Sold for $688

4 pages, on a bifolio, 743 x 524 mm. Unbound as issued. (Some splitting at folds with minor loss, some other old cellotape repairs with associated discoloration through some account text on first page; some minor foxing.) 

 

VERY RARE EARLY ISSUE OF A WASHINGTON D.C. NEWSPAPER ACCOUNT OF THE ASSASSINATION. 

 

The Washington D.C. Daily Morning Chronicle contains some of the earliest printed reports of the assassination in the city where it had only recently occurred, and when many details were yet unknown. The front page with heading at the top of the third column: "MURDER of PRESIDENT LINCOLN" "Attempt To Assassinate The Secretary of State" "Manner Of Assassination" "Safety of Other Members of the Cabinet" "Description Of The Assassin" "The Police Investigation" "The Surgeons' Latest Reports". The text begins: "At half past ten o'clock last night, in the front upper left-hand private box in Ford's Theatre, while the second scene of the third act of 'Our American Cousin' was being played, a pistol was fired and Abraham Lincoln shot through the neck and lower part of the head..."  This lengthy & detailed early account takes nearly 3 columns of the front page, but nowhere mentions the death of the President. Subsequent issues of this paper of the same day are indicated at top of the sixth column with “Second Edition” or “Third Edition” with additional updated information added below.

 

The remainder of the front page contains reports previously planned front page content concerning the closing events of the Civil War, with assassination coverage continuing on the second page. Although the third page primarily contains advertisements, the first ad listed under “Amusements” is for Ford's New Theatre with note: “There will be not performance at this theatre tonight." This historic newspaper was published at the Chronicle Building located on 9th St. between E and F Streets, which was in the same block as Ford's Theatre. Newspapers from Washington reporting the assassination of Abraham Lincoln are scarce and desirable.