THE BATTLE OF LAKE GEORGE - FRENCH & INDIAN WAR

GENERAL WILLIAM JOHNSON’S OFFICIAL LETTER DESCRIBING THE ACTION!
BRITISH REPULSED INITIALLY, BUT FURIOUSLY SLAUGHTER THE FRENCH & INDIANS
RARE EARLY MARYLAND NEWSPAPER

The Maryland Gazette, Annapolis
Thursday, October 9, 1755

The entire front page consists of a letter from British Major-General William Johnson dated, “Camp at Lake George, Sept. 9, 1755. To the Governors of the several Colonies who raised the Troops on the present Expedition.” This phenomenal letter contains the complete in-depth account of the several actions between the British and Americans v. French & Indian forces at Lake George. General Johnson had sent a party of 1,000 men and 200 Indians ahead to meet the oncoming enemy, but the contingent was forced to retreat to Johnson’s main line. However, Johnson had heavily fortified his position with cannons, and when the French & Indian forces charged, they were mowed down with great loss. There were other smaller bloody engagements as well before the enemy was driven off. Here’s just a single portion of the letter: “….and kept a constant and strong Fire upon the Enemy; this Attack failing, and the Artillery still playing along the Line, we found their Fire very weak, with considerable Intervals: This was about 4 o’Clock, when our Men and the Indians jumped over the Breast-Work, pursued the Enemy, slaughtered Numbers, and took several Prisoners, amongst whom was the Baron de Dieskau, the French General of all the regular Forces lately arrived from Europe….” And, in another part of the letter we find the following: “—The Baron says, his Major General was killed, and his Aid-de-Camp says, the greater Part of their chief Officers also: He thinks by the Morning and Afternoon Actions, they have lost near 1000 Men, but I can get no regular Accounts. Most of our People think from 5 to 600. We have about 30 Prisioners, most of them badly wounded; the Indians scalp’d of their Dead already near 70, and were employ’d after the Battle last Night, and all this Afternoon in bringing in Scalps, and great Numbers of French and Indians yet left unscalped: They carried off Numbers of their Dead, and secreted them.”

Page two contains more on the battle and its aftermath including a listing of the casualties and the number of troops in the battle including the French and Indians. It talks more about Mohawks bringing scalps from slain men in on poles to the camp. As news of this great victory got back to the American colonies, more troops were raised to be sent to General Johnson’s command.

Finally, I note numerous notices offering rewards for runaway slaves and indentured servants alike (see scan).

4 pp., complete and in very fine condition with just a couple of very old (and almost invisible) tape repairs (not sure they were even necessary). I simply can’t get over the amount of battle content in this remarkable newspaper. It’s an issue the fortunate purchaser will read over and over, like I did. This is truly the French and Indian War come “alive!”

$2,500

Posted by mmitchell | Filed Under Colonial America, All Historic Newspapers

GEORGE WASHINGTON IN THE FRENCH & INDIAN WAR!

INDIANS ON THE WARPATH IN VIRGINIA! COL. WASHINGTON TO THE RESCUE!
MANY MORE TROOPS ARE NEEDED FOR THE WAR EFFORT
VERY SCARCE FRENCH & INDIAN WAR NEWSPAPER

The New-York Mercury
Monday, May 3, 1756

This excessively rare Colonial newspaper contains an anxious report that the French and their Indian allies are pushing hard on the frontiers, killing and scalping on the way, and concern is growing among the British and American Colonials. In what would be termed today as “Breaking News,” “Col. (George) Washington is endeavouring to collect some of the Militia together; with whom, and what Soldiers are here, he intends to scour the Woods, and find them out, if possible. If he does, I hope it will deter them (the enemy) from coming again soon, as we shall have several good Woodsmen with us, who are so dextrous with their Rifles, that they generally make sure of their Mark.”

The front page begins with, “An ACT for the more speedy levying of Soldiers for the Expedition against Crown Point.” It’s quite interesting to read, let me tell you! From Capt. Waggoner’s Fort in Virginia, there is a report that Lt. John Bacon “was kill’d and scalp’d by the Indians about 4 or 5 Miles from Cumberland Fort….” and more killings and scalpings. Other news tells of a meeting with the “Heads of many different Nations of Indians, at Onondago…” in order to incorporate the tribes with the Mohawks to strengthen their forces, and “….to secure and impede the former from murdering any more of our People, as ’tis evident they formerly practised.”

4 pages, folio, and in very fine condition which is special as I seldom find any papers from this era in such nice shape. Reports of George Washington in the French and Indian War are highly sought-after by collectors of autographs, manuscripts and newspapers. Plus, this paper will keep you up nights!

$2,790

Posted by mmitchell | Filed Under Colonial America, All Historic Newspapers

RARE BOSTON TORY NEWSPAPER

The Boston Chronicle
May 30, 1768

A Volume I issue of John Mein’s pro-British newspaper. Mein eventually got so much abuse from Boston patriots that he returned to England in 1770! In a fascinating article on British taxation of America, the Gov. and Society of Ft. St. David’s in Pennsylvania present noted patriot, John Dickinson, with a box of Heart of Oak. Dickinson was the author of “Letters from a Farmer,” fifteen letters blasting English taxation without representation. In their lengthy praise, the members said, in small part, “….we…are indebted to you for your most excellent and generous vindication of liberties, dearer to us than our lives, beg leave to return to you our heartiest thanks….and we firmly trust by the blessing of GOD on your wisdom and virtue, will again extricate the British Colonies on this continent from the cruel snares of oppression….for we already perceive these Colonies ROUSED by your strong and seasonable call….”

Thomas Cushing is elected Speaker and Samuel Adams clerk in the election of “Counellors for this province….” This is followed by over three columns listing the representatives for each Massachusetts town including such luminaries as Thomas Paine, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, and many other now famous early Americans.

Also interesting is the description of a trial of Lord Baltimore for seduction of a young woman!

Eight pages, quarto, and in fine condition. A real bargain in a Colonial American newspaper. This is the last Chronicle we have in the Archives.

$195

Posted by mmitchell | Filed Under Colonial America, All Historic Newspapers

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN’S LEGENDARY NEWSPAPER

GIBRALTAR CEDED TO ENGLAND - TREATY OF AIX-LA-CHAPELLE
JEWS AND MOORS BANNED FROM THE CITY!

The Pennsylvania Gazette, Philadelphia
November 10, 1748

An original issue of the printer Benjamin Franklin’s famous Gazette printed at the end of the War of the Austrian Succession (King George’s War in America). Report from Aix-la-Chapelle that the peace talks have finally come to an end. SPAIN CEDES GIBRALTAR TO GREAT BRITAIN INDEFINITELY (and set up Prudential Insurance, lol)! Printing of the Tenth Article of the Treaty: “The Catholick King, for himself, his heirs and successors, yields to the crown of Great Britain, the full property of the town and castle of Gibraltar, with the port, fortifications, and forts thereunto belonging, to be enjoyed forever without exception or impediment; but with this restriction, to prevent fraudulent importation of goods, &c.” Another interesting term of the ceding of Gibraltar reads, “That Jews or Moors shall not reside in the said town, nor shall the ships of the latter remain in the harbour, except purely on the account of merchandizing….”

There are three superb woodcut sketches of sailing vessels showing the intricacy of early printing. And, I love the notice placed by Ben Franklin himself for delinquent subscribers to pay for their accounts in full (see scan)!

Four pages, complete, original, and in simply superb condition–to see it in person is to be amazed at the quality of the rag paper. One of the finest Franklin printings in existence, and still almost ridiculously undervalued. (Mediocre condition Mickey Mantle baseball cards from 1952 sell for far more–go figure….)

$5,000

Posted by mmitchell | Filed Under Colonial America, All Historic Newspapers

THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS!

ADVERTISEMENT FOR COTTON MATHER’S BOOK ON THE TRIALS OF “WITCHES”
AND: WOMEN IN KENT, ENGLAND, ALSO ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT!

The Athenian Mercury, London
Thursday, February 28, 1693

Amazingly, under the heading, “ADVERTISEMENTS” of this early newspaper is a notice for a new book by the Boston clergyman, Cotton Mather, “The TRYALS of several WITCHES lately Executed in New-England, and of several remarkable Curiosities therein occurring.” Quite unique as references to the Salem Witch Trials are seldom found anywhere. But, this special issue has more! The front and back pages contain two fascinating pieces on “Witch Tryals” in Kent, England, beginning: “Divers Persons in the County of Kent being accused for Practising Witchcraft, were examined by a Justice of the Peace, from whom I had a Copy of their Examination and Confessions.”

The second piece asks the question: “Is it Lawfull to attempt the Discovery of Witches by Swimming, and how far is it an Evidence against them?” I’ve scanned both pieces so you can read them yourself–I’d love to hear your comments on tossing people into the water to see if they sink or swim in order to determine whether or not they are witches!

Single sheet in absolutely superb condition. This is one incredible 17th century newspaper!

$750

Posted by mmitchell | Filed Under Colonial America, All Historic Newspapers

THE COLONY OF GEORGIA IS FOUNDED

JAMES OGLETHORPE SETTLES AMERICA’S THIRTEENTH COLONY!

The Gentleman’s Magazine
London, April, 1733

James Oglethorpe establishes the last of the Thirteen Original Colonies! An extremely historic news item states, “The Trustees for establishing a Colony in Georgia, received a Letter from James Oglethorpe, Esq; advising his safe Arrival there, with all the People under his Care on the 1st of February last; that he had mark’d out the Town; that they had received great Encouragement from the Assembly, Governor, and Council of Charles Town; and that a little Indian Nation, about 50 miles off, were desirous to be Subjects to K. George, and to breed their Children in Christian Schools.” The new town was, of course, Savannah. The periodical also publishes a remarkabl poetic, “An Address” to James Oglethorpe, Esq; on his settling the Colony in Georgia.” And, there is yet another poem on the Colony of Maryland with the lead-in: “A Description of Maryland, extracted from a Poem, entitled, “Carmen Seculate, addressed to L(or)d Baltimore, Proprietor of that Province, now there.”

55 pp., in near mint condition, just beautifully preserved for over well over 270 years! It even has a complete Table of Contents listing the various 18th century articles, news stories, publications, obituaries and much more. The Gentleman’s Magazine was the very first periodical to use the term “Magazine,” having made its first appearance in January, 1731.

$1,750

Posted by mmitchell | Filed Under Colonial America, All Historic Newspapers

THE BATTLE OF LAKE GEORGE - FRENCH & INDIAN WAR

GEORGE WASHINGTON IN THE FRENCH & INDIAN WAR!

RARE BOSTON TORY NEWSPAPER

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN’S LEGENDARY NEWSPAPER

THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS!

THE COLONY OF GEORGIA IS FOUNDED

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