The Spirit of the West Returns… America Returns to Her Roots…

January 12, 2026 by · Leave a Comment 
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Over the past several years, there has been a resurgence of the American cowboy archetype– evident in cultural phenomena like the TV series Yellowstone, rodeo events, and broader Western imagery—as a reflection of a deeper shift in the American spirit.

Confirming this point, in a March 2025 monologue, a well-known podcaster described this “comeback” as a positive change, saying, “something has changed in America, for the better.” He argued that the cowboy represents an innate, long-dormant quality in Americans: fierce independence, unyielding grit, and a commitment to honor, faith, and self-reliance. He reasoned that there is a Reawakening of Core American Values: saying the cowboy embodies “a handshake that means something” and “a promise you don’t break, because your word is the only thing you own.” This spirit includes gestures of respect like “taking your hat off for a woman” and saying “Yes, ma’am” and “No, sir.”

 

Long before radio talk show hosts extolled the virtues of the American cowboy, Harper’s Weekly captured the essence of these men in stunning imagery proving that in fact, a picture is worth a thousand words, whether printed or spoken on the radio.

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Lead-up to a Nation… as reported in the newspapers of the day (December, 1775)…

January 9, 2026 by · Leave a Comment 
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Today we continue our series, “Lead-Up to a Nation… as reported in the newspapers of the day” – the anniversary of the greatest experiment in democracy and self-government.
The following are the installments from last month (December, 2025, which reflected on the events as they were reported approximately 250 years ago – in and around December, 1775:

The Battle of Great Bridge – Decisive Patriot Victory (Lead-up to a Nation – E18)

The Capture of Montreal – High-water Mark (Lead-up to a Nation – E19)

Proclamation of Rebellion – Colonial Response (Lead-up to a Nation – E20)

Prohibiting Trade – Stopping trade between England and the Colonies (Lead-up to a Nation – E21)

We hope you are enjoying this year-long trek to the 250th anniversary of The United States through the eyes of those who were fully engaged, first hand. As mentioned previously, all accounts are rooted in what they read in the newspapers of the day.

“History is never more fascinating than when read from the day it was first reported.” (Timothy Hughes, 1975)

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1776-2026: The Dream Still Shines at Dawn’s Early Light!

January 5, 2026 by · Leave a Comment 
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Whether we call it the Semiquincentennial, America250, the Quarter Millennial, the Sestercentennial, or simply the 250th birthday of the boldest experiment in self-government, 2026 rises like a new dawn—filled with promise, reflection, and hope for every American and every friend of liberty across the world.

The front page below, taken from  a newspaper celebrating the Centennial Fourth of July in 1876, carries us back to that earlier moment of celebration—a time when a young nation looked proudly to its past and eagerly toward its future. It reminds us of the countless generations whose courage and sacrifices made possible Franklin D. Roosevelt’s enduring truth:

“We are a nation of many nationalities, many races, many religions—bound together by a single unity, the unity of freedom and equality.”

That vision still lights our way. Yet we are also called to remember Frederick Douglass’s wise and urgent reminder, spoken on the 23rd anniversary of emancipation in the District of Columbia:

“The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful and virtuous.”

As we celebrate this extraordinary milestone, may we lift our hearts in gratitude for the Divine grace that has guided us through triumph and trial alike. And as we look ahead, may we renew our shared promise—to preserve every hard-won freedom and to keep lifting the banner of justice, opportunity, and dignity for all who call this land home.

Here’s to the journey still unfolding. Here’s to the dream still alive.

Happy 250th, America!

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Helping to usher in The 250th Anniversary of the U.S. – January’s Catalog – #362 Now Available…

January 2, 2026 by · Leave a Comment 
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Our January 2026 catalog is live—and as we enter the year in which we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, this collection offers a powerful reminder of how history was first reported.

Catalog #362 features 350+ newly listed authentic newspapers, including the definitive printing of the Bill of Rights, Washington’s letter to the Jewish Masonic Lodge, strong reporting on the Stamp Act, English accounts announcing American independence, a remarkable Lincoln assassination broadside, Hamilton’s appointment as Secretary of the Treasury, and more. We hope you enjoy.

The January, 2026 Catalog (#362)

 

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A rare, colonial “2nd forgery” with an intriguing backstory… Cape Fear (part II)…

December 29, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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A few weeks ago we featured a post regarding this same issue: “Snapshot 1775 – North Carolina Declares itself Independent!”

Tim Hughes penned the following related post which provides the backstory:

The Cape Fear Mercury, from Wilmington, North Carolina,  has a “purported” issue dated June 3, 1775.  As the following story informs, this would have to be one of the more interesting colonial newspapers we’ve offered, primarily for being a forgery.
This newspaper began publishing on Oct. 13, 1769, and was suspended for about five months from the fall of 1774 to the spring of 1775. It ceased publication in September, 1775.
As for the intrigue–and this is just a brief explanation–a 1905 article in Collier’s magazine focuses on the existence of a June 3, 1775 issue of the Cape-Fear Mercury which contains on the front page the Mecklensburg Resolves, or a “declaration of independence” from North Carolina some 13 months before what was declared in Independence Hall. This was a hoax, believed to have been perpetrated by surviving document signers many years after the event, in an effort to show North Carolina was first in declaring independence from England. See much more online.
The following is taken from the well-respected “History & Bibliography of American Newspapers, 1690-1820” by Clarence Brigham. We’ve not seen such text devoted to an avowed forgery as this one in his two-volume reference set, which only speaks to its significance:
“…What purported to be an issue of this paper of June 3, 1775 was exploited in Collier’s of July 1, 1905 by S. Millington Miller, who claimed that he owned the original. The reproduction printed in Collier’s shows only the heading and part of the first and second columns…The paper was immediately believed to be fraudulent & in the ‘American Historical Review’…A. S. Salley and Worthington C. Ford showed the paper to be a forgery with the heading based upon an original issue of Nov. 24, 1769 owned by the American Antiquarian Society. The same defects in type, and even fly-specks in the 1769 issue appear in the spurious 1775 heading.
Miller made up his issue by setting up three columns of new matter, which included the Mecklenburg Resolves…But in giving his issue the date of Friday, June 3, 1775, no. 294, he erred in not knowing that Friday fell on June 2, and that because of a hiatus in publishing, the number of such a paper would be no. 258; also that by June, 1775, the heading [masthead] had been altered and the cut of the royal arms omitted. Later Miller manufactured a better forgery than the one furnished to Collier’s and differing in set-up–for example, the top line of the second column in the first forgery read “ford.—Messirs. Abednego Ramsdell, Dan-“, and in the second forgery: “of Charlestown.—Isaac Gardner, Esq. of.”.
At least 3 copies of this second forgery are now located–in the American Antiquarian Society, the Clements Library at the University of of Michigan, and in the possession of Oliver R. Barreett of Chicago…All of the forgeries were printed on one side of the leaf only, differing from the usual method of printing regular issues of 18th century newspapers.”
This issue we offer is seemingly just the fourth “second forgery” known to exist, unless it is one of the three cited above. The backstory is interesting and attests to what extent some might go to insist upon the greater prominence of North Carolina in early American affairs than what is currently found in history books.

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Christmas through the eyes of a newspaper from 1794…

December 25, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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As I was searching through our newspapers published on Christmas from the past in the hopes of finding one which would be potentially meaningful to our collecting friends, I came across a December 25, 1794 London Gazette which seemed to hit the mark. I’d love to know if you agree.

Under the heading “AMERICA” on page three I found the entire text of President George Washington’s State of the Union address. It is quite lengthy, and the entire text can be found online, but I was struck by the first and last paragraph – both of which are shown below. Is it me, or could these words have been penned today? Merry Christmas!

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Popcorn, Principle, and the Presidency: JFK’s Quiet Stand for Artistic Courage…

December 22, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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One of the many ways we build our database of key issues comes by way of requests from collectors? Case in point: A client recently asked if we had the February 5, 1961 issue of The New York Times which contained an inside report about President John F. Kennedy attending a movie at a local, D.C., public theater. Could such a report be significant; perhaps even collection-worthy? I immediately turned to the internet to see what I could find regarding this seemingly innocuous event. The following is a summary of what I discovered:

From the Silver Screen to the Oval Office: JFK’s Movie Night That Cracked the Blacklist

On February 3, 1961, just weeks after his inauguration, President John F. Kennedy quietly attended a screening of Spartacus at Washington, D.C.’s Warner Theatre. It may have looked like a simple night at the movies, but the moment carried deep cultural significance—marking the beginning of the end for Hollywood’s infamous blacklist.

At the heart of the story was screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, one of the “Hollywood Ten,” who had been blacklisted during the McCarthy era for refusing to testify before Congress. For years, Trumbo wrote under assumed names, but Spartacus producer Kirk Douglas decided it was time to credit him openly, defying industry fear and government pressure.

Kennedy knew exactly what that meant. By attending the film—and later praising it—he effectively gave a presidential nod to artistic freedom and to those silenced by the Red Scare. That quiet gesture helped dismantle a decade of fear and restored a measure of integrity to Hollywood.

Symbolically, Spartacus’s story of rebellion and freedom echoed the challenges Kennedy himself would face in a world divided by the Cold War and rising civil rights tensions. What began as a night at the movies became a turning point in America’s cultural history—proof that sometimes the most powerful stands for freedom don’t happen on the battlefield, but in the back row of a darkened theater.

So the question remains: Is this newspaper collection-worthy? My vote is yes, but such a call is certainly subjective.

 

 

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Snapshot 1775 – North Carolina Declares itself Independent!

December 19, 2025 by · 1 Comment 
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According to The Cape-Fear Mercury (from Wilmington, North Carolina) dated June 3, 1775, North Carolina declared itself independent long before the 13 colonies did so in early July, 1776. However, there is a slight problem. The issue containing this announcement was a forgery! Whereas we’ve included a copy of the article below, to grasp the extent of this complex forgery, it would be best to read Tim Hughes’  explanation on the issue’s listing itself: The Cape-Fear Forgery. Enjoy.

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Holiday Newsletter (2025) – Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers…

December 15, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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Welcome to the Holiday Newsletter from Rare & Early Newspapers. Whereas a number of interesting items are included below, don’t miss out on one of our posts from a few years ago: “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus“.

This month’s highlights:

1) Newly Listed Catalog Items – The list of items which have been added to our most recent catalog after it went to print continues to grow – including a number of great (highly collectible) issues. These new listings may be viewed at: NEWLY ADDED CATALOG ITEMS

2) Discounted Issues (50% off): 100+ items have been added to last month’s list of discounted issues – each discounted by 50% (as shown) through January 15, 2026! Take a look; you won’t be disappointed: DISCOUNTED ITEMS (50% off)

3) Catalog 361 – Wonderful items from the December catalog still a remain. The available issues may be viewed at: CATALOG 361

4) Holiday-themed content – over 80 collectible newspapers with a Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Year’s theme are available at: ISSUES w/ HOLIDAY-THEMED CONTENT (you may need to view the full description if the “holiday content” is secondary to an historic report)

5) Additional Ideas for Gift Giving:

  • As collectors and dealers of Rare & Early Newspapers, while we NEVER offer reprints of newspapers, copies of specific articles are an occasional exception – and when done, they are printed on non-newsprint and are clearly identified as such. One of the more popular items for gift-giving in this category is a copy of an original: 1st-Ever NYT Sunday Crossword Puzzle (copy)

* Note re: Holiday Shipping – We are sending this newsletter a bit earlier than usual to increase the chance that any item/s ordered will arrive in time for Christmas. If historic/rare newspapers are part of your gifting plans this year, please know we will make every effort to ship incoming orders within 48 business hours.

6) The History’s Newsstand Blog – bi-weekly posts of potential interest to those who collect rare & early newspapers. An aye aye lemur’s handful of recent posts includes:

 
Best wishes to you for a wonderful holiday season,

Guy Heilenman & The Rare & Early Newspapers Team

RareNewspapers.com

570-326-1045

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Thomas Jefferson helps to codify George Washington’s footsteps…

December 12, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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When it comes to collecting rare and early newspapers, those containing the text of presidential annual messages are quite desirable. While a handful are well known (Lincoln’s 2nd annual address, Washington’s 1st, Kennedy’s 1st, etc.), others fly well under the radar. A recently discovered broadsheet (Republican Argus, Extra, Oct. 16, 1808), containing Thomas Jefferson’s final address in 1808 brought this latter group to mind, yet, upon analysis in light of current events, seems to hold its own historically. The summary below, modified from multiple AI sources, is provided so you can draw your own conclusion. Enjoy.

Thomas Jefferson’s Eighth Annual Message to Congress, delivered on November 8, 1808, came at the close of his presidency during a time of international conflict and domestic unrest. He used the address to defend the Embargo Act of 1807, which aimed to protect U.S. neutrality and avoid war with Britain and France by halting foreign trade. Despite its economic toll on American farmers and merchants, Jefferson maintained that economic pressure was preferable to military conflict. The speech also reflected ongoing foreign policy tensions, particularly regarding maritime rights, and the young republic’s efforts to uphold sovereignty amid European aggression.

Jefferson’s speech highlighted the challenges of maintaining neutrality, the importance of strengthening U.S. military defenses, and his vision for internal development, including peace through trade with Native American tribes. It also revealed the political friction of the time, with Jefferson facing criticism from both Federalists and members of his own party over the embargo and proposed federal infrastructure projects. This period of political division underscored deeper questions about the role and limits of federal power in a republic still defining itself.

Most significantly, Jefferson’s 1808 address signaled the end of his presidency and affirmed his decision not to seek a third term. Although he had announced this publicly in 1807, his final annual message served as a symbolic and practical demonstration of his commitment to republican principles. By following George Washington’s example, Jefferson helped establish the precedent that presidents should serve no more than two terms. This voluntary transfer of power reinforced the principle that no individual should hold executive power indefinitely, a safeguard essential to American democracy.

Jefferson’s choice not to pursue a third term, especially during a time of national strain, cemented a critical political norm that influenced every president until Franklin D. Roosevelt. The importance of this precedent lies in its protection against the concentration of power and its promotion of leadership rotation—core values in a constitutional republic. Jefferson’s 1808 address, then, is not just a reflection on policy but a foundational moment in American political tradition, ultimately leading to the formalization of the two-term limit through the 22nd Amendment.

 

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