The “Land of Opportunity” as a melting pot… Still a work in progress…

August 18, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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The United States has often been considered both a “land of opportunity” and a “melting pot”. It is certainly reasonable to expect that if these are complimentary characteristics, they need to be complimentary (i.e., go hand in hand). While the blending of both will likely be an ongoing pursuit, steady progress over time should remain in focus, necessitating regular self-assessments. One such gauge of progress is to track those who have reached either of the two pinnacles of opportunity… the highest offices of the land: President or Vice-President. While early “outsiders” such Marquis de Lafayette, Albert Gallatin, and Alexis de Tocqueville gave America a glowing report card in regard to our pursuit, the reality is, many start well but eventually grow weary or lose focus. So, how are we doing?

This very question came to mind as I viewed the front page of a recent acquisition – an issue of the National Post (Canada) dated August 8, 2000. It had a full banner headline which surprised me: “GORE FIRST TO PICK JEWISH RUNNING MATE”. Until the 21st century, had the U.S. never had a Jewish-American on a presidential ticket for a major political party – let alone one who had served as either VP or POTUS? I guess I should have known this, but to be honest, I’m still waking up to such things. So, digging a little deeper, I discovered that whereas the ethic groups most prevalent in America during its early, formative period were a healthy blend of English, Irish, African, Germanic, Jewish, and Scottish, only those within the melting pot with a Jewish heritage have yet to reach the top steps of the ladder labeled “Land of Opportunity”. Interesting.

While there are many ways to measure growth… and whereas those with slavery in their family tree have had more than their fair share of roadblocks along their opportunistic trek, rather than be discouraged, we need to keep assessing honestly and responding intentionally. As for me, I’m thankful for newspapers like the National Post which serve as a reminder of the quest before us.

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One that didn’t get away: a golden nugget discovered within an 1884 newspaper…

August 11, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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Over the years we have emphasized one of the pleasures that is relatively unique to the hobby of collecting rare and early newspapers; that is, discovering hidden gems within their pages. These “finds” are most-often unearthed by those who call to tell us what we missed, and their stories rarely disappoint. In some cases the golden nuggets may significantly impact the collectible value of the issue – such as finding a period mention of Abraham Lincoln prior to him entering the national stage buried deep within a newspaper, or, thanks to the advanced search capabilities now available through the internet, learning that an unsigned letter in an issue of The Gentleman’s Magazine out of London was actually written by Ben Franklin. However, in other instances the value gained is personal.

Such was the case with the January 1, 1884 issue of The Prattsburgh Breeze (NY) – and thankfully, it was discovered while we still had the issue in hand. We already knew it was the 1st issue (vol. 1, #1) of this extremely rare title, and it was listed as such. However, when someone from a (ok, “an”) historical society contacted us to ask if there was a mention of a the neighboring town, as we carefully read through the pages, we discovered the following:

While this may not seem significant to most, it delighted my wife who is an avid fan of all things Joel Chandler Harris in general, and Uncle Remus in particular. If you are unfamiliar with either Mr. Harris or the beloved Uncle Remus, a deep dive into this tandem will be well-rewarded.

Since the saying ‘Happy wife, happy life’ is emphatically true—and since this discovery just upgraded my wife’s happiness—once again, I am compelled to proclaim: ‘I love this hobby!’.

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Great Headlines Speak for Themselves… The Nuremberg Trials…

August 8, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the October 2, 1946 issue of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram which reported the final outcome of the Nuremberg Trials:

“12 NAZIS GET DEATH, 7 PRISON; 3 FREED”

This is certainly one of the best we’ve seen.

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An historic broadside with a connection to early newspapers… revisiting “The Gerry-Mander”…

August 7, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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Shown below the following video is a reposting of Timothy Hughes’ original post regarding “The Gerry-Mander”. We are revisiting the topic due to current events. We hope you enjoy.

Although we just discussed the historic broadside, “The Gerry-Mander”, a few days ago, since it was initially part of Timothy Hughes’ personal collection, we thought it might enjoy hearing from him directly. Enjoy.

From Tim…

Many years ago I had access to a very unusual broadside (single sheet, printed on one side only) titled: “Natural And Political History of THE GERRY-MANDER! In Two Chapters…..With Cuts.” Although it was not a newspaper, which was always my focus, a little investigation showed it had a newspaper collection. It would not be until many years later that I discovered how historically significant it really was.

“Gerrymander” is an interesting term that came into being in 1812 at a meeting of Federalist political leaders and newspapermen in Boston. Complaints about the efforts of their Republican opponents to rig state elections by altering voting districts led artist Elkanah Tisdale to add a head and wings to an outlined map of a new senatorial district in Essex County and name it the “gerrymander” after the leader of the Jeffersonians, Governor Elbridge Gerry. The cartoon shocked the public and proved very effective. Gerrymander has since become embedded in the political lexicon of America.

This broadside we offer is described by dealer Barry Lawrence Ruderman as a “Rare political broadside featuring the first political cartoon in American history to visualize and satirize gerrymandering, one of the most enduring distortions of democratic representation…”.
As seen in the photos, this broadside pairs two woodcut maps with satirical letterpress text mocking the 1812 Massachusetts Senate redistricting law. The cartoon appeared in the Boston Gazette in March 1812, and quickly spread.

The left woodcut depicts the now-famous creature with wings, claws, and a serpent-like neck, labeling the towns it distorts. The right side features a straightforward district map of Essex County showing the two senatorial districts under the new law. The surrounding text is divided into “Natural History” and “Political History.” The first, reprinted from the Gazette, invents a monstrous genealogy for the gerrymander; the second details the law’s consequences—particularly how the Democratic-Republicans expanded their Senate majority from 21–19 to 29–11 despite losing the popular vote.

The American Antiquarian Society tentatively dates this broadside printing to between 1813 and 1822, the latter date coinciding with renewed controversy around redistricting. The cartoon here is virtually identical to the original Gazette version, suggesting either reuse of the block or a careful recutting of it.

Everything about this broadside makes this a landmark artifact of political commentary and electoral history in the United States.
It measures 18 by 20 inches, has minimal foxing, and is in nice condition. One dealer offers this very same broadside for $24,500.

 

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Gerrymandering… (1813-1822) – an extremely rare find…

August 6, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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The following is being republished due to current events. Enjoy!

And so it began…  but not without a bit of push back…

Shown below is a somewhat detailed analysis of an intriguing item which is rarely seen. When published in the early 1800s it brought to light a new technique in the election process which was certainly not conceived by the original “founders” of the United States: Gerrymandering. Whereas a brief description can be found posted on the item’s listing (The Gerry-Mander!), due to the volume of information available through multiple sources – especially in the face of its under-the-radar significance and rarity, we thought others might appreciate learning about the broadside as much as we have. We hope you enjoy.

Summary

The broadside “Natural And Political History of THE GERRY-MANDER! In Two Chapters…..With Cuts” is likely from 1813–1822, published in Boston, and satirizes early U.S. gerrymandering. It reprints an 1812 cartoon and article coining “gerrymander,” linking to Governor Elbridge Gerry’s redistricting favoring Democrat-Republicans. Included are two sections:

• “Natural History”: Reprints the 1812 Boston Gazette piece, humorously describing the “Gerry-mander” as a new political monster.

• “Political History”: An original essay explaining the 1812 redistricting’s origins, noting it favored Democrat-Republicans (winning 29 seats to Federalists’ 11, despite more votes for Federalists). It calls for ending such practices, though gerrymandering persists today.

The broadside is a historically significant document which is only found in a few institutions – one being the Massachusetts Historical Society. It is not listed in Shaw & Shoemaker, a bibliography of early American imprints, underscoring its rarity.

Historical Context and Origin of “Gerrymander”

The term “gerrymander” emerged in 1812 during the governorship of Elbridge Gerry, a prominent figure in early American politics who signed the Declaration of Independence and served as James Madison’s vice president. In February 1812, Massachusetts Republicans, led by Gerry, engineered a radical redistricting plan to disadvantage the Federalist majority in the upcoming state senatorial elections. This plan was particularly evident in Essex County, where one district was redrawn into an irregular, elongated shape that resembled a salamander. The cartoon, first published in the Boston Gazette on March 26, 1812, was attributed to illustrator Elkanah Tisdale, who added wings, claws, and fearsome teeth to the map, transforming it into a monstrous creature. The term “Gerry-mander” was coined during a dinner conversation, possibly by painter Gilbert Stuart or poet Richard Alsop, combining Gerry’s name with the mythical beast.

The redistricting was highly effective: in the 1812 election, the Republicans’ majority grew from 21-19 to 29-11, despite the Federalists receiving more votes. This outcome highlighted the manipulative potential of gerrymandering, where politicians could pick their voters rather than voters choosing their representatives. However, ironically, Gerry lost his re-election bid in 1812, and there is little evidence he strongly supported the redistricting law, though his name became indelibly linked to the practice.

Additional Details & Summary

The broadside reprints the original 1812 cartoon and article from the Boston Gazette (March 26, 1812), attributed to illustrator Elkanah Tisdale, which depicted the district as a winged, clawed monster with satirical text. It is a rare and historically significant artifact that encapsulates the early American political practice of gerrymandering, a term and concept that remain central to discussions of electoral fairness. Its call for ending gerrymandering contrasts with its persistence, as seen in modern debates over redistricting and voting rights. It serves as a reminder of the long-standing tension between political strategy and fair representation, with the term “gerrymander” remaining a symbol of electoral manipulation. The pronunciation note from some sources, suggesting it should be “gerrymander” with a hard ‘g’ rather than the common “jerrymander,” adds a linguistic dimension to its legacy, reflecting regional and historical variations in usage.


The following video was added after the post went live:

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When is dead really dead – USSR edition?

August 4, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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Is a chicken dead when its head is cut off, or when it finally stops moving? How about the flower your grandchild just presented to you as a gift? Was it dead as soon as it was severed from the plant, or will it not be dead until it turns brown? How about a marriage (a court document vs. a covenant before God), our very existence (a doctor’s declaration vs. spiritual implications), or a nation – especially if its formation is similar to The United States of America? How many states would need to secede before one could truthfully claim “The United States is no more”?

These were some of my ponderings as I recently came across two issues related to the demise of The Soviet Union. The first was The Philadelphia Inquirer dated August 25, 1991 which reported Mikhail Gorbachev’s resignation and his formal statement requesting for the Soviet Communist Party to dissolve, and the second was a December 9, 1991 issue of The Los Angeles Times which had the bold heading: “Slavic States Call Soviet Union Dead, Form a Commonwealth”. The dissolution may not have been official until December 26, 1991, but many would argue the death really took place back in August when Gorbachev made his announcement and plea. Still some would say its status is more like that of a cicada. Buried, but latently waiting for just the right moment to rise again and loudly make its presence known (the last statement read with the Jaws soundtrack playing in the background). Regardless of how things play out over time, the list of once-powerful nations which no longer exist is a sober warning to anyone who thinks today’s top players will exist forever.

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Announcing: Catalog #357 for August, 2025 – Rare & Early Newspapers…

August 1, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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August’s catalog (#357) is now available. The links shown below will take you to various segments of the new catalog, the History’s Newsstand Blog (check out the post: “Ben Franklin’s 1st contribution to The Gentleman’s Magazine”), and the current list of discounted issues. Enjoy!

Catalog #357 (for August): This latest offering of authentic newspapers is comprised of over 300 new items, a selection which includes the following noteworthy issues: the desirable “Unite Or Die” engraving, the Battle of Lexington & Concord, the most famous of all Lincoln assassination newspapers, Hawaii’s first “regular” newspaper, an Oxford Gazette (1665), the Louisiana Purchase (on the front page), and more.

The following links are designed to help you explore all available items from this latest edition of our catalog:

  • Grouped by price…

Priced under $50

Priced at $50-$99

Priced at $100-$299

Priced at $300 and up (the best of the best)

  • Grouped by era…

Dated from 1600-1799

Dated from 1800-1899

Dated from 1900-Present

————–

DISCOUNTED ISSUES – What remains of last month’s discounted issues may be viewed at: Discount (select items at 50% off)

HISTORY’S NEWSSTAND – Recent Posts on the History’s Newsstand Blog may be accessed at: History’s Newsstand
Thanks for collecting with us!

Sincerely,

Guy Heilenman & The Rare & Early Newspapers Team

RareNewspapers.com

570-326-1045

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Inspiration Surrounds Us… Illustrated Prints for Framing…

July 28, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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Without a doubt, you would want a love of history to enjoy working here at RareNewspapers. If history enthralls you, being surrounded by first account history is beyond delightful. While not everyone is able to join us on a daily basis, here in the archives, we all have the ability to surround ourselves with images from the past that inspire & encourage as well as teach & caution. With this in mind, I wanted to share some new 1900’s LESLIE’S ILLUSTRATED & SATURDAY EVENING POST magazines with you as they are replete with captivating images… both stark and winsome. I have attached a few of the most recent listings below for your enjoyment.  As you can see from the frame hanging next to my desk, even those tattered and torn images can find new life with a little TLC.

LESLIE’S WEEKLY, New York, January 11, 1919.

LESLIE’S ILLUSTRATED, New York, February 7, 1920.

LESLIE’S ILLUSTRATED, New York, March 23, 1918.

 

 

 

 

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Ben Franklin’s 1st contribution to The Gentleman’s Magazine, London…

July 25, 2025 by · 1 Comment 
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Many are aware Ben Franklin was a frequent contributor to The Gentleman’s Magazine (London); however, few can name his 1st appearance. What makes the task more difficult is his proclivity for signing his work using pseudonyms. Thankfully his work has been extensively researched – an effort which was aided by his prolific record keeping.

So, was it an article related to electricity, a game (“the morals of chess”),  a puzzle (“magic square of squares”), he thoughts on marriage, or a treatise regarding the poor? No, it was the text of a speech (supposedly) given before a Colonial Court by a woman named of Polly Baker.

Thanks to enhanced research tools, a synopsis is as follows:

“The Speech of Polly Baker” is a satirical essay first published anonymously in The Gentleman’s Magazine in April 1747. It is now widely attributed to Benjamin Franklin, who is believed to have written it around 1746. Although the piece was initially published without attribution, Benjamin Franklin is almost certainly the author. This is supported by evidence from Franklin’s own correspondence, accounts from contemporaries, and stylistic analysis. Franklin was known for using pseudonyms and anonymous satire to criticize social and political norms, and this work fits that pattern.

Summary

  • The essay takes the form of a fictional courtroom speech by a woman named Polly Baker, who is on trial for the fifth time for having an illegitimate child out of wedlock—a crime under colonial law.
  • In her speech, Polly eloquently defends herself by questioning the justice of punishing women for fornication while men (the fathers) go unpunished and even rise to positions of honor.
  • She argues that she has done nothing wrong morally, since she brought children into the world and cared for them, and should be praised, not punished.
  • The satire points to:
    • Hypocrisy in the legal system.
    • The unequal treatment of women, particularly in matters of sexuality and reproduction.
    • Broader critiques of colonial laws and moral attitudes.

Historical Significance

  • “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker” is one of the earliest American critiques of gender inequality.
  • It reflects Enlightenment ideals—particularly reason, natural rights, and critiques of tradition.
  • The piece prefigures later feminist arguments about the double standards in sexual morality.

Reception in 1747

  • When it was published, readers largely did not know it was a satire by Franklin.
  • Many believed the account was true, and some thought Polly Baker was a real person.
  • The piece generated significant interest and discussion in Britain and the American colonies, especially because of its radical tone.
  • It was reprinted widely in newspapers and magazines, suggesting it was popular and provocative.

Some clergy and conservative voices were critical, viewing the essay as undermining traditional moral values, while Enlightenment thinkers and reform-minded readers praised its rhetorical skill and boldness.

Legacy

  • Today, “The Speech of Polly Baker” is studied as a landmark example of early American satire and as a precursor to later feminist and legal critiques.
  • It shows Franklin’s ability to use humor and irony to challenge unjust systems and conventions.

Note: The full text of this Franklin work can be read at Founders Online of the National Archives.

 

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From the Vault: Creating Harper’s Weekly engravings: a fascinating process…

July 21, 2025 by · 15 Comments 
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Harper’s Weekly issues of the 19th century remain among the more popular in our inventory, as the multiple engravings found in each issue document much of American history from 1857 through the end of the century. We have over 60,000 issues in inventory but still some dates are sold out as soon as they arrive. I suspect most of you have seen this title, but few may be aware of the interesting process of creating the prints in a timely manner.

The story of how Harper’s delivered this amazing product during the Civil War  is a fascinating one, and I must give credit to www.sonofthesouth.net for much of detail.

The process started by the deployment of not only reporters but also artists to the battlefield.  Some of the most renowned artists of the 1800’s got their start as illustrators for Harper’s Weekly, including Winslow Homer and Thomas Nast.   These artists would sketch scenes of the battles that they witnessed and the sketches would then be dispatched back to Harper’s for publication in the upcoming papers.

In order to publish the artwork, the images first had to be carved onto a block of wood.  But it would take too much time for a single engraver to carve an entire print, particularly given the timeliness of each issue.  To provide the illustrations as quickly as possible, a very clever idea was developed.  The illustration would be cut into 2 inch squares and each square would be engraved onto a different small block of wood by an assigned carver.

By dividing the illustration up, each artist assigned to just a portion, a team of workers could carve a full page illustration in a short period of time.  After the small blocks were completed they were then screwed together to form the overall illustration and a finishing engraver would provide final touches to be sure the pieces were perfectly aligned.  This completed wood block was then used as a “master” to stamp the illustration onto all the newspapers being printed.  If you look at a Harper’s engraving carefully you can often see where the blocks of wood were joined together.

It wasn’t until the 1890’s that the technology of printing caused the end of hand-done engravings for the pages of Harper’s and other illustrated periodicals. With the demise of this labor-intensive trade also came the end of some of the more beautiful works of art to be found on paper. They remain treasures today and hearken back to an era when artistry and long hours of work were an important part in providing the news.

(This post was originally published on March 23, 2009.)

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