Smith's Authentic Vintage Newspapers
"I Don't Know Everything, But I Know Newspapers"
Original Historic Newspapers from the 1500's to the present.
NO REPRINTS
I have the best collection of original 20th Century Newspapers in the world. People that come to see the collection in person, walk out shaking their heads. I have over 50 on The Titanic Disaster alone. My 1930's gangster collection of Capone, Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy, Bonnie and Clyde, John Dillinger, etc. is so complete with big headline front pages and photos that it is down right shocking. My Sports/Baseball collection is too much to even describe quickly. We're just warming up, the topics covered go on and on.
A complete issue of the Weekly, Leslie's Illustrated (NYC), Dated April 29, 1865. That is Booth on the cover Shooting President Lincoln.
I am an absolute expert in the subject of detecting reprinted newspapers. So there is no chance of ever getting a reprint from me. You can take that to the bank. I have looked at over 7 million newspapers in establishing my inventory, and after that, I can not be fooled by a phony. Reprints can be a problem, since many were done decades ago and have the old look. This is especially true concerning 1930's gangster big event newspapers. The "romance" of the gangster era motivated the reprinting of dozens of big event gangster related newspapers. But never fear, I know of all the reprints. Reprinted newspapers, even old reprints, are worthless.
I also have an extensive collection of original newspapers from earlier centuries, all the way back to The Illustrated Franz Hogenberg Broadsides of the 1500's.
What is the condition of these Historic Newspapers ???
I am very picky on the 20th Century Newspapers, because they were printed on "pulp" (wood) paper. Most, that I have and/or offer, are so nice that you can leaf thru them with no fear of damaging them. I do loosen up on extremely rare issues, but any imperfections are described in detail. The earlier newspapers, before about 1875, were printed on "rag" (linen like) stock, which does not deteriorate. I have originals from the 1500's, 1600's, 1700's & 1800's that look like they were printed last week. That is because of this "rag" stock paper that was used in those eras. In the 1870's, "pulp" started to be mixed in with the rag stock to save money. By the 1890's, pulp stock took over. That is why I am so picky on condition. Mine generally never even have any damage at the front centerfold. All of the newspapers dated before 1900 that I sell are complete newspapers. Most of The 20th Century newspapers I sell are complete, but sometimes they are just a complete section or a single front page. But of course, if the newspaper is not complete, that fact is stated in the condition description.
I give a complete guarantee. And give full refunds if not delighted, AND, I have never had one returned. This is in great part because I am a collector/dealer, not just a monetary seeking dealer. Specialty dealers that are also hardcore collectors have a sensitivity (love of) their genre that non-collectors often do not have.
I have Baseball and other Sports, Colonial, Civil War, Presidential, WW II, Big Events, famous deaths, 1930's Gangsters. Over 100 on Babe Ruth, The Titanic Disaster, 150 Boxing (Sullivan to Ali), George Washington's Death and State of The Union Messages, Revolutionary War and Tons more. You name it, I have it, if it is a big event. Come on in. It'll blow you away.
(440) 521-1165 billsmith@ncweb.com
Enter
Below is an ad on the back page of a full issue of The Gazette of The United States (Phil.) from May 2nd, 1792. The ad is for a contest held in 1792 to design a President's House. James Hoban won, and is credited with the original design of the White House. Just below this ad is the same contest to design The Capital Building. That contest was won by William Thorton. Many incredible Historic Newspapers like this one are less expensive than you might think. Often, much, much less.
See more information on this Item
See another Below
Gazette of the United States
With the complete text of George Washington's State of The Union Message on the front page
Dated December 11, 1790
Published in Philadelphia, on Market Street, between Second and Third Street, by John Fenno
Complete four page original Newspaper with the first newspaper printing of the complete text of President George Washington's Second State of The Union Message all on the front page. The Message was delivered in Philadelphia on December 8, 1790, and this is The Federalist influenced Philadelphia newspaper (George Washington was a Federalist).
Was removed from a bound volume. Gorgeous condition. Trimmed at the edges when bound. With the entire message covering 60% of the front page. The newspaper can be framed without losing any of The State of The Union text.
Please scroll down for photos and more information.
This one is the best of the best of the best for this event. "Dealers Stash". It is the first newspaper printing of this event, and is from the home city of where it occured. It is the second of Washington's State of The Union Messages, and the first State of The Union Message delivered orally by President Washington. His first Message was written and published the year before, but never orally delivered by The President. This issue is bright and clean. The front page is beautifully centered; better than the inside pages. No rips, no tears, no text lost. This one is for the big guys that want to possess a top shelf piece, and establish instead equity.
2,800 Dollars
Commentary:
The Colonial Era is an important one for historic newspapers. To compare with other original Early Americana items: American Furniture that is "right" from that era went through the roof price-wise decades ago. A chair made in Philadelphia by Thomas Affleck in the 1780's went for over a million dollars (At Christie's) as long ago as 1987. That was an auction record at the time for an American piece of Furniture. Since then, many have sold in the millions. Fine American Needlework Samplers routinely sell for thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, along with several other types of Early Americana.
So with the "split market" that is obvious in Fine original Colonial Newspapers, combined with the sky high price of original Early Americana in general, Fine Historic Newspapers are looking great, assuming of course you are buying the extreme best pieces, and not paying NYC prices.
Please look at the photos below for a Price Comparison
Christie's Auction House in NYC had Washington's first State of The Union Message (which was never delivered orally by The President), all on the front page of the same newspaper from a year earlier (January 9, 1790), in the printed catalog for their June 14, 2006 Manuscript and Book Auction (Auction lot number 605, on page 386). In nice condition, but not quite as clean as mine above that I describe. I am not aware of what it sold for, but the estimate was $7,000 to $12,000, as you can see. I wish I had the political where-with-all to get in with the NYC big houses, but I don't. It's understandable I guess. When they can sell paintings for over $100,000,000, they aren't going to miss me.
For an explanation of these last three photos, please scroll up and read under "Commentary".
Please call anytime for discussion and an extreme explanation of my Guarantee Policy. I am not selling used cars here. No pressure !!! (I can't stand when dealers do that). And please read my guarantee policy on the main page.
Bill Smith (440) 521-1165
I nearly always answer very late night.
