1861 Charleston House-Tops Harper's Weekly May 04 First Blood Baltimore
$138.88
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This May 4, 1861, issue of Harper's Weekly captures the surreal and rapid escalation of the American Civil War, featuring the iconic "spectator" view of the war's beginning and the massive mobilization of the North in response to the fall of Fort Sumter.
Title: 1861 Charleston House-Tops Harper's Weekly May 04 First Blood Baltimore
📜 ABOUT THIS PIECE OF HISTORY 📜
📜 Watching the War Begin: The full front page is one of the most famous images of 1861: "The House-Tops in Charleston During the Bombardment of Sumter." It depicts a chillingly calm scene of men and women gathered on rooftops, watching the historic bombardment in the harbor as if it were a theatrical performance. This print perfectly encapsulates the early, almost romanticized perception of the conflict before the grim reality of war set in.
📜 "First Blood" in Baltimore: This issue documents the first casualties of the war outside of the fort. A full-page illustration titled "First Blood—The Sixth Massachusetts Regiment Fighting their Way Through Baltimore" shows the violent riot that erupted as Northern troops moved through the city, marking a turning point where the conflict turned lethal on American streets.
🌟 FEATURED HIGHLIGHTS 🌟
🎖️ Northern Mobilization (Three Full Pages):
"The Seventh Regiment Marching Down Broadway" — A legendary scene of New York’s elite regiment departing for the front.
"The Boston Regiments Embarking" — Showing the logistical rush to defend Washington, D.C.
"The Great Meeting In Union Square" — A massive pro-Union rally in New York City.
⚔️ Military Technology & Heroes:
"The Heroes of Fort Sumter" — Portraits of the men who stood their ground during the initial bombardment.
"Stevens's Bomb-Proof Floating Battery" — An early look at the experimental naval tech emerging at the war's start.
🗺️ Strategic War Map (Full-Page):
"Map of Part of Maryland and Virginia Showing the Probable Theatre of the War" — A fascinating primary source showing where the public expected the heaviest fighting to occur.
🎭 Literary History:
Charles Dickens: Continued serialization of "Great Expectations," appearing alongside news of the 71st Regiment's departure from New York.
🔍 CONDITION & TRANSPARENCY 🔍
Completeness: This is the complete 16-page issue, including the original front-page "House-Tops" print.
Authenticity: Guaranteed original woodblock printing from May 4, 1861, not a modern reproduction.
Condition Study: I take pictures of the entire sheet so you can study the condition. Look for the detail in the crowd's attire on the front page and the intensity of the combat scene in Baltimore.
🥂 WHY IT IS A MUST-HAVE 🥂
Civil War Art Collectors: The "House-Tops" front page is an essential, high-demand piece for any 1861 collection.
Massachusetts & New York Historians: Extensive coverage of the 6th Mass. and the 7th and 71st N.Y. regiments.
Military Strategists: The "Probable Theatre of War" map is a rare glimpse into the early-war mindset of Union leadership.
Custom Framing: I offer professional framing for any item in my shop. The Charleston house-tops or the Baltimore riot prints would make a museum-quality historical focal point!
📦 SHIPPING & PRESERVATION 📦
Safe Storage: Housed in an acid-free archival folder with a Mylar overlay to protect the 165-year-old newsprint.
Flat Shipping: Shipped with heavy-duty reinforcement to ensure the issue arrives safely.
Tracked: All orders include tracking for your peace of mind.
🏷️ TAGS (SEO) 🏷️
1861 Harpers Weekly, Charleston House-Tops Bombardment, First Blood Baltimore Riot, 6th Massachusetts Regiment, 7th New York Regiment, Great Expectations Dickens, May 4 1861.
1861 Charleston House-Tops Harper's Weekly May 04 First Blood Baltimore
$138.88