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The prisoner left with them…
January 21, 2012 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
An interesting legal case reported in the “Harper’s Weekly” issue of May 7, 1859:
A gem in the American Antiquarian Society… The Michigan Essay…
January 14, 2012 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
In celebration of its 20oth anniversary the American Antiquarian Society published a beautiful exhibition catalog titled “In Pursuit Of A Vision – Two Centuries of Collecting at the American Antiquarian Society”. Featured are a fascinating array of books, documents, maps & other paper ephemera, as well as several very rare & unusual newspapers we felt worthy of sharing with our Rare & Early Newspapers’ collectors (with permission from the A.A.S.).
“Michigan Essay; or, The Impartial Observer“, Detroit Michigan, August 31, 1809
Isaiah Thomas devoted substantial space in The History of Printing in America (Cat.9) to a history of American serial publications, closing with an eight-page census of newspapers “Published in the United States in the beginning of the year 1810.” Thomas sought help in its compilation in March 1810 by placing a widely reprinted notice in The Massachusetts Spy, requesting publishers “to forward one or two of their papers … that the right titles of their several Newspapers, may be correctly inserted.” Many responded, and the newspaper issues sent to Thomas were later donated to AAS.
This example — the first and only extant issue of the first Michigan newspaper — arrived too late for inclusion in Thomas’s checklist. The manuscript notation on the side reads, “Utica, (N.Y.) Aug. 3d 1810. Mr. Thomas, Sir I send you this paper printed by a friend of mine to insert in your ‘History of Printing.’ If he sees your advertisement, he will send more, perhaps of a later date. Your obt. Servt. C.S. McConnell.” The Michigan Essay was printed by James M. Miller on Michigan’s first press, brought to Detroit from Baltimore in 1809 by Father Gabriel Richard. Most of the text is in English, but a few articles and advertisements are in French.
A suggestion by young men…
January 14, 2012 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The following items from the March 21, 1874 issue of “Harper’s Weekly” is self-explanatory:
The Civil War… December 28, 1861…
December 28, 2011 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
This week we return to our reflection upon the Civil War events of 150 years ago… as seen through the eyes of the original readers of the Harper’s Weekly issue printed for December 28, 1861.
Note: The following commentary was written by Dr. James Robertson* as part of a weekly review for the reprint edition of the “Harper’s Weekly” which was done at the 100th anniversary of the Civil War. It provides much insight into the events of the day and scholarly commentary on both the illustrations and reporting found in the original 1861 newspaper.
* The Virginia Tech website provides the credentials of Dr. James Roberson:
“One of the most distinguished names in Civil War history, Dr. Robertson was Executive Director of the U.S. Civil War Centennial Commission and worked with Presidents Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson in marking the war’s 100th anniversary. Today his Civil War Era course at Virginia Tech, which attracts 300 students per semester, is the largest of its kind in the nation.
The Danville, Va., native is the author or editor of more than 20 books that include such award-winning studies as “Civil War! America Becomes One Nation”, “General A.P. Hill”, and “Soldiers Blue and Gray”. His massive biography of Gen. “Stonewall” Jackson won eight national awards and was used as the base for the Ted Turner/Warner Bros. mega-movie, “Gods and Generals”. Robertson was chief historical consultant for the film.”
And I thought we were the lazy generation…
November 26, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
See what the “Scientific American” magazine of June 18, 1846 considered “Healthy Recreation”. The article notes that: “…it would be much more conducive to the health and happiness of the world if more encouragement as given to such modes of recreation among children & young people as are accompanied with wholesome exercise rather than the dull stagnating amusements of the nursery or parlor.” (see below)
Nostradamus on the Civil War…
November 19, 2011 by TimHughes · 1 Comment
The “Stockton Daily Independent” newspaper of Oct. 28, 1861 includes an article headed: “A Strange Prophecy” concerning Nostradamus & the Civil War. In 1609 he predicted: “…About that time (1861) a great quarrel and contest will arise in a country beyond the seas…The war will not cease for four years…” and more (see).
Keep in mind it was in 1861, just 6 months after the start of the Civil War, that the write noted: “…in no way consoling for us poor devils and wretches…who will have to suffer this war for four years. Let us hope that the astrologer was mistaken, at least on this point.” (see) But the prediction would be true. The Civil War would run almost exactly 4 years after its beginning.
The Traveler… the President’s State-of-the-Union address… a wife’s rebuttal…
November 7, 2011 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I traveled to the Columbian Centinel dated November 9, 1811 where I found the second page of this issue contained James Madison’s state-of-the-union message which was delivered on November 5th and is signed in type: JAMES MADISON. In the message, he reflects on the past year. He closes the address with “I cannot close this communication without expressing my deep sense of the crisis in which you are assembled…“. As we know we would soon be in the War of 1812.
Under a heading of “NOTICE” (see below) is an unusual, albeit difficult to read, posting for this time period. It is from a wife in response to a “notice” that had been posted earlier by her husband. From the reading of this, I think that he should have thought twice before making public notice!! The editor was kind enough to reprint her husband’s initial appeal above her response.
~The Traveler
Ten Golden Rules…
November 5, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The very first issue of “The British Workman” from 1856, our item 541456, contains a list of “Ten Golden Rules” which are as appropriate today as they were over 150 years ago:
Advice to the working men of England…
October 22, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The very first issue of: “The British Workman” from London, our item 541456, offers advice from Lord Palmerston, a British statesman and two-time Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, which included forward-thinking comments no the use of tobacco. The comments on alcohol are very appropriate today as well:
How Sitting Bull got his name…
October 8, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
This interesting tidbit appeared in the “Pittsfield Sun“, Massachusetts, March 16, 1881 issue: