.
So, on we go with this month’s issue…
January 3, 1938… the start of a new year… Roosevelt gives a message to Congress.

A Map Shows the “Black Plague of the Twentieth Century” which was defined as a WORLD-WIDE TREND OF GOVERNMANTAL DOMINATION OR LIBERTIES

On a more frivolous note … 35 long-wed couples make merry at party with dinner and dancing.

Nelson Eddy/Elanor Powell & Tyron Power/ Alice Fay had movies premier.

Coverage of The Sugar Bowl.

And last but by no means least … a Genuine RCA Victor Electric Tuning Radio was only $89.95!

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- Reflecting back on December, 1773… The Boston Tea Party…
Announcing: Catalog #336 for November, 2023 – Rare & Early Newspapers…
November 3, 2023 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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[The links above will redirect to the latest catalog in approx. 30 days
upon which time it will update to the most recent catalog.]
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The reason I collected it: The John-Donkey – 1848…
October 30, 2023 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
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While historic events & people–whether they be tragic, heroic, or celebratory–are the domain for most collectors, venturing out of this arena into the small world of comic and satire magazines can be a refreshing change.
This title is a great example, and in my 47 years of collecting newspapers this is the only issue I have encountered. It lasted but 29 weekly issues in 1848. Its significance is such that Frank L. Mott, in his book “A History of American Magazines, 1741-1850”, devoted a chapter to this title.
A few comments from his book include: “…John-Donkey always maintained the tradition of his stupidity… he claimed only to be stupid and was continually trying to prove his stupidity…Most of John-Donkey’s articles, long and short, were satires upon contemporary events or fads, upon organizations, movements, and persons. Politics were prominent…The first page of each issue bore a series of pictures of John Donkey himself in various attitudes…Each number contained a political cartoon, full pate in size, and printed on an unbacked leaf [the print in this issue of ‘The Pennsylvania Thimble-Rigger’, blank on the reverse]… It is very probable that the seven libel suits filed against the John-Donkey in May had something to do with its demise…”. The photos below is of the issue dated March 11, 1848 – the one I collected.

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Welcome to the November/Thanksgiving (2023) edition of our monthly newsletter. Understanding the busyness of the season as Thanksgiving (U.S.) rapidly approaches, I’ll make every effort to be brief. However, please do not miss out on this month’s highlights:
CATALOG #336