Essex Journal & New Hampshire Packet newspaper 225 years old!
Weiss
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It's off-topic, but it is tied directly to many numismatic themes.
This is the final of three historic newspapers purchased last week from an 85-year old local coin collector whose hobby tilted heavily toward numismatic-related historic documents.
It's an Essex Journal & New Hampshire Packet from Wednesday, February 2, 1791.
Published in Newburyport, MA, a costal town 35 miles northeast of Boston. Newburyport was settled in 1635, is where the first state mint and treasury building were located, and it's the home of Jacob Perkins, thought to be the engraver for the Massachusetts cent and half cent. Wikipedia also credits Newburyport as the home of the first United States Coast Guard station, the birthplace of American clipper ships, as well as the first "Tea Party" rebellion to oppose British Tea Tax.
The Library of Congress counts the 18th century issues of the Essex Journal & New Hampshire Packet among its holdings, but apparently does not have this issue. In fact, it appears that the only other known example is at the Yale University Library in New Haven, CT.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83020456/holdings/
This paper is fascinating for so many reasons. Its articles include a lamentation on the death of Benjamin Franklin, who had died just 9 months prior to its publication, including a "recent" letter indicating the National Assembly of France was preparing to go into mourning (and "What a glorious scene was opening there!"). Other articles include news that "A message was received from the Senate, informing that they had passed a bill for erecting that part of the state of Virginia, called the district of Kentucky, into a separate state and admitting the same as a member of the union, to which they desire the concurrence of this house"
Other articles and announcements include legislation to declare which "officer who, in case of vacancy by death, removal, or disability both of the President and Vice President of the United States, shall exercise the office of the President". As this was 1791, the president and vice president they are referring to are, of course, George Washington and John Adams!
Even the tiniest excerpts from this document drip with history. One article mentions in passing "the Washington, commanded by Captain Kendrick, which is one of the ships that has traded between China and Nootka..was protected from the outrages of the inhuman Admiral Don Martinez..." This piece is a reference to the Columbian Expedition, whose captain, John Kendrick, was an incredibly important Revolutionary War captain and early explorer for the United States. His Wikipedia page reads like a Hollywood movie.
There are advertisements for a malting and brewing business, farms for sale, freight for charter and for sale, the Massachusetts state lottery, and much, much, more.
And there is an incredible full-page and detailed account of General Josiah Harmar (a lieutenant colonel under General Washington during the Revolutionary War, who was the individual chosen by Congress in 1784 to relay the ratified Treaty of Paris to Commissioner Benjamin Franklin in Paris, and who subsequently became the senior officer of the United States Army), as he leads an expedition against the American Indian tribes remaining in the British and Northwest Territories (which would ultimately result in crushing military losses at "Harmar's Defeat" and his subsequent court-martial.
The paper itself is approximately 22" x 17" when fully opened. Four pages made of one large sheet and folded. It is soft and supple, not especially brittle like you'd expect. A very few minor tears in the natural rough outside edges. Overall the look and feel is very much that of Continental Currency, and I think it's in amazing condition for a 225 year old document. If I were to keep this article, which I definitely will if it can't find a buyer, I would frame it in archival glass and acid-free mating, so that it could be seen from both sides.
Asking $189 shipped. Includes the original invoice from the York, Maine antique gallery (still in business) from which it originally purchased in 1990. 1 week return in original condition, guaranteed authentic.
Additional images available
here
This is the final of three historic newspapers purchased last week from an 85-year old local coin collector whose hobby tilted heavily toward numismatic-related historic documents.
It's an Essex Journal & New Hampshire Packet from Wednesday, February 2, 1791.
Published in Newburyport, MA, a costal town 35 miles northeast of Boston. Newburyport was settled in 1635, is where the first state mint and treasury building were located, and it's the home of Jacob Perkins, thought to be the engraver for the Massachusetts cent and half cent. Wikipedia also credits Newburyport as the home of the first United States Coast Guard station, the birthplace of American clipper ships, as well as the first "Tea Party" rebellion to oppose British Tea Tax.
The Library of Congress counts the 18th century issues of the Essex Journal & New Hampshire Packet among its holdings, but apparently does not have this issue. In fact, it appears that the only other known example is at the Yale University Library in New Haven, CT.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83020456/holdings/
This paper is fascinating for so many reasons. Its articles include a lamentation on the death of Benjamin Franklin, who had died just 9 months prior to its publication, including a "recent" letter indicating the National Assembly of France was preparing to go into mourning (and "What a glorious scene was opening there!"). Other articles include news that "A message was received from the Senate, informing that they had passed a bill for erecting that part of the state of Virginia, called the district of Kentucky, into a separate state and admitting the same as a member of the union, to which they desire the concurrence of this house"
Other articles and announcements include legislation to declare which "officer who, in case of vacancy by death, removal, or disability both of the President and Vice President of the United States, shall exercise the office of the President". As this was 1791, the president and vice president they are referring to are, of course, George Washington and John Adams!
Even the tiniest excerpts from this document drip with history. One article mentions in passing "the Washington, commanded by Captain Kendrick, which is one of the ships that has traded between China and Nootka..was protected from the outrages of the inhuman Admiral Don Martinez..." This piece is a reference to the Columbian Expedition, whose captain, John Kendrick, was an incredibly important Revolutionary War captain and early explorer for the United States. His Wikipedia page reads like a Hollywood movie.
There are advertisements for a malting and brewing business, farms for sale, freight for charter and for sale, the Massachusetts state lottery, and much, much, more.
And there is an incredible full-page and detailed account of General Josiah Harmar (a lieutenant colonel under General Washington during the Revolutionary War, who was the individual chosen by Congress in 1784 to relay the ratified Treaty of Paris to Commissioner Benjamin Franklin in Paris, and who subsequently became the senior officer of the United States Army), as he leads an expedition against the American Indian tribes remaining in the British and Northwest Territories (which would ultimately result in crushing military losses at "Harmar's Defeat" and his subsequent court-martial.
The paper itself is approximately 22" x 17" when fully opened. Four pages made of one large sheet and folded. It is soft and supple, not especially brittle like you'd expect. A very few minor tears in the natural rough outside edges. Overall the look and feel is very much that of Continental Currency, and I think it's in amazing condition for a 225 year old document. If I were to keep this article, which I definitely will if it can't find a buyer, I would frame it in archival glass and acid-free mating, so that it could be seen from both sides.
Asking $189 shipped. Includes the original invoice from the York, Maine antique gallery (still in business) from which it originally purchased in 1990. 1 week return in original condition, guaranteed authentic.
Additional images available
here
We are like children who look at print and see a serpent in the last letter but one, and a sword in the last.
--Severian the Lame
--Severian the Lame
0
Comments
--Severian the Lame
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
fo, if thif the fame kind of thing you were felling laft week? That Civil War era fheet of paper waf cool and fold quickly. I can fee where this fhould be placed fomewhere in a mufeum. Thankf for fhowing thif to uf.
Like I said, this is the 3rd of three historic, authentic newspapers. The other two have already sold. This is the crown jewel. A George Washington era newspaper, still fully legible and history-packed.
And it's still for sale
--Severian the Lame
;-)
--Severian the Lame