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ποΈ HARPER'S WEEKLY Β· May 26, 1877
Complete Issue + Supplement Pages Β· New York
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A remarkable issue spanning the first major Westminster Dog Show, P.T. Barnum's Greatest Show on Earth advertisement, a Thomas Nast double-page Russo-Turkish War centerfold, Nevada charcoal burning, and a supplement featuring one of the most unusual warships ever built β the Russian circular ironclad Novgorod. Strong content across dog show history, circus history, Victorian naval engineering, and Gilded Age political art.
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π THE WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW
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π FULL PAGE + ARTICLE β "THE GREAT BENCH SHOW OF DOGS, NEW YORK HIPPODROME"
A full-page illustration of prize dogs at the Great Bench Show, accompanied by a full facing-page article titled "The Great Bench Show" β this was the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, now the most prestigious dog show in America and one of the oldest continuous sporting events in the United States. The Westminster show was founded in 1877, making this one of the earliest Harper's Weekly coverages of what would become an American institution. A significant piece of American dog show and sporting history β and a wonderful find for dog breed enthusiasts and kennel club history collectors.
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πͺ P.T. BARNUM
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π© ADVERTISEMENT β P.T. BARNUM'S "GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH"
A period advertisement for P.T. Barnum's Greatest Show on Earth β the legendary circus that Barnum had launched in 1871 and which was then at the height of its fame. An original 1877 Barnum circus advertisement is a collectible piece of American entertainment history in its own right.
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βοΈ THOMAS NAST
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βοΈ DOUBLE-PAGE CENTERFOLD β THOMAS NAST: "THE PRESENT CRUSADE β THE ATTITUDE OF THE CZAR DECLARING WAR AGAINST THE TURKS"
A sweeping Thomas Nast double-page centerfold depicting the Czar's declaration of war against the Ottoman Empire β the opening of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877, one of the defining conflicts of the Victorian era. Nast's full compositional range deployed across the open breadth of the newspaper to capture a pivotal moment in world history. Published just weeks after Russia's declaration of war in April 1877.
βοΈ FULL FRONT PAGE β THOMAS NAST POLITICAL CARTOON
A Thomas Nast political cartoon leading the full front page.
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πΌοΈ ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
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πͺ΅ HALF PAGE β "CHARCOAL BURNING IN NEVADA"
A half-page illustration of charcoal production in the Nevada wilderness β charcoal was a critical fuel for Nevada's silver smelting industry in the 1870s, and the charcoal burners were a significant part of the state's mining economy. A distinctive piece of Nevada and Western mining history.
ποΈ FULL PAGE β "THE PERMANENT EXHIBITION, PHILADELPHIA"
A full-page illustration of Philadelphia's Permanent Exhibition β the successor institution to the great 1876 Centennial Exhibition, which kept many of the displays open to the public after the fair closed.
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β THE SUPPLEMENT β THE CIRCULAR IRONCLAD
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π’ LARGE ILLUSTRATION β "THE POPOFFKAS β THE RUSSIAN CIRCULAR IRON-CLAD 'NOVGOROD'"
The supplement showpiece β a spectacular large illustration of the Novgorod, one of two circular ironclad warships built for the Russian Imperial Navy in the 1870s under the direction of Admiral Andrei Popov. The Novgorod's circular hull design β intended to provide a stable gun platform in shallow coastal waters β made it one of the most visually distinctive warships ever built and attracted intense international attention. The illustration includes a circular inset showing the stern view with rudder and screws, and a portrait medallion. Published as Russia was at war with the Ottoman Empire and its navy was very much in the news. A wonderful piece of Victorian naval engineering history.
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π CONDITION
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I photograph every page of every issue so you can inspect the condition closely before purchasing. Please review all images carefully and don't hesitate to ask any questions β I'm happy to provide additional detail or close-up shots of any page, illustration, or area of concern before you buy.
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π DETAILS
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Publication Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β· Harper's Weekly
Date Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β· May 26, 1877
City Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β· New York
Item Number Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β· 174142
Pages Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β· Complete Issue + Supplement
Format Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β· Illustrated folio newspaper
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π¦ SHIPPING & PRESERVATION
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β’ Housed in an acid-free archival folder with Mylar overlay to protect the 148-year-old newsprint
β’ Flat-shipped with heavy-duty reinforcement to ensure safe arrival of the centerfold and supplement
β’ Fully tracked for your peace of mind
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π SEO TAGS
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1877 Westminster Dog Show, Nast Czar War, Circular Ironclad, Barnum β May 26
$39.63