Description:

Civil War - Very fine war dated Vicksburg's "Daily Citizen" edition, printed on wallpaper with a decorative floral motif The July 2nd edition of "The Daily Citizen", issued July 4, 1863, printed on the back sheet of wallpaper, green, beige and burgundy floral print.

Ulysses S. Grant's long and difficult siege of the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg made paper unobtainable there, and as early as June 16, the newspaper's proprietor had resorted to printing on the blank sides of sheets of wallpaper. By July 2nd, after prolonged bombardment, the siege was clearly nearing its inevitable end. But there is no hint of this in the "Daily Citizen" printed that day, which remains jaunty, spirited and defiantly rebel.


In the middle of Column 3, the Confederate printer joked "...the great Ulysses - the Yankee Generalissimo, surnamed Grant - has expressed his intention of dining in Vicksburg on Saturday next, and celebrating the 4th of July by a grand dinner and so forth. When asked if he would invite Gen. Jo. Johnston to join he said 'No! for fear there will be a row at the table.' Ulysses must get into the city before he dines in it. The way to cook rabbit is 'first to catch the rabbit'..." When Grant and his men did occupy Vicksburg on July 2nd, after Pemberton's surrender, the type used by the newspaper's proprietor to print his last issue was still standing, giving the Federals the opportunity for a famous bit a wartime levity. They reset the bottom 14 lines of Column 4, adding a note dated July 4: "Two days bring about great changes. The banner of the Union floats over Vicksburg. Gen. Grant has 'caught the rabbit', and he did bring his dinner with him...This is the last wallpaper edition, and is, excepting this note, from the types as we found them...It will be valuable hereafter as a curiosity."

In fact, a number of facsimiles of the July 4 issue exist. But this copy conforms in every detail to the points which define the genuine issue, as enumerated in the Library of Congress, Periodical Division, Information Circular 3. The last two inferior examples sold recently for $5,400 and $6,500. Some toning and usual repairs but overall superior appearance.

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