Einstein… Smarter than a 5th grader?

June 9, 2023 by · Leave a Comment 
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To even ask such a question seems a bit absurd, but let’s double it. What about a 10th grader?

As reported on the front page of the May 16, 1952 issue of The New York Times, the 70-something “genius” Albert Einstein was put to the test. How did he do? He received an A+ for kindness, and, using today’s measuring stick where everyone is a winner, he posted another high score for effort. As for his answer… go to the NYT link above to find out if he was able to go toe-to-toe with a question given to a group of 15-year-olds.

Spoiler alert! In all fairness Dr. Einstein, rumor has it the question was listed under the “Challenging Questions” portion of their assignment.

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From the Vault – What is the best way to preserve & store newspapers?

June 5, 2023 by · Leave a Comment 
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A long-time collector, Morris Brill, is always asking great questions concerning the rare newspaper hobby. I’ll address several over the next few months, beginning with his first:

“What is the best way to preserve and store newspapers?”

I’ve considered several methods through the years. At first I was using large plastic bags and opening the four page papers and slipping them within, then taping & cutting the bag to the size of the newspaper. This way all pages could be read while being protected by the plastic.  But this obviously didn’t work if the newspaper had more than four pages.

I’ve considered encapsulation but it is relatively expensive and doesn’t provide the tactile experience so important in this hobby: one needs to touch & feel the paper to better “experience its history”.

After a few other failed experiments at proper storage I decided to customize a product I saw for storage of maps and documents. Since appropriate sizes for newspapers were not available we started making them in-house using archival material, now available on our website in eight sizes. These folders also allows the collection to label and make comment on the front of the folder. The newspapers slip in and out of the folders very easily to allow examination of all pages and that important “tactile experience”. I believe University Products offers a similar product but the sizes are not necessarily proportioned for newspapers.

I also like the newspaper storage boxes which University Products offers, and I categorize the newspapers, in folders, by era, one era per box. I find these boxes to be very nice for storing a personal collection and are advertised as being made of archival materials. They are quite strong as well.

If the desire is to show the newspapers to others or for display at a show or convention I might recommend presentation cases which we use for display. We received so much call for this product that we become distributors, now available on our website.

Best also to keep newspapers our of sunlight and high humidity. Newspapers can be professionally matted & framed quite safely, and UV glass is available if the newspaper will be displayed where the sun will hit it at some point in the day. But I would still avoid contact with the sun as much as possible.

More later!

Note: The History’s Newsstand Blog went live for the first time in 2008. Since then our goal has been to provide informative of interest to both novice and well-oiled collectors of Rare & Early Newspapers. The focus of the “From the Vault” series is to introduce the current generation of collectors to posts from the past (with occasional updates as appropriate). The original post shown above can be viewed at:

What is the best way to preserve & store newspapers?

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Highlights from Catalog 331 (June, 2023)…

June 2, 2023 by · Leave a Comment 
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At the start of each month we (RareNewspapers.com) release a catalog of newly discovered rare & early collectible newspapers. Whenever possible, along with the announcement of the catalog’s availability, we also like to include a brief video highlighting a selection of the key issues along with a few examples of interesting newspapers for those on a tight budget. This month’s video is shown below. We hope you enjoy.

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Filed under: Announcements, Catalog Release Announcements, Newspaper Collecting Ideas, The Collectible Community, The Hobby
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Announcing: Catalog #331 for June, 2023 – Rare & Early Newspapers…

May 30, 2023 by · Leave a Comment 
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The June catalog (#331) is now available. Shown below are links to various segments of the catalog, our currently discounted newspapers, and recent posts to the History’s Newsstand Blog. Please enjoy.

CATALOG #331 – This latest offering of authentic newspapers is comprised of more than 300 new items, a selection which includes the following noteworthy issues: a ‘Constitutional Gazette’ (the most rare Revolutionary War title we’ve offered), a ‘Frederick Douglass’ Paper’ (previously titled ‘The North Star’), Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown (two accounts), Battle of Gettysburg (in a Richmond newspaper), a London newsbook dated 1648, Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, and more.

 

Helpful Links to the Catalog:
————–
DISCOUNTED ISSUES – What remains of last month’s discounted issues may be viewed at: Discount (select items at 50% off)
————–
Thanks for collecting with us.

 

Sincerely,

 

Guy Heilenman & The Rare & Early Newspapers Team

570-326-1045

[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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Filed under: Announcements, Catalog Release Announcements, Civil War, Collecting Newspapers, Colonial, Confederate, Death Reports, Great Headlines, Newspaper Collecting Ideas, Noteworthy Issues, Old West Era, Post Civil War, Pre Civil War, Revolutionary War, Sports, The 1500's, The 1500's - 1700's, The 1600's, The 1700's, The 19th Century, The 20th & 21st Centuries, The Hobby, The War of 1812, Yankee
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Dramatic Headlines Speak for Themselves… WWII – Attack on Los Angeles…

May 29, 2023 by · Leave a Comment 
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The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the LOS ANGELES TIMES, Feb. 25, 1942, which reported on the Japanese “attack” on Los Angeles:

“L.A. AREA RAIDED!” 

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Snapshot 1960… From Small Beginnings…

May 25, 2023 by · Leave a Comment 
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What happened? On July 16, 1960, a group of eight African American students – seven in high school and one in college, entered the “whites only” wing of the public library in Greenville, South Carolina to protest the library’s policy of segregation (the library had separate wings for blacks and whites).

Peaceful or violent? They entered the “whites only” wing quietly, selected books from the shelves, and sat down to read in silent protest.

Effective? While only lasting 40 minutes (at which point they were arrested), their actions led to the eventual desegregation of the library a mere 2 months later.

Public response? According to Wikipedia, although the library put up a fuss, and even initially closed stating, “the efforts made by a few Negroes to use the White library will now deprive White and Negro citizens of the benefit of a library”, they eventually reopened due to pressure from the black and white residents of the community.

“Red and yellow, black and white; they are precious…”

Legacy? While it is hard to measure the spidering impact of such “small” efforts, one of the “Greenville 8” is now a household name: Reverend Jesse Jackson.

The small report found on page 19 of The New York Times dated July 17, 1960 is symbolically shown in large format below.

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Happy “Victoria Day” (Canada)…

May 22, 2023 by · Leave a Comment 
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Shown below is a Canadian-themed, woodcut illustration from a sketch by Frederic Remington as printed in the Harper’s Weekly dated March 22, 1890.

To our friends up north…

Happy Victoria Day!

(original available at RareNewspapers.com – digital available at History’s Newsstand @ Etsy)

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Filed under: Harper's Weekly, Illustrated Newspapers, Newspaper Collecting Ideas, Post Civil War, The Collectible Community
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May, 2023 Newsletter from RareNewspapers.com

May 19, 2023 by · Leave a Comment 
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Welcome to the May, 2023 edition of our monthly newsletter. This month we’d like to bring your attention to the following (links are in red):

Recent Posts on the History’s Newsstand Blog

New Items Added to Catalog 330

Since Catalog 330 went to print we’ve added nearly 40 additional issues. Some of the topics/issues include: a terrific & rare broadside “Extra” on the capture of Jefferson Davis, the latest news from the Revolutionary War in a very rare newspaper, a first report of Lincoln’s assassination, Jim Thorpe at the 1912 Olympics (in a Carlisle, PA newspaper), the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (printed in gold ink), an 1862 issue of The New South with a report on the attack by the Merrimack, the northern-most newspaper we have offered, “Pistol Pete” Maravich sets all-time career NCAA scoring record, the death of Andy Warhol & David Susskind, a desirable print of Billy Bowlegs, the premier of one of the more interesting movies, “Chicken Run”, and more. New Items Added to Catalog 330

Two Versions of a Special Offer (good through May 29th)

To discover why we are making such an offer and which newspapers qualify, click on either link above.

This Month’s Set of Discounted Newspapers – 50% Off

Due to the special offer shown above which makes nearly 2,000 items available in discounted sets, rather than posting additional discounts for May, we are extending April’s discounted items. These are not available to be used as part of the above offer. This Month’s Set of Discounted Newspapers – 50% Off

Catalog 330
As always, thanks for collecting with us!
Sincerely,
Guy Heilenman & The Rare & Early Newspapers Team
570-326-1045
Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers . . .
. . . History’s Newsstand
“…desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.” Hebrews 13:18b

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From the Vault – So you collect old newspapers!

May 15, 2023 by · 1 Comment 
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In social situations when asked “What do you do?” I (Tim Hughes) have to be careful how I respond. I’ve learned through experience that stating: “I’m a dealer in rare newspapers” is usually responded to with a pause, then “What?”, followed by a ten minute discussion on just what I do.

Being quick to get the questioner beyond the thought that I’m in the recycling business or that I clip interesting articles upon request, my more detailed response invariably intrigues and fascinates and seldom ends up being a short conversation. There is often a hint of pity in their voice & expression, thinking I have yet to find meaningful employment. But when I mention there are five full-time and several part-time employees, interest in the occupation piques.

If I don’t have the time or interest in a lengthy conversation, I’ve at times answered with “I’m an antiques dealer”, which although truthful is also a bit evasive, however it’s also an answer others can understand with limited interrogation.

You, being a collector of rare newspapers, might have had similar experiences when speaking to others about your hobby. Do you have any interesting stories?

Note: The History’s Newsstand Blog went live for the first time in 2008. Since then our goal has been to provide informative of interest to both novice and well-oiled collectors of Rare & Early Newspapers. The focus of the “From the Vault” series is to introduce the current generation of collectors to posts from the past (with occasional updates as appropriate). The original post shown above can be viewed at:

So you collect old newspapers!

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Hidden Gems within Rare & Early Newspapers/Magazines… 1792 edition…

May 12, 2023 by · Leave a Comment 
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We recently listed a Massachusetts Magazine from 1792 with the following description:

Benjamin Franklin’s Will…

The bulk of the issue is taken up with a wide range of eclectic articles as noted on the full title/contents page.
The issue begins with: “Extracts from Dr. Franklin’s Will” which takes over a full page and provides many details on various beneficiaries.

Also within: “Thoughts on Dueling” “The Child Trained up for the Gallows” “A Description of the Dismal Swamp in Virginia” “The Distresses of a Frontier Inhabitant” “Fourteen Causes which Enrich a Country” “On the Climate of South Carolina” and much more.

Near the back is a: “Collection of Publick Acts Papers, etc.” including 3 Acts of Congress, each noted as: “Approved by the President…”, and also: “Abstract of the Proceedings of Congress” taking several pages. Then: “Domestick Chronicle” with news of the day, state-by-state and which includes much on Indian troubles.

Based on only the abbreviated list of articles we included within this issue’s listing, if you could only read one article, which one most attracts your attention? For me it would be Ben Franklin’s will, with “The Child Trained up for the Gallows” and “Thoughts on Dueling” a distant second and third choice. But what if I was from Ohio… perhaps even a region steeped in history related to westward expansion and the Northwest Territory? Well, one such collector fits this description, and without providing the title of the article, perhaps you can guess which captured his interest.

One never knows what one may find within the pages of Rare & Early Newspapers.

PS  Food for thought: Viewing the past through a romanticized lens may not always provide the most accurate view.

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