Carrier's New Year Address, Cincinnati 1807 

About Auction

Live

American History: Live Salesroom Auction

By Cowan's Auctions

Jul 21, 2014 - Jul 22, 2014

Set Reminder 2014-07-21 17:00:00 2014-07-22 17:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American History: Live Salesroom Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-history-live-salesroom-auction-62
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

View Full Catalog (514)

• Lot Description
  In days gone by, for nearly two centuries, it was traditional for newspaper carriers to deliver a New Year's Address on the first of the year. In turn, the subscriber was expected to give the news boys a tip. The addresses were generally a single page, usually written in verse, and may recount the highlights of the preceding year. Sometimes they hinted that their carriers deserved a large tip, other times the expectation was unspoken. These were possibly (likely?) written by professionals (possibly at the newspaper or print office), and sometimes elaborately decorated by the printers (as advertising for their skills).
  
  The tradition began as early as 1720 and continued into the early 20th century, although a few continued until nearly mid-century. Brown University Library has made a large number of these available, since, even though anonymous, taken together they constitute a large body of American poetry. And they address historic concerns - war, pestilence, grief (such as the death of George Washington), slavery, local politics, and much more. They should be of interest to numerous fields of research.
  
  This address is to the patrons of Liberty Hall, a newspaper in Cincinnati, OH that only existed as a separate paper from 1809-1815. Before this it was Liberty Hall and Cincinnati Mercury (1804-1809). In 1815 it merged with the Cincinnati Gazette, and continued publication until 1857.
  
  It must have been a cold winter, since the early lines refer to bundling up in the cold, and mentions the patterns created by skaters on the ice. Then it moves on to darker news:
  
  Hark! the post-boy blows his horn,
  Ush'ring in the New Year's morn -
  Brings the news from distant climes,
  Tells the horrors of the times;
  'Counts the feats of martial art,
  Of the conq'ring Bonaparte.
     Poor Europeans! how they fare,
  Press'd with war and rack'd with care!
  See the monarchs' sceptres shake,
  And their hearts with anguish quake -
  Germanic princes cease to reign -
  Thrones destroyed, and armies slain -
  Mangled limbs bestrew the plain....
  
  War, thou curse of human race,
  Mournfully thy woes we trace;
  Europe feels thy scorpion scourge,
  Bloody fields and briny surge -...
  
     O How blest Columbia's land!
  Freedom here has made its stand;
  Here the balmy sweets of peace
  All the joys of life increase;
  Here the bands of union join,
  Heart with heart as one combine,
  To defend this rising land
  From rebellion's ruthless hand....
  
  But, oh, what a difference a couple years would make. At this point they had been at peace (other than some "Indian troubles") for over two decades, so the optimism for the new year was understandable.
  
  See also:
  http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_vault/2012/12/28/newspaper_carriers_addresses_bygone_tradition_of_solicitations_asking_subscribers.html
  
  http://library.brown.edu/cds/carriers/essay_intro.html 

  Condition

  Overall moderate toning and foxing; water stain upper left. Column of numbers along left upper margin, and name in upper right corner. Old folds.
• Shipping Info

  • SHIPPING. At the request of the buyer, Cowan's will authorize the shipment of purchased items. Shipments usually occur within two weeks after payment has been received. Shipment is generally made via UPS Ground service. Unless buyer gives special instructions, the shipping method shall be at the sole discretion of Cowan's Auctions, Inc.. Cowan's is in no way responsible for the acts or omissions of independent handlers, packers or shippers of purchased items or for any loss, damage or delay from the packing or shipping of any property.

• Buyer's Premium

  • Hammer Price	Premium (%)
    $0	28.00
    $250,001	23.00
    $3,000,001	15.00