Abraham Lincoln Shot at Ford’s Theatre! - April 15, 1865 New York Times
The New York Times
April 15, 1865
This is it. Arguably one of the most sought after newspapers of any time, any topic and any collector. The day after Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theatre. The headlines read “AWFUL EVENT - PRESIDENT LINCOLN SHOT BY AN ASSASSIN” and “The Deed Done at Ford’s Theatre Last Night” - “The Act of a Desparate Rebel” - “Attempted Assassination of Secretary Seward” - “Rumored Attempt on the Life of Mr. Stanton” - “Details of the Dreadful Tragedy.”
This and the New York Herald are the two most highly sought after Lincoln assassination issues. Unlike the New York Herald April 15 issue, which is often scrutinized for authenticity, the New York Times is not known for having reproductions. As such, this is an undoubtedly authentic April 15, 1865 Lincoln assassination newspaper, in its entirety, with extensive front page coverage of the awful event. Mourning borders. Other great Civil War coverage. Very nice condition with slight fold creases, amazingly sharp edges. Easily the best condition April 15 issue of any New York paper I’ve ever seen. Here is some of the copy from the front page:
The President was shot in a theatre tonight and is perhaps mortally wounded. Secretary Seward was also assassinated.
President Lincoln and wife, with other friends, this evening visited Ford’s Theatre for the purpose of witnessing the performance of the “American Cousin.”
The theatre was densely crowded, and everybody seemed delighted with the scene before them. During the third act, and while there was a temporary pause for one of the actors to enter, a sharp report of a pistol was heard, which merely attracted attention, but suggesting nothing serious, until a man rushed to the front of the President’s box, waving a long dagger in his right hand, and exclaiming “Sic simper tyrannis,” and immediately leaped from the box, which was in the second tier, to the stage beneath, and ran across to the opposite side, making his escape amid the bewilderment of the audience from the rear of the theatre, and mounting a horse, fled.
The screams of Mrs. Lincoln first disclosed the fact to the audience that the President had been shot, when all present rose to their feet, rushing toward the stage, many exclaiming “Hang him! Hang him!”
There was a rush toward the President’s box, when cries were heard: “Stand back and give him air.” “Has any one stimulants.” On a hasty examination, it was found that the President had been shot through the head, above the back of the temporal bone, and that some of the brain was oozing out.
First Plot to Assassinate Abraham Lincoln - The Baltimore Plot
The New York Tribune
February 26, 1861
This is a rare complete newspaper reporting on the THE BALTIMORE PLOT, a plan to ASSASSINATE PRESIDENT-ELECT ABRAHAM LINCOLN en route to his first inauguration in Washington, DC, in 1861.
Prominent front page headlines and report of the plot. There is also a long detailed front page report of the exact arrangements and schedule for the inauguration of LINCOLN on March 4, 1861. Great display and excellent condition!!! Some of the front page reads:
The people of this city were astounded this morning by an announcement that Mr. Lincoln had started in a special train for Washington, dispatches having been received requiring his presence in Washington. Reports are busily circulated that there was a plot to assassinate him while passing through Baltimore, but such stories are not believed. The Baltimore Committee is here but did not have an interview with Mr. Lincoln.
The change in Mr. Lincoln’s programme of travel from Harrisburg to Washington was induced solely by an official communication from General Scott, predicated upon sufficient information which he had received of the danger of a riot at Baltimore, and probably of a desperate determination at assault on the route.
New York Herald Abraham Lincoln Assassination Newspaper - April 17, 1865
New York Herald (New York)
April 17, 1865
This is a spectacular April 17th issue of the New York Herald covering the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth. Wonderful eight-page rag paper with very nice front-page coverage of the assassination and death of Lincoln. Paper is in spectacular condition with some period pencil writing that doesn’t distract (see photos). The Anti-Lincoln New York Heralds are the most desirable of the Lincoln Assassination papers. The April 15 issue is arguably the most desired newspaper ever, but it is so frequently reproduced that finding an authentic is nearly impossible. Here is your chance to own a New York Herald from only two days later… no doubt authentic. I’ve seen upclose April 15, 16 and 17 issues of the New York Herald before and this is easily the best condition of any I’ve ever seen. The headline reads OUR GRIEF. Other headlines give a hint as to the great reports found throughout the front page and inside pages, such as “Additional Details of the Terrible Event of Friday Night” - “Incidents Connected with the Sad Affair” - “Scene of the Murder” - “Developments Showing the Assassination to Have Been a Deep Laid and Deliberately Planned Conspiracy” - “Mournful Appearance of the National Capital” - “Sorrow in the Metropolis” - “Nearly Every Building Draped in Mourning” - “The Services in the Churches Yesterday” - “The New President” - “Official Account of His Inauguration” - “Secretary Seward Out of Danger” - “The Assassin Saves His Life” - and much, much more.
First Report of Abraham Lincoln Assassination - April 15, 1865
The Evening Bulletin (Providence, Rhode Island)
April 15, 1865
First report, front page coverage of the Lincoln assassination paper on April 15, 1865, the day of his death. “First Edition, The nation’s Sorrow Hour, The President Dead, The Official Announcement, The Assassins Identified, Mr. W.H. Seward Reviving.” Very nice condition. Other great Civil War coverage.
British Newspaper Reporting The Battle of Lexington and Concord - Letter from Thomas Gage and List of Casualties!
The London Chronicle
June 10 to 13, 1775
Unbelievable second page with full account of the very first engagements of the American Revolutionary War, THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON AND CONCORD (of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride fame).
The newspaper features a letter from General Thomas Gage – signed in type “Signed THO. GAGE” – and spills all the details. “Lieutenant Colonel Smith finding, after he had advanced some miles on his march, that the country had been alarmed by the firing of guns, and ringing of bells, dispatched six companies of Light Infantry, in order to secure two bridges on different roads beyond CONCORD, who, upon their arrival at LEXINGTON, found a body of the country people drawn up under arms on a green, close to the road; and, upon the King’s troops, marching up to them, in order to inquire the reason of their being so assembled, they went off in great confusion, and several guns were fired upon the King’s troops from behind a stone wall, and also from the Meeting-house and other houses, by which one man was wounded, and Major Pitcairne’s horse shot in two places.” There is a lot more where that came from! Article also lists all the casualties of the battle. Nice condition with slight rubbing on front page and small pencil-tip-sized hole in page; otherwise, great edges and corners, and nice condition.
George Washington’s Second State of the Union Speech - 1790
Columbian Centinel (Boston)
December 22, 1790
George Washington’s second State of the Union speech – starts on the front page and concludes on page two with Washington’s script signature. Fantastic condition!
The president makes numerous points important to the newly formed nation dealing with:
> Improving US economy; both domestic and international
> Requesting of Congress that the state of Kentucky be added to the Union
> Describing problems with Indian tribes in the Western US, and the resulting military actions
> Warning of the importance of not relying on foreign imports
> Requesting the strengthening of our domestic production
> Expressing concern over the general unrest in Europe
> Desire to establish a national militia, a US mint, a standard of weights and measures, and a national Post Office
> Establishing the beginnings of the national debt to fund the government
> Requesting the House and Senate to work hard for the good of the country and its citizens
This is a rare and very historic newspaper.
Extremely Rare - One of the First English-Language Newspapers
The Oxford Gazette
January 15-18, 1665 (No. 19)
Extremely rare and pristine condition! One of the first 23 issues of the very first English-language newspaper, which was temporarily printed in Oxford, England while King Charles II was “avoiding the plague.” After the 23rd issue, it moved to London. This issue includes “The Account of the weekly Bill runs thus, Total 375. Plague 158. Increased 110.” Also features reports of Council of War, King of England, King of Spain, Pope Clement the Eighth, Men of War, Prince of Monaco, and “News of the Death of the Queen Mother of France, Anne of Austria, Sister of the late Philip the Fourth of Spain.”
The London Gazette is the oldest continually-published newspaper in the world. It began printing in Oxford, England on November 16, 1665 while King Charles II was avoiding the plague. It was called the Oxford Gazette and many sources, including Britannica and newspaper historian Mark Mitchell, consider it to be the first English-language newspaper (it was the first to fit the definition of the term “newspaper”). After the 23rd issue of the Oxford Gazette, the King felt the plague was subsiding so he moved the paper back to London where it resumed as the London Gazette. While it originated as a weekly paper, the Gazette continues to be published each weekday in 2008 as an official record of British government. Many of the first 23 Oxford Gazette issues are worth close to $5,000.
Eagle Emblem plus John Adams and George Washington Signatures in Type
Columbian Centinel (Boston)
November 12, 1791
Front Page: Displayable EAGLE EMBLEM and both the Senate and House of Representatives respond to The President’s Speech (perhaps his third annual message?), with the Senate’s response signed in type “JOHN ADAMS, Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.” President GEORGE WASHINGTON responds and that is signed in type G. WASHINGTON. The President’s response to the House of Representatives letter is signed in type GEO. WASHINGTON.
The Columbian Centinel enjoyed the highest esteem of Federalist editors generally, according to American Journalism by Frank Luther Mott. It differed from the political newspapers thus far noticed in that it had begun before there were any distinct parties and was soundly established as a commercial newspaper before it distinguished itself for vigorous partianship. Along with this political activity, the Centinel maintained its excellence in news and advertising. For many years, Major Benjamin Russell, its founder, wrote admirable summaries of European news from foreign papers instead of merely inserting the articles like his contemporaries did, according to Mott.
Nice condition with a few small tears that have archival tape repair, binding in tact
America in the Infancy of its Existence as a Nation - First Congress, Constitution, etc.
Gazette of the United States (Philadelphia)
January 6, 1790
Significant issue - “AMERICAN in the INFANCY of its EXISTENCE as a NATION” - with fantastic insight into the debates and discussions of the foundations of AMERICA, the CONSTITUTION, the AMERICAN REVOLUTION, the founding of a NATIONAL BANK, how EUROPE is watching AMERICA’s PROGRESS with an attentive eye and many of her kingdoms are copying America’s example, and the FIRST SESSION OF CONGRESS, the Convention of North Carolina having, by a large majority, adopted the CONSTITUTION of the UNITED STATES. Pristine condition.
Bill of Rights - Complete List of Amendments to Constitution
Gazette of the United States (Philadelphia)
March 13, 1790
Unbelievable issue with what appears to be a complete, proposed list of 12 amendments to the constitution - listed one through twelve. Only 10 became the Bill of Rights. A joint committee of the Massachusetts legislature met on January 29, 1790 to consider what further amendments were necessary to be added to the Federal Constitution. Issue also includes discussion of assuming state debts… “There is however much anti-federalism in the house; and has brought forward in the senate a budget of alterations to the federal constitution. One of which is that the members of Congress, shall depend on the legislatures of the states for their pay, and the quantum of it.” Reports that the State of Virginia has $2,000,000 of public debt; South Carolina has $5,000,000 of debt. “The Constitution is already established and it is our duty to plant it in the soil as firmly and as favorably to the liberties of the people as possible.” Issue includes “THE GIFT OF SUBLIMITY To Willy Shakespeare.” Pristine condition.
