Welcome To David Godfrey's Antique Newspaper Website!
RARE NEWSPAPERS FOR SALE!
45” RISING IN SCOTLAND 1745-1746
2.BRITISH NAVAL BATTLES 1652-1827
3.GOLF
4.BICENTENNIALS
5.BIRTHDAY BICENTENNIALS
6.COLLECTORS CORNER
7.AMERICAN INTEREST
8.EARLY LONDON GAZETTES
9.WHAT SUBJECT DO YOU COLLECT?
1.”THE 45”
For those who saw the film "Gone With The Wind",you will recall how the Unionists laid waste to the south when they beat the Confederates.This is what happened to the highlands of Scotland,when the Prince was defeated
This Prince,universally known as “Bonnie Prince Charlie”,landed in Scotland in late July 1745,not with an army,but with only seven companions known as “The Seven Man Of Moidart”.
His Highland Army formed from the various clans who rose to support him,and went on to win the Battle of Preston Pans,followed by the capture of Edinburgh and Carlisle.They also won a number of other battles before being completely defeated at Culloden on the 16th of April,1746.
I put two issues of the Caledonian Mercury(Edinburgh) in an auction held on the 12th of June,1996,in Glasgow to mark the 250th anniversary of this event.They sold for £300 each.
The late Sir Fitzroy Maclean wrote the forward of the sales catalogue,mentioning how even small tokens carried by the loyal Jacobites could lead to their execution in the weeks and months after the battle.
My remaining issues of the Caledonian Mercury show that most of them have been folded as small as possible and may have been carried secretly by someone until years later when it was safe for them to be bound.
The Caledonian Mercury was part owned by James Grant,who fought in the Highland Army at the battle of Preston Pans(also called Gladsmuir).Even after he sold his interest on the 1st Novemeber 1745,the paper continued to support the Jacobites long after their cause was lost,and had been punished for it.
My last issues are real survivors of an age far gone,and are more meaningful to Scots than anybody else.As Sir Fitzroy said “As a nation,we possess a keen sense of history.Few periods catch the imagination as vividly as that of the Jacobite Rising and its doom laden sequel”.
2.BRITISH NAVAL BATTLES AND OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
From the period of the early Naval wars with the Dutch,to Navarino in which wooden ships were used for the last time in a major battle.
Over the years I’ve placed many papers at London Maritime Auctions run by Christie’s,so am well aware of both demand and the price.My first short list includes the Battle of Orfordness,which is reported in a very rare paper-The Current Intelligence.As these early papers are in very short supply,you have a double goodie in this one.
3.GOLF
The surprising inclusion in here is Golf,a Scottish game which in 1744 was given a Silver Club by Edinburgh for an annual competition.
St.Andrews established a similar Silver Club on 14th of May,1754,and later Royal Blackheath was given a Silver Club on the 16th of August,1766.
The early Scottish newspapers and later certain papers in London printed notices mentioning when the Silver Club match was to be played,and sometimes announced the winner.They also printed notices for medal and other club matches,various legal changes,and other matters of interest to Golfers.
These early newspapers can be framed and displayed by the Golf collector or club.Of course having the Golf notice on the front page is a distinct advantage, but even an inside mention can be photocopied and displayed in the frame.I’ve been selling these at various Golf Auctions over 20 years,and all the earliest ones have gone,but I still have a few late 18th century,but most are early 19th century papers available.
4.GENUINE BICENTENNIALS-THE CELEBRATION OF GREAT EVENTS ON ITS EXACT 200th BIRTHDAY
In 2008-2009 we remember in Britain the Battle of Corunna and the death of Sir John Moore in the Peninsula War on the 16th of January 1809,and the Battle of Talavera in Spain,fought on the 27th/28th of July,1809.Also in the French-Austrian war,the Battles of Eckmuhl(the French under Napoleon beat the Austrians on 22nd of April,1809.),the Battle of Aspern,the Austrians win this time,and Napoleon loses(said to be his first loss ever),on the 22nd of May, 1809,and lastly the Battle of Wagram,another win for Napoleon over the Austrians on 6th of July,1809,all in original issues of The Times.
Please go to the Bicentennials page to view these currently available relevant papers,or visit our Online Shop to purchase.
5.BICENTENNIAL GIFTS
For people who treasure genuine paper antiques.Most will not know what happened 200 years ago,on their birthdays.Maybe nothing much,maybe a big event,but whatever it was they will still enjoy a genuine issue of the Times,now an antique with all the charm of a paper printed by hand on stamped paper made from rags,without photographs(not invented yet),and without headlines,so as not to waste space as a single sheet bears a tax of 3 1/2p.Originally they were delivered by hand,horseback,or carriage(even trains were not invented yet).These are also rare,as circulation was only in a few thousand.
Please contact us for ordering these papers.
6.COLLECTORS CORNER
A selection of curiosly varied newspapers for sale,on a diverse selection of subjects,ranging from Crime and Punishment,The Arts,Medical Interest,to Places of the World,and everything you can think of inbetween.Be sure to check this page regularly,as it is constantly being updated.
Please go to the Collectors Corner page to view these items,or visit our Shop Online page to purchase.
7.AMERICAN INTEREST
Here we have a selection of early newspapers focused on events that changed the face of American history,including the Boston Tea Party,the Battle of Gettysburg,Washington crossing the Delaware,and the Assassination of President Lincoln,with more many more items to be added in the future.
Please go to the American Interest page to view these papers,or alternatively visit our Shop Online to purchase.
8.EARLY LONDON GAZETTES
This is a brand new section still under constuction-check back for updates!
9.WHAT SUBJECT DO YOU COLLECT?
If you have a special interest in a particular subject,feel free to write to us,with a date,subject,or newspaper title,and we will research our archive for you.
Please feel free to write to us at our addresses on the contact page.
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