1603 illustrated news broadside Coronation King James I
   of England at Westminster Cathedral in London JAMESTOWN

See Photos - Complete ORIGINAL blank backed broadside engraving (15 " x 11") by German master engraver, Franz Hogenberg. This broadside represents the earliest precursor to the illustrated newspaper and is in fact one of the earliest news forms in existence. The firm of Hogenberg (first Franz and then later his sons) produced engravings of news events for a largely illiterate population from 1560 - 1625. These engravings were produced shortly after an historic event occurred and were primarily of events that were of interest to the European populations. Some of the areas covered by Hogenberg’s illustrated broadsides include the French Civil Wars of Religion, the Spanish Wars in the Low Countries, sieges and battles, deaths and assassinations of European Kings, portraits and maps of Europe, and more! These engravings represent one of the earliest illustrated forms of news that was widely disseminated. The format is a large engraving that also contains, at the bottom, a descriptive text in German (and sometimes French as well). They are "Views as News" and represent the earliest form of pictorial journalism- the precursor of the illustrated newspaper. This original print is dated July 25, 1603. It illustrates the Coronation of King James I of England (Previously James VI of Scotland). King James I was named by her as the successor to Queen Elizabeth I after she died in 1603. This shows the coronation of James I in Westminster Abbey in London, England. King James I was the King during whose reign began the first firmly established English colonization of America. HISTORIC event in world history and relates to the time of the colonization of America by the British. Jamestown, Virginia was named after him !!! Excellent Condition   King James 1603

2 PILGRIM'S BIBLE LEAVES c. 1610 - 4 Pages IN ENGLISH

Text: NEW & OLD TESTAMENT - DANIEL 8-10 & MATTHEW 15-17

TWO original leaves (FOUR pages) from a quarto Bible in English. (Geneva Bible). Imprint: Robert Barker, London, 1610. Reference: Darlow and Moule # 237. Each leaf measures 220 x 150 mm (8 5/8 x 5 7/8”).
The Geneva Bible was the first English Bible brought to America. It was the Bible of the Pilgrims and the Puritans, and is the version quoted throughout William Shakespeare's plays. Due to violent oppression in England, Myles Coverdale, John Foxe, and other Church leaders fled to Geneva, Switzerland. There, with the support of John Calvin and John Knox, they produced an English "Study Bible" in 1560 - so accurate and popular among Protestant Christians that it continued to be the preferred version until after the introduction of the 1611 King James edition!

These leaves originate from Amsterdam, c. 1610. They are original, not reproductions, and their condition is shown in the photos. There is some staining and wear to these leaves - completely consistent with their age and use. These leaves are from the last edition of the Geneva translation in English printed before the King James revision. Although bearing the imprint of Robert Barker (the English Royal Printer), it is thought to have been printed in Amsterdam.

One leaf contains text from the Old Testament: DANIEL 8:9 – 10:12; the other leaf contains text from the New Testament: MATTHEW 15:11 – 17:23.
 

FIRST QUARTO "HE" EDITION King James Version Bible Leaf of the Holy Bible printed by Robert Barker in 1612. This leaf is from the Book of ISAIAH containing chapters 1-4(p). Herein is contained the well known verse of Isaiah 2:4 where we are told that one day, there will be NO MORE WAR BETWEEN MEN! This is from the very first Quarto KJV printed. Measures about 6" X 8" and in good antiquarian condition This is the first edition printed after the original 1611 KJV and the VERY FIRST KJV QUARTO EVER PRINTED!! The 1611 KJV are quite scarce today as well as these editions.

This is a King James Black Letter Bible Leaf printed by Robert Barker in 1620. This contains the popular verses from the Book of Psalms chapter 27 about the LORD HIMSELF! Measures about 6" X 8" and is in good condition!

French 1635 newsbook. Very early & nice!

Here is the complete, genuine issue of an interesting little newspaper from Paris titled LE BALET DU ROY and dated at the bottom of the back page: February 21, 1635  Printed on very high quality paper allows this paper to survive in excellent condition. Measures 6 1/4 by 9 inches with 8 pages 1635

Nouvelles Ordinaires
Paris, France Fevrier 1644 

A Beautiful and Rare Example of One of the Very Earliest French Newspapers!

SWEDISH GENERAL JOHAN KONIGSMARK, General Torstenson, Colonel Buchwald, Colonel Kinski Suedois, and more - War in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, Bremen, Germany and much more -

     1644  Mercurius Aulicus

 The Earliest English Newsbook in the Collection communicating the Intelligence and affairs of the court to the rest of the Kingdom Very good Reading

DEATH OF CHARLES I

MERCURIUS PRAGMATICUS, London, Jan. 16-30, 1649 A very historic & rare news book with timely reporting on the fate of Charles I, who was executed  on Jan 30 1649 throughout the news book.. On the ftpg there is a poem which includes "...thou senseless block, hold up thy head, Black Tom it is I meane, thou mayst be hang'd when Charles is dead, and so conclude the seane..." and inside contains: "...Yes, the feat is now done, and law & equity must both give way: the Trayterous Tragedians are upon their exit, and poor King CHARLES at the brinke of the Pitt; the Prologue is past, the Proclamation made, His Sentence is given...the play thus done, or rather the worke finished, the Epilogue remains, to wit the Epitaph of a slaughter'd King..." and the bkpg. includes: "His majesty receiving his Doom, or Sentence, to have His head smitten off from his body, imitates his Predecessor in suffering, and with devout Patience, breaths out from his Princely breast, 'Father forgive them, for they know not what the doe;...' "and closing with: "His last item to these infernall regicides runs thus: 'Gentlemen, beware what you doe you may hereafter repent, but you cannot undoe what you have done, nor prevent what ensues upon it: If my people knew but my heart, they would not suffer me to be thus used.' And so without suffering him to speak more, they hurried him away." Plus there is more on Charles I scattered throughout the issue. An 8 pg. issue measuring 5 1/2 by 7 inches. Very nice condition. Printing error shows date to look more like 1629.  Charles 

1649 The Perfect Diurnall 

 Of some Passages and Proceedings regarding the Armies A nice Newsbook giving the reports of the wars between London and the Highlanders of Scotland

1652 Mercurius Politicus

 This Newsbook gives the political side of the War At this point in history the King was Executed and Cromwell had taken over the command of the Government

THE OXFORD GAZETTE, England, November 20, 1665

                        Nice content in this rare & very early title...

                       THE OXFORD GAZETTE, England From Monday November 20, 1665 to Thursday November 24 1665 (1666 by today's calendar).

     This is an extremely famous--and rare--title, being the  predecessor of the famous "London Gazette", the oldest continually published newspaper in the world.
Because of the Plague at this time, the Royal Court had removed itself from London to Oxford when this newspaper began, Leonard Litchfield, the university printer started printing a on 7 November 1665 The Gazette  was Then printed  on Mondays and Thursdays Issues #1 thru #23 were published in Oxford (actually published simultaneously in London & Oxford), and when the contagion had subsided & the Court returned to London this newspaper went with it and renamed  itself "The London Gazette" with issue #24, and the rest is history

             This is issue number 3 The front page has mention of New England in a report "Not only is this an issue of a very rare title which lasted for just 23 issues, but it has some noteworthy content as well. Complete as a single sheet newspaper measuring about 6 3/4 by 11 1/4 inches and in great condition   More

The Great London Fire Sept 13 1666

Here is one of the earliest newspaper, dates to be had genuine Newspaper with the following title, date and description: THE LONDON GAZETTE, Sept. 13, 1666 Here is the issue (see the photo) published shortly after the Great London Fire { Sept 2 1666}, and distinguished by the smaller type in the masthead--due to the destruction of the press types by the fire. Mention of the fire is contained in a bkpg. report from "Whitehall" that says: "His Majesty in a religious sense of God's heavy hand upon this Kingdom in the late dreadful fire happened in the City of London, hath been pleased to order that the 10th of Octob. next be observed as a general and solemn Fast throughout England and Wales, and that the distresses of those who have...suffered in that calamity, be on that day most effectually recommended to the charity of all well disposed Christians in the respective Churches and Chapels of this Kingdom" and a bit more. An 11 1/4 by 6 7/8 inch singlesheet, has traces of foxing, but otherwise is in fine condition. ONE OF THE MOST HISTORIC NEWSPAPERS PRINTED !!!!   London Fire

THE LONDON GAZETTE,

Rare FIRE OF LONDON Great Plague 1666 British Newspaper

 Nov 18, 1666.  THE LONDON GAZETTE, being the oldest continually published newspaper in the world, having started just the year previous (1665) and it is still printing today But today its Known as The London Gazette ! A very early issue to have mention of America, which this issue has, as the first column has a report with a small intro: "Boston" telling of several ships which have appeared on the coast there, acting as privateers in attempting to take other ships. Also on the front page is a mention of the Plague, which was raging in England at that time: "Norwich: The account of our bill for this last week is thus. Buried of all diseases 80. Of the Plague 56 and at the Pest-house7". Also on the front page is reference to the slave trade with a report telling of a ship coming: "..from Lisbon with 450 chests of sugar, basil, tobacco, and some Negroes, upon pretence the good belong to enemies..." A very early item on the slave trade! This single sheet issue measures 6-1/2 x 10-1/2 inches, and is in great condition save for some browning at the very top

1668 An Italian paper From Bologna dated 1668 Excellent condition

The Oldest paper from Italy that is in the collection

              Rare 1688 Newspaper: PUBLICK OCCURRENCES

Here is the complete, genuine issue of a very rare newspaper titled PUBLICK OCCURRENCES TRULY STATED, from London, dated April 3, 1688. In my 6 years of  collecting rare  newspapers this is the first time I have seen this newspaper! A single sheet issue measuring about 7 1/2 by 12 inches, nice, untrimmed margins. Only 34 issues of this newspaper were ever published! And this particular date is held by only one institution in the United States! A very rare opportunity for a very rare newspaper. In nice condition with various news reports from Europe, plus a few advertisements on the back page 

1688 London Gazette  Glorious Revolution

JAMES II deposed by WILLIAM of ORANGE -from NETHERLANDS

 "Glorious Revolution" covered in the LOCAL London newspaper.   This newspaper consists of 1 pages 12" x 7" in size.

                    1689 ORANGE GAZETTE Newspaper Wm. & Mary King

February 26 1689  Number 15 This is a terrific & historic newspaper! Not only is this a very rare title--only 18 issues were published!--but it is exceedingly historic as well. Some of the front page content in this issue includes: "This afternoon the French King set forward from Versailles accompanied with the Abdicated King of England..." and "...Since also the Prince of Orange--now King of England--which has done such a glorious work for the British Nation, by rescuing it from POPERY and SLAVERY, will undoubtedly perform the like to France...". Also on the front page is the very historic report: "The blessed news coming to us yesterday that WILLIAM and MARY Prince and Princess of Orange were Proclaimed King and Queen of England. The Mayor, and Aldermen in their formalities, with demonstration of their Joy and Satisfaction, drums beating and musick playing before them, Proclaimed them also this morning..." with much more, and including: "...that a very great consternation is all over the country, upon the news of the Prince of Orange being likely to be King of England, insomuch that 1000 men are night & day at work to strengthen our fortifications and more cannon will be sent to plant upon them." Fantastic to have this historic report in this newspaper which carries his title! This issue is complete as a singlesheet newspaper measuring about 8 by 12 1/2 inches and is in very nice condition.

                                        Early Jacobite Rebellion?...

THE ATHENIAN MERCURY THE ATHENIAN MERCURY: RESOLVING WEEKLY ALL THE MOST NICE AND CURIOUS QUESTIONS PROPOSED BY THE INGENIOUS London, March 24, 1690  Notable title that used a question-answer format. Among the front page questions are: "What can Prompt that Monster of a Man, that calls himself by the Name of Protestant, to bring in the French, & restore King James?" which is an interesting & early item on what would lead to the Jacobite Rebellion. Another questions include: "What is the Cause of Dreams? and why Doth a Person receive equal, if not more enjoyment in a Dream than in a thing real?" This is a very early issue of this title, and one of very few with this lengthened title. The title would soon become just The Athenian Mercury. A single sheet, occasional foxing, a bit close-trimmed at the top of the back page but not affecting any mentioned text
 

  COMPLETE ORIGINAL single sheet newspaper, the Athenian Mercury (London, England) dated September 5, 1693. Back page ad for the London printing of the newsbook by Increase Mather (of Boston) on the Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts. There were NO periodicals in America in 1693 and the Athenian Mercury was the only newspaper in the world that hay any notice of the Salem Witch Trials. This notice was in the form of this ad for the newsbook with detailed coverage of the SALEM witch trials

DEATH of JOHN ELIOT 1690  1st American Bible

COMPLETE ORIGINAL and very early single sheet NEWSPAPER, the Athenian Mercury (London, ENGLAND) dated June 28.  This is complete as a single sheet newspaper, 13" x 7.5", and is laid out in a Question and Answer format with two front page columns and 2 back page columns There are some advertisements located at the end of the second column.

Back page reference to the DEATH of JOHN ELIOT, known as the Indian Apostle and the printer of the Eliot Indian bible, the FIRST COMPLETE BIBLE printed in the New World. More History