Harper’s Weekly April 23 1887 – Prairie Letter-Box, Denver Centerfold, Remington, Whitman, St. Augustine Fire

This is an original, complete April 23, 1887 issue of Harper’s Weekly — one of the most desirable issues of the late 1880s, packed with Western Americana, frontier drama, early Denver views, and firsthand commentary on Walt Whitman.

The cover is dominated by R. F. Zogbaum’s iconic full-page engraving “The Prairie Letter-Box”, showing a cowboy posting mail from horseback across a sweeping Western landscape. A perfect piece for framing and a beautiful example of Gilded Age illustration.


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⭐ Highlights of This Issue

📍 “The Prairie Letter-Box” (Front Page)

A full-page frontier scene drawn by R. F. Zogbaum. One of the most atmospheric Western-themed Harper’s covers of the era.

🏔 Double-Page Centerfold — “The City of Denver, and Mountain Scenes in Colorado”

A spectacular panorama by Charles Graham, including:

A large skyline view of Denver, Colorado

Multiple surrounding mountain and canyon scenes

Seven images in total — beautifully detailed and ideal for framing


🤠 Frederic Remington Full Page — “A Quarrel Over Cards – A Sketch From a New Mexican Ranch”

An early and highly collectible Remington illustration capturing frontier tension, saloons, and Western storytelling at its finest.

🔥 “The Great Fire at St. Augustine, Florida”

Three images documenting:

The St. Augustine Hotel

The Cathedral

The Old Slave Market
before the fire — a scarce visual record of early St. Augustine architecture.


🎓 Columbia College Centennial Celebration

A full page of five vignettes depicting the ceremonies, scholars, and campus atmosphere during this major academic milestone.

📚 Walt Whitman on Literature & Immortality

A remarkable printed passage recounting Whitman’s views:

His preference for Walter Scott and Scottish folklore

His lifelong devotion to the Bible

His clarity on personal immortality

A touching scene of “Uncle Walt” playing with children
This is a scarce and charming Whitman biographical anecdote, often missed by casual readers.


🖼 Additional Features

Portrait of Count Lyof (Leo) Tolstoy

Political cartoon by W. A. Rogers: “The Returned Prodigal Shows Signs of Relapse”

Dozens of period advertisements: Pears’ Soap, Waltham Watches, Baker’s Cocoa, Allcock’s Plasters, and more

Full news coverage and commentary from April 1887



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📜 Condition

Very good overall for a 19th-century newspaper:

Complete 16-page issue

Light toning

Minor edge wear from prior binding (common)

Clean pages, strong impressions, no major flaws

Excellent for display or collection



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🖼 Archival Framing Available

You may choose any full page or centerfold illustration and have it framed using:

Acid-free matting

UV-protective acrylic

Conservation-grade backing

Custom sizing
Perfect for home libraries, offices, Western décor, or gifts for history lovers.



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📦 Shipping

Ships flat, not rolled — in archival protective materials with rigid support.