The New York Times (New York) - April 18, 1865 (Abraham Lincoln Assassination and End of The Civil War)
Condition: Complete issue in terrific condition that would be considered fine or fine-plus by many collectors.  Fold creases and slight wear to right margin edges, but nothing affecting the text.  Guaranteed authentic original by auction house appraiser.

Every square inch of this April 18, 1865 New York Times newspaper holds a surprise and is filled to the brim with unbelievably historic accounts of both the Abraham Lincoln assassination and the end of the Civil War.  For more and larger-scale images, please visit raglinen.com/ebay.  

The first thing that grabs your attention are the two columns of prominent headlines that hint at what’s in store throughout the front page and the rest of the paper. 

Regarding the Lincoln assassination, this issue is filled to the brim with juicy details that will fit perfectly in any Lincoln buff’s collection.   The headlines only scratch the surface!  The center-most headline reads: “THE ASSASSINATION” with the following secondary headlines immediately following: "Condition of Secretary Seward Improving" - "New Facts About The Murderers" - "Preparations for the President's Funeral" - "Description of the Assassins" - "Reward of Thirty Thousand Dollars" - "Additional Details of the Conspiracy."

But don’t let the headlines stop you from reading further.  For example, the front page is full of details about John Wilkes Booth, including the false report that he’s been “arrested and is on board of a gunboat in the Potomac.”  The front-page also features news of “The Flag Torn by the Assassin” that talks about the National flag draped around the box at Ford Theatre that was torn by Booth’s spur.   There are accounts of a gray, bloodied coat found near Fort Bunker Hill – “In the pocket was a false moustache, a pair of riding globes, and a slip of paper, upon which was “Mary E. Gardner, 419. The coat is supposed to have been worn by the man who attacked Secretary Seward.”

In the same column are eye-witness reports of Booth and his behavior from the day before the assassination, including a Booth quote from the interaction, which is quite eerie.

Perhaps the best reading related to Booth is as follows: “The Common Council have offered a reward of $20,000 for the arrest and conviction of the assassins, and to this sum another $10,000 is added by Col. L.C. Baker, Agent of the War Department, making a total of $30,000. 

“To this announcement are added the following descriptions of the individuals accused:

“Description of J. Wilkes Booth, who assassinated the President on the evening of April 14, 1865:

“Height, five feet eight inches; weight, 160 pounds; compact build; hair jet black; inclined to curl, of medium length, and parted behind; eyes black, and heavy, dark eyebrows…

The John Wilkes Booth description goes on, followed by one of the person who attempted to assassinate Secretary of State William H. Seward. 

The rest of the front page assassination news includes details of the funeral, the assassination news reaching the troops, effect on the finances of the country, arrests of suspected persons, and much more.

Regarding the end of the Civil War news, the center-most attention-grabbing headline reads “THE ASSASSINATION” with the following secondary headlines immediately following: "Condition of Secretary Seward Improving" - "New Facts About The Murderers" - "Preparations for the President's Funeral" - "Description of the Assassins" - "Reward of Thirty Thousand Dollars" - "Additional Details of the Conspiracy."

The left-most headline is saved for the closing days of the Civil War with the primary headline reading: "CAPTURE OF MOBILE" with the following secondary headlines:  "The Last of the Coast Cities in Our Possession" - "The City Surrendered" - "Over Five Thousand Prisoners" - "Full Details of Previous Operations."

Mobile was the last major battle of the Civil War and the last great stand of the Confederacy.  In fact, there is a book about this historic battle called “Mobile, 1865, Last Stand of the Confederacy,” by Sean Michael O’Brien.  According to the book’s publisher, “on April 9, 1865, while Robert E. Lee's army surrendered at Appomattox, the last major battle of the Civil War was being waged in Alabama. The Federal campaign against Mobile, the last important Southern city still in Rebel hands, involved 45,000 Union soldiers and 9,000 Confederates. Even with the end of the war clearly at hand, Federal soldiers remained willing to fight, and the Rebels unwilling to surrender.”

And, as if that wasn’t enough, the back page of the newspaper contains an awesome article titled “Fort Sumter” that reports on the “Restoration of the Stars and Stripes.”  As the article starts – “Four years ago, April 12, 1861, our national ensign, floating in its pride and power over the battlements of Fort Sumter, was assailed and trailed in surrender.  Today, the identical flag that was lowered in humiliation was raised with appropriate ceremonies…”   The article continues for five long columns and includes a speech by General Anderson and the complete address by Rev. H.W. Beecher.

Bottom line, this is a rare gem of a frameable newspaper – and essentially two for the price of one with fantastic reports from the closing moments of the Civil War and dreadful details of the Abraham Lincoln assassination.

As a newspaper collector myself, I will carefully package and ship this paper in the opened position to help preserve its integrity.  Bidders from outside the U.S., please contact me before bidding.  I accept money orders, cashier's checks and Paypal (must be a confirmed address).  If you can only pay with personal checks, please contact me before bidding.

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