1861 Fort Sumter Bombardment Harper's Weekly April 27 Lincoln Beauregard
$267.77
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This April 27, 1861, issue of Harper's Weekly is perhaps the most significant historical document of the 19th century, providing the first detailed visual and textual report of the Bombardment of Fort Sumter—the event that officially ignited the American Civil War.
Title: 1861 Fort Sumter Bombardment Harper's Weekly April 27 Lincoln Beauregard
📜 ABOUT THIS PIECE OF HISTORY 📜
📜 The Outbreak of War: This issue serves as the definitive record of the opening shots of the Civil War. The centerpiece is a stunning, dramatic double-page centerfold titled "Bombardment of Fort Sumter by the Batteries of the Confederate States, April 13, 1861." It captures the moment the fort was surrounded by fire, a scene that changed American history forever.
📜 Inside the Fort: To provide a comprehensive view of the battle, the interior features a full-page illustration of "The Interior of Fort Sumter During the Bombardment," showing the harrowing conditions faced by Major Anderson's men as shells rained down. This is accompanied by a vital "Map of Charleston Harbor," detailing the strategic positions of the Confederate batteries.
🌟 FEATURED HIGHLIGHTS 🌟
⚔️ The Fall of Sumter:
Double-Page Centerfold: "Bombardment of Fort Sumter" — The iconic visual representation of the war's start.
Full-Page: "The Interior of Fort Sumter During the Bombardment" — A rare "boots-on-the-ground" perspective of the siege.
Map: "Charleston Harbor, Showing Fort Sumter & the Confederate Batteries" — A crucial tactical guide for 1861 readers.
🎖️ Key Commanders:
President Abraham Lincoln: A portrait of the Commander-in-Chief as he faced the greatest crisis in U.S. history.
General P.G.T. Beauregard: The Confederate commander who ordered the first shots.
🏛️ Washington in Turmoil:
Front-Page: "General Thomas Swearing In the Volunteers" — Documenting the frantic mobilization of troops to defend the capital immediately following Sumter's surrender.
🎭 Literary History:
Charles Dickens: Continued serialization of "Great Expectations," published as the world around its American readers began to burn.
🔍 CONDITION & TRANSPARENCY 🔍
Completeness: This is the complete 16-page issue, including the original front page and the Fort Sumter centerfold.
Authenticity: Guaranteed original woodblock printing from April 27, 1861, not a modern reproduction.
Condition Study: I take pictures of the entire sheet so you can study the condition. Examine the fine smoke and fire effects in the woodblock engravings of the bombardment; they are masterpieces of 19th-century news illustration.
🥂 WHY IT IS A MUST-HAVE 🥂
Civil War Collectors: This is the "Holy Grail" of 1861 issues, representing the official beginning of the conflict.
Lincoln Historians: Features one of the most important early-war portraits of Lincoln.
Museum Quality: The centerfold of the bombardment is the single most recognizable image of the war's commencement.
Custom Framing: I offer professional framing for any item in my shop. Framing the Fort Sumter centerfold creates a premier historical centerpiece for any collection!
📦 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 and its historic centerfold arrive safely.
Tracked: All orders include tracking for your peace of mind.
🏷️ TAGS (SEO) 🏷️
1861 Harpers Weekly, Bombardment of Fort Sumter, Start of Civil War, Abraham Lincoln Portrait, General Beauregard, Map of Charleston Harbor 1861, Great Expectations Dickens, April 27 1861.
1861 Fort Sumter Bombardment Harper's Weekly April 27 Lincoln Beauregard
$267.77