DEATH OF KING CHARLES II, “THE MERRIE MONARCH”

dth-king-charles-bp623.jpgHE WAS THE FIRST KING OF THE RESTORATION PERIOD IN ENGLAND
IN 1664, HIS FLEET OF SHIPS TOOK NEW AMSTERDAM FROM THE DUTCH
(IT WAS RENAMED NEW YORK FOR HIS BROTHER, NOW KING JAMES II)

The London Gazette
Feb. 5 to Feb. 9, 1684

Here is the very first report in an English newspaper of the passing of England’s Charles II.  The sad news is published on page one beginning: “Whitehall, February 6, 1684. ON Monday last in the morning our late Gracious Soveraign King Charles the Second was seized with a violent Fit, by which his Speech and Senses were for some time taken from him, but upon the immediate application of fitting Remedies He returned to such a condition as gave some hopes of His Recovery till Wednesday night, at which time the Disease returning upon him with greater violence, He expired this day about Noon.”

Charles’s brother James, Duke of York, ascends to the Throne of England as James II. That announcement begins: “Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God to call to his mercy our late Sovraign Lord King Charles the Second of Blessed Memory, by whose Decease, the Imperial Crowns of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, are solely and righfully come to the High and Mighty Prince James, Duke of York and Albany, His said late Majesties only Brother and Heir.” Also published is the announcement and proclamation of the new King James II.

Single sheet issue printed both sides and in truly excellent white condition!  Possibly the finest known specimen.

$3,000

Posted by mmitchell | Filed Under All Historic Newspapers, European History 

PEARL HARBOR ATTACKED!

pearl-harbor-ff.jpg  “JAPS
BOMB
HAWAII”

“DECLARE WAR ON U.S. AND BRITAIN”

Daily News
New York
December 8, 1941

Wow! Here is one of the best Pearl Harbor newspapers ever published using 3″ bold headlines (see scans).  The shocking news continues inside with headlines like: “U.S. FLEET HITS BACK,” JAPS WAR ON U.S., RAID HAWAII GUAM.” “Treacherous,’ Hull Says; Denounces Jap Envoys.” Casualty reports stated that the battleship “West Virginia” had been sunk, and the “Oklahoma” set afire. (The real depth of the disaster was kept from the public for security purposes).  “JAP BOMBS SEEN LEADING TO LAND ATTACK ON PHILIPPINES.” Another piece claims thatJapanese parachutists had landed in Hawaii and were supposedly part of suicide squads! It also claimed that “….the United States fleet steamed out of Pearl Harbor.”

Page after page of this incredible newspaper talk about the attack and beginning war in the Pacific. You just can’t put it down!  The complete 64-page edition in very good condition with only minor wear to the spine. Can be easily picked up and read as someone surely did back in 1941.

$750

pearl-harbor-article.jpg

Posted by mmitchell | Filed Under All Historic Newspapers, World War II 

WORLD WAR II BEGINS – GERMANY ATTACKS POLAND!

hitler-attacks-poland-ff.jpg“HITLER OPENS WAR ON POLAND.”“Orders Army Meet Force With Force:
Starts Offensive Along Polish Border”

The Topeka Daily Capital
Topeka, Kansas
September 1, 1939

On the pretext that Poland had “rejected” his demands for a return of Danzig, Chancellor Adolf Hitler orders the German Army and Luftwaffe to attack Poland–made all the easier by the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact. Hitler grabs the free city of Danzig immediately, and warns foreigners to leave Poland. Front page photos of young Hitler as a Bavarian house painter(!), Benito Mussolini of Italy, and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Front page chart showing the relative military strenth of Britain, France, Poland, Germany, Italy, and Russia.  Another report states that Hitler is still willing to “negotiate” with Great Britain!

I have found September 1, 1939 newspapers to be about the very toughest WWII issues to locate anywhere. This is the only one we have in stock, and I have no idea whether we’ll ever see another. 20 pp., complete as printed in 1939, and in fine condition. This is one to display!

$450

Posted by mmitchell | Filed Under All Historic Newspapers, World War II 

MARILYN MONROE FOUND DEAD!

marilyn-monroe-photo.jpgThe 36-Year-Old Blonde Bombshell Found Nude in Bed

The Sun
Baltimore, MD
August 6, 1962

Here is an event that we have never before handled in newsprint–the death of legendary actress Marilyn Monroe in Hollywood.  Under a fantastic front page photograph of the beautiful star is bold two-column headline: “Marilyn Monroe Dead In Probable Suicide.”  Datelined “Hollywood, Cal., Aug 5 (AP)–the shocking report begins,“Marilyn Monroe, a symbol of the gay, exciting life of Hollywood, died tragically last night. Her body was found nude in bed, a probable suicide. She was 36. The long-troubled star clutched a telephone in one hand, an empty bottle of sleeping pills was nearby. Miss Monroe, fired from her last movie, had been in seclusion for weeks at her rambling Spanish-style bungalow in Brentwood.”

Marilyn Monroe memorabilia has consistently sold for enormous sums of money at public auction. Even polaroid photos she took of her dog brought close to a quarter million dollars in New York some years ago!  And recently, numerous unsigned photos of Marilyn brought many thousands of dollars apiece. An umbrella from a 1949 photo shoot was hammered down for $42,000!  No collection would be complete without an original newspaper reporting her untimely death–I would first read the entire article (continues on an inside page) and then carefully frame this rare issue. First two sections here, 30 pages in all, and fully original. Nice condition, too.

$950

marilyn-monroe-hf.jpgmarilyn-monroe-article.jpg

Posted by mmitchell | Filed Under All Historic Newspapers, The 20th + 21st Centuries 

GERMAN BATTLESHIP “BISMARCK” IS SUNK!

bismarck-ff.jpg“SINK THE BISMARCK!”
BRITISH SHIPS AND TORPEDO PLANES DOOM
THE PRIDE OF THE HITLER’S NAZI FLEET

Taunton Daily Gazette
Taunton, Mass.
May 27, 1941

The mighty German battleship “Bismarck” is located and sent to the bottom of the Atlantic after an intensive 3-day hunt by British Naval vessels. A torpedo from a seaplane disabled “Bismarck’s” rudder causing the great ship to turn in a continuous circle sealing her doom in the face of overwhelming odds. A HUGE banner headline screams: “BRITISH SINK BISMARCK.” This superb newspaper carries a full report of the action and a fabulous photograph of the 35,000-ton German behemoth. The last message from the crippled battleship as reported by Berlin radio was, “Ship out of control. Will fight to the last shell. Long live the Fuehrer!”

Just three days earlier, the “Bismarck” blew up the HMS “Hood,” the largest battleship in the world at 42,000 tons, with just one shot from her 14-inch guns (hit the magazine). Understandably, the English wanted immediate revenge….and got it!

Here is the complete newspaper as published in 1941–14 pages in all, and just begging to be framed as an amazing conversation piece. Believe me, this one will literally “jump off your wall!”

$295

bismarck-article.jpg

Posted by mmitchell | Filed Under All Historic Newspapers, World War II