1861 Navy Fleet Fort Pickens Harper's Weekly April 20 Dahlgren Gun Dickens
$67.77
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This April 20, 1861, issue of Harper's Weekly is an extraordinary historical artifact, published just days after the surrender of Fort Sumter. While the nation reeled from the start of the Civil War, this issue focuses heavily on the naval buildup and the strategic standoff at Fort Pickens, providing a premier look at the Union's early military response.
Title: 1861 Navy Fleet Fort Pickens Harper's Weekly April 20 Dahlgren Gun Dickens
📜 ABOUT THIS PIECE OF HISTORY 📜
📜 The Union Fleet at Fort Pickens: The crown jewel of this issue is the stunning double-page centerfold, "The United States Fleet Off Fort Pickens, Florida." This panoramic view captures the massive naval presence sent to reinforce one of the few federal bastions in the South. It is a vital visual record for anyone interested in Naval History or the early strategic maneuvers of the Civil War.
📜 Dahlgren and Naval Innovation: The interior features a significant 5-panel full-page print titled "Commander Dahlgren, U.S.N. and the Dahlgren Gun." Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren was the "Father of American Naval Ordnance," and these detailed engravings document the revolutionary "soda bottle" shaped cannons that would provide the Union Navy with its superior firepower throughout the conflict.
🌟 FEATURED HIGHLIGHTS 🌟
⚓ Naval & Military Might:
Double-Page Centerfold: "The United States Fleet Off Fort Pickens" — A sweeping view of Union warships.
Full-Page: "The Washington Navy-Yard With Shad Fisheries In the Foreground" — A fascinating juxtaposition of industrial military prep and traditional local industry.
Half-Page Views: Shipping of military stores and "Flying Artillery" onto the steamships Baltic and Atlantic at New York Harbor.
🏛️ Key Figures & Positions:
Front-Page Portrait: "Hon. Charles F. Adams, U.S. Minister to England" — The man tasked with keeping Britain from recognizing the Confederacy.
Front-Page View: "The Confederate Batteries Opposite Fort Pickens" — Showing the enemy positions facing the Union fleet.
🎭 Literary & Satirical Content:
Charles Dickens: Continued serialization of "Great Expectations," offering readers a brief escape into literature as the war began.
Back-Page: Three political cartoons reflecting the high-stakes tension of the month the war began.
🔍 CONDITION & TRANSPARENCY 🔍
Completeness: This is the complete 16-page issue, including the original front page and the naval centerfold.
Authenticity: Guaranteed original woodblock printing from April 20, 1861, not a modern reproduction.
Condition Study: I take pictures of the entire sheet so you can study the condition. Note the incredible detail in the rigging of the ships in the centerfold and the mechanical precision of the Dahlgren gun engravings.
🥂 WHY IT IS A MUST-HAVE 🥂
Civil War Navy Enthusiasts: This is one of the most significant naval issues of 1861, documenting the hardware and fleets that defined the Union's sea power.
Dahlgren Collectors: An essential primary source for the history of American ordnance and the biography of John Dahlgren.
Dickens Bibliophiles: A chance to own an original 1861 printing of Great Expectations as it was first read in America.
Custom Framing: I offer professional framing for any item in my shop. The Navy Fleet centerfold or the Dahlgren gun page 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 164-year-old newsprint.
Flat Shipping: Shipped with heavy-duty reinforcement to ensure the issue and its centerfold arrive safely.
Tracked: All orders include tracking for your peace of mind.
🏷️ TAGS (SEO) 🏷️
1861 Harpers Weekly, Civil War Navy, Fort Pickens Fleet, Dahlgren Gun Illustration, Charles Francis Adams, Washington Navy Yard, Great Expectations Dickens, April 20 1861.
1861 Navy Fleet Fort Pickens Harper's Weekly April 20 Dahlgren Gun Dickens
$67.77