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Paper featuring Lincoln’s death not original

Freelance
Treasures & Trends

LARRY COX

Question: I inherited what I believe is an original edition of The New York Herald from April of 1865 announcing the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. On the front page there is a nice image of Lincoln and the columns are bordered in black. Except for the fragility of the paper and a few minor tears, it is in excellent condition. My question is fairly straight forward: Is it a valuable collectible? – Jack, Oro Valley

Answer: You had me until you mentioned the image of Lincoln. The April 1865 editions of The New York Herald, The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Washington Chronicle are among the most prized editions among collectors. Most original papers – with the exception of The Washington Chronicle – do not have images of Lincoln on the front pages. The New York Herald reprinted its first edition, adding the image of Lincoln, and sold it as a souvenir. Since your edition is not an original, it is worth much less than the first one which was actually published April 15, 1865. To get the opinion of a professional, I suggest you contact Timothy Hughes, who buys and sells old newspapers. His contact information is Timothy Hughes, Rare & Early Newspapers, P.O. Box 3636, Williamsport, PA 17701, tim@rarenewspapers.com, rarenewspapers.com and 570-326-1045.

Q: I have an acoustic Little Martin guitar from 2003. It’s a gutsy little instrument, and I would like to determine if it’s worth more than the $100 I paid for it. – Carter, Tucson

A: I found your guitar referenced in “Classic Guitars: Identification & Price Guide” by Nick Freeth. According to Freeth, your guitar is worth about $275 in near-mint condition.

In addition to his work for the Tucson Citizen, Larry Cox writes book reviews and a weekly collectibles column that are syndicated by King Features and distributed throughout the United States and Canada. E-mail: contactlarrycox@aol.com.

The following did not appear in our print edition.

Q: I read your column on a regular basis. I realize that you’ve answered questions before about U.S. coins and hope you can help me. My aunt was a travel agent throughout the 1950s and ’60s. She spent at least half of each year touring and wherever she went she saved pocket change. She recently gave me a suitcase full of foreign coins. I don’t necessarily want to sell them but am curious if any are valuable. – Ken, Tucson

A: There are dozens of guides for collectors, but the one you will probably find most helpful is the “Standard Catalogue of World Coins: 1901-Present” by Chester L. Krause and Clifford Mishler (Krause Publications, $54.99). This massive reference, with 2,000-plus pages, lists prices for virtually every coin issued during the last century. This comprehensive reference is updated periodically and may be ordered directly from the publisher 888-457-2873 and 800-258-0929.

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