1861 Saint Valentine's Day Harper's Weekly Feb 16 Fort Sumter New Orleans
$55.44
Skip to product information
This February 16, 1861, issue of Harper's Weekly is a fascinating study in 19th-century contrast. While the interior reveals the grim preparations for war in Charleston and New Orleans, the front page and centerfold celebrate the romantic and fashionable side of Victorian life.
Title: 1861 Saint Valentine's Day Harper's Weekly Feb 16 Fort Sumter New Orleans
📜 ABOUT THIS PIECE OF HISTORY 📜
📜 Victorian Valentine’s Day: The front page is a beautiful, full-page artistic celebration titled "Saint Valentine's Day." It features six distinct vignettes capturing the sentimentality and social rituals of mid-19th-century romance. This makes it a premier display piece for holiday collectors or those interested in Victorian social history.
📜 Fort Sumter Preparations: Despite the romantic cover, the interior reflects the looming conflict. It features a dramatic full-page print of a "Ten-inch Mounted as a Mortar at Ft. Sumter," demonstrating Major Anderson's efforts to prepare for a bombardment. This is paired with a view of the "Sally Port at Sumter—Interior," providing a rare architectural look at the fort's defenses.
🌟 FEATURED HIGHLIGHTS 🌟
👗 Paris Fashions (Double-Page Centerfold):
A stunning and expansive centerfold titled "Paris Fashions for February." It showcases the elaborate fancy dresses and high-fashion trends of the era, serving as a primary source for Victorian Costume and Textile historians.
🎭 Scenes of New Orleans:
A half-page featuring four distinct prints of New Orleans, Louisiana, including the Custom House, the St. Charles Hotel, the Mint, and the local Flower Girls. These prints capture the unique atmosphere of the city just as Louisiana was joining the secession movement.
🏛️ Political & Military Figures:
Portraits and biographies of Governor Thomas Hicks of Maryland (a key figure in keeping Maryland in the Union) and Hon. Joseph Holt, Secretary of War.
📖 Literary Treasure:
Includes an original serialized installment of "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens, published during the novel's initial run.
🔍 CONDITION & TRANSPARENCY 🔍
Completeness: This is the complete 16-page issue, including the original "Valentine" front page and the fashion centerfold.
Authenticity: Guaranteed original woodblock printing from February 16, 1861, not a modern reproduction.
Condition Report: I take pictures of the entire sheet so you can study the condition personally. The front page is particularly "nice for display" with crisp lines in the Valentine vignettes.
🥂 WHY IT IS A MUST-HAVE 🥂
Holiday & Ephemera Collectors: One of the most beautiful thematic covers of the year, perfect for framing as a Valentine's gift.
Louisiana & New Orleans Historians: Provides rare 1861 views of the city's landmarks at a critical political juncture.
Civil War Tech Buffs: The print of the ten-inch columbiad mortar at Sumter is a detailed look at 19th-century heavy ordnance.
Custom Framing: I offer professional framing for any item in my shop. The Saint Valentine's Day cover or the New Orleans vignettes 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 and its centerfold arrive safely.
Tracked: All orders include tracking for your peace of mind.
🏷️ TAGS (SEO) 🏷️
1861 Harpers Weekly, Saint Valentine's Day Victorian, Fort Sumter Mortar, New Orleans 1861 St Charles Hotel, Paris Fashions 1861, Charles Dickens Great Expectations, Maryland Governor Hicks, February 16 1861.
1861 Saint Valentine's Day Harper's Weekly Feb 16 Fort Sumter New Orleans
$55.44