The reason I collected it: magazines in original bindings…

January 27, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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In my last post I discussed the difference between disbound and never-bound newspapers – the latter being more preferred presuming other factors are equal.

The same holds true with 18th century magazines, with one added bonus: they usually contain original outer wrappers, almost never found with disbound magazines.

As was the case with newspapers, it was common for a full year’s edition of a magazine to be set aside by the publisher when printed and bound at the year’s end for sale to institutions & personal libraries in book form. I would say 95% or more of 18th century magazines we offer were once bound. They are easy to spot as they have disbound evidence at the spine, and their margins were trimmed for a more even, aesthetically pleasing appearance (some were bound but the margins were not trimmed).

Those who have read our catalogs for years will recall that I give special attention to magazines that were never bound. They were as sold on the streets or delivered to the subscriber. Such magazines typically had outer wrappers (often blue) that protected the issue within and were bound with string rather than glue, the latter the case for bound issues. These wrappers were often decorative, featuring an engraving, perhaps the table of contents, or advertisements of the publisher. When magazines were bound into annual volumes the wrappers were discarded, considered superfluous, essentially rendering some magazines incomplete if the wrapper was where the city of publication and publisher’s name were found.

Given that such never-bound magazines did not enjoy the protection of hard-cover bindings and the relative inaccessibility on library shelves, they tend to be more worn at the margins. It would not be uncommon for the wrappers to be worn at the spine and margins, more so than the pages within. but I would prefer a worn, never-bound issue to a more perfect disbound issue. I might suggest at least one never-bound issue in a collection as a representative example of a magazine’s original state, knowing that the vast majority of issues collected will be disbound without wrappers.

The Gentlemen’s Magazine shown above is what is most commonly found – trimmed, disbound, and without the original protective wrapper which was removed during the binding process (since it was no longer needed for protection). The one shown below is of the same date and is an example of a never-bound nor trimmed issue which includes the original outer wrapper. Others can be found on our website but be forewarned: they are very much in the minority (and are priced higher due to their rarity). Enjoy your collecting!

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The reason I collected it: never-bound issues…

January 24, 2025 by · 1 Comment 
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For the serious collector, the ideal state for a collectible newspaper is one as sold on the streets or delivered to a subscriber, meaning never having been bound nor trimmed at the margins, and almost certainly read by someone on the day of issue. They are, however, in the minority of those available on the collector market.

Most newspapers found today were, at one point, bound into a volume, either 3 months, 6 months, or a full year’s editions per volume depending on the number of pages. Binding consecutive issues was an efficient way for institutions to store newspapers on their shelves, making them easily available for researchers, looking much like a large book with the spine noting the title and time period. Most were guillotined at the edges to make the three exposed margins even and more aesthetically pleasing, albeit with the loss of a small portion of the original newspaper.

With the advent of microfilm and microfiche–and now digital storage–institutions began converting their holdings to such user-friendly formats, often discarding the hard copies to save space on their shelves. Such discarded volumes often found their way into the hands of collectors who disbound the volumes to secure those issues of significance for their collections. Disbound newspapers are usually easy to spot as they often have glue remnants at the spine and/or binding slits, holes or irregularity where strings once held the issues into the volume. Issues as sold on the streets will not have binding evidence at the spine and their margins are wider and typically uneven, evidence of the limitations of paper-making in the era.

Not surprisingly, disbound issues tend to be in better condition having been protected by the bindings for 100 years or more. They are also far more plentiful than never-bound issues. Never-bound newspapers did not enjoy such protection through the years and tend to show more wear or staining, most having been lost or destroyed in time. So when a never-bound newspaper is found in great condition, it is a rarity and a prime choice for a personal collection.

There is an emotional intrigue to never-bound issues as well which no collector should overlook.

Bound issues were more typically set aside on the day printed, stacked, and later bound into a volume without having been read by anyone on the date issued, and perhaps by no one for hundreds of years. It’s the same paper, original to the date, but more emotionally sterile.

Never-bound newspapers were once owned by a subscriber (name typically handwritten at the top) or purchased at the corner newsstand allowing today’s collector a sense of fascination in holding & reading a newspaper once read by someone many years ago. One gains a more personal appreciation of history knowing the subscriber first learned of Lincoln’s assassination from the newspaper now in your collection. Remember, no radio, television, or internet announcing the event within moments of it happening.

Enjoy the hobby, and when the option permits, think about being more discriminating in what ends up in your collection.

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A Time of Transition… Washington’s Funeral…

January 20, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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As I sit down to write this post, I wonder if there has ever been the death of a former president within 2 weeks of the inauguration of another. It is a lot of change for a country to lay to rest a former president (President Carter) while welcoming in a new leader (President Trump), however, it must have been significantly more unsettling for a nation to put to rest their 1st president. His legacy and wisdom were now gone from public discourse and there was still so much to be done. The blend of sadness and uncertainty must have been quite unsettling – yet, the nation moved forward.

We are now entering our own days of transition with hope that the upcoming weeks may not be days of tumult and that our new leaders will guide our nation with the same steady hand and heart General George Washington demonstrated during the early, formative, first-steps-era in our nation’s history. My prayer is that they look for wisdom and guidance from the same Source General Washington did so that 225 years from now, their life stories are also shared with pride and provide inspiration.

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Let Freedom Ring. . . The Emancipation Proclamation …

January 13, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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Free Speech, whether in verbal or written form… the underpinning of our union and the lifeblood of our republic. Speech is a gift to humanity and while all speech should be protected, there is something particularly irresistible about some words. Poetry can offer a respite for the soul while lyrics coupled with melody can cause the spirit to soar. Similarly, words of freedom spoken by someone who has the power to bring them to pass brings hope and therefore courage for a new day.

Such is the case with The Emancipation Proclamation. . . speech breaking chains, setting captives  free and restoring hope to the human soul. For this reason, when we have the opportunity to see these words in print, we are witnessing a powerful moment for good in our country’s (albeit imperfect) varied history. While taking decades longer than we may look back and have wished for, the power of this pivotal moment should not be lost on America’s people; but rather, give us courage and boldness to guard it’s  foundational gift.

PS  Thanks goes out to our friends in Great Britain for helping to pave the way.

 

 

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This Month in History – January…

January 10, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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When considering the month of January, what historical events come to mind? Perhaps Lincoln signing the final version of the Emancipation Proclamation, Fidel Castro seizing power in Cuba, the discovery of King Tut’s sarcophagus, Greenland becoming America’s 51st U.S. (joking, but Alaska did become the 49th state in the month of January), the first U.S. commercial bank’s opening in Philadelphia, the ratification of the 11th Amendment, and/or cigarettes finally declared to be hazardous to one’s health would be among your list. Whereas reading books about such events is common practice – and if well-written, informative, reading the actual newspaper accounts of these events within 24 hours of their occurrence within the context of other news of the day has the power to provide a breadth and depth of understanding which is hard to achieve through other primary sources.

The link below will take you to a chronological list (1600’s-20th century) of our currently available newspapers from the month of January. There’s no need to buy anything. Simply enjoy your trek through time via the eyes of those who were present.

NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN JANAURY

 

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Announcing: Catalog #350 for January, 2025 – Rare & Early Newspapers for collectors…

January 3, 2025 by · Leave a Comment 
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January’s catalog (#350) is now available. Links to the entire catalog, specific eras, targeted price points, new posts on the History’s Newsstand Blog, and more are shown below. Please enjoy!

CATALOG #350 – This latest offering of authentic newspapers is comprised of more than 350 new items, a selection which includes the following noteworthy issues: a Virginia Gazette (Bunker Hill, & Washington takes charge), the Boston Port Act (from the city where it was created), a foundational issue on the sport of cricket, a Tombstone newspaper (just before the gunfight at the O.K. Corral), the King declares America free & independent, a terrific, graphic issue on Lincoln’s funeral, and more. These noteworthy items along with a handful of others may be viewed at:

Noteworthy Catalog Items

All items from the catalog may be found at:

The Entire Catalog!!

The Catalog (excluding listings of ongoing titles which group lots):

Abridged Version of the Current Catalog

(same as above only in quick-scan view)

Items from this catalog along with remnants of the previous catalog may be viewed at:

Combined Catalogs (current & previous)

Items from this catalog which are priced at $50 or less:

Inexpensive Catalog Items

————–
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… and Happy New Year!

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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A New Era Captured in Story…

December 31, 2024 by · Leave a Comment 
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New Year’s Eve morning at the Rare & Early Newspapers’ archives was busy, but I did find a moment to clean up some issues in the ever-growing pile of “my favorite things”. As I progressed through the task at hand, I discovered the issue shown below and simply had to share it as it is a great reminder of how January 1st isn’t the only day to usher in a new era. Out of the ashes of the Civil War, Joel Chandler Harris captured the moment with whimsical stories gathered from black men and women who were piecing together their own America-rooted culture in the newfound light of freedom. Many years later, these stories were featured in movie & song so a whole new generation could appreciate the wisdom shared by those who had intimately experienced so much hardship decades earlier. Now we can hold tightly to the example of all the brave, overcoming souls who helped our country press forward at one of its most pivotal moments, and we can enter 2025 with boldness, hope and compassion. Happy New Year to everyone from those of us at Rare Early Newspapers. May your step into the new era of 2025 be smooth sailing.

 

 

 

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The More They Things Change, The More They Stay The Same…

December 25, 2024 by · Leave a Comment 
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I must admit, these days I am hoping Alphonse Karr’s famous quote, “The more things change, the more they are the same,” is in fact true. As we enter into the “Holiday Season”, those sweet memories of family Thanksgivings and Christmas throughout the years, are an anchor for the soul and truly priceless. We all have our own traditions… some commonly shared while others are unique to our tribe. One of my fondest Thanksgiving Day memories is of my middle sister Teena rounding up the troops for us all to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade together and of her husband correcting everyone when they called it the Macy’s Day Parade 🙂 Truth be told, we all began to do it more on purpose for the sake of amusement. This New York Post from November 24, 1948, gives all the feel of an old time Thanksgiving Day and solidifies the necessity of holding on to the deep heart things of the past. Feel free to share the traditions in your memory that bring that same family warmth in our comments section… after all some of the rest of us may be looking for a little something new to add to our holiday celebrations while still holding tightly to the precious anchors our families have created.

 

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Christmas Captured in an Image…

December 23, 2024 by · Leave a Comment 
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Christmas may bring more nostalgia than any other time of year… Snow lined roads, bells ringing outside the local Walmart, candlelight services at a local church, houses crowded with full-sized evergreen trees , Presents under those trees and plates of cookies cooling on the kitchen counter, family, friends and loved ones lingering for one more glass of wine or eggnog before bundling up to take the long way home so they can see extra lights strewn across neighbor’s yards. The list could be endless and often unique to each person… some of us include memories of faith while others do not. Whatever your paradigm of Christmas, there is an image which will capture all the feels perfectly and so, I have included some of these delightful depictions from our newspapers for you to enjoy. So, from our RareNewspapers Family to yours:

Merry Christmas to ALL …

 

and to ALL a Goodnight !

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The reason I collected it: just intriguing…

December 20, 2024 by · Leave a Comment 
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Through the nearly 50 years of collecting newspapers, some items are just plain intriguing; not historic and not necessarily desirable; just intriguing.

Such was the case with “The Spy“ (see below) I purchased many years ago. The masthead only notes that it was: “Printed In Recluse” with no city or state noted. Printed on page two the title actually appears to be “The Village Spy” noting the place of publication as: “City of Mud”.
This is the volume 1, number 7 issue. We can find nothing about this title online which tends to indicate rarity. And without a city and state noted we cannot research it in Gregory’s ‘Union List of Newspapers”. Noted in the masthead: “Edited by Gen. Consequence, and His Associates”.
This would appear to be an early comic or satirical newspaper. All of the front page is a play: “…to be performed soon at some place in the city of Mud.” Other odd notes take up pages 2, 3 and 4 including two poems.

Such a paper is the type that needed to be in my collection. I have not found another issue since.

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