Harper’s Weekly Feb 26 1876 – Early American Football, Thomas Nast Cartoons, Frere Art, Complete Issue VG

Harper’s Weekly Feb 26 1876 – Early American Football, Thomas Nast Cartoons, Frere Art, Complete Issue VG


---

DESCRIPTION

This is an original, complete issue of Harper’s Weekly, dated February 26, 1876, in very good condition. This edition is best known for featuring one of the earliest published images of American football, a historically important moment in the evolution of the sport.

The issue also includes multiple Thomas Nast political cartoons, European genre art, and a variety of compelling Gilded Age illustrations.

A strong copy—clean, well-preserved, and ideal for collectors of early sports history, political Americana, or 19th-century illustration.


---

⭐ "Football At the Wall"
Early American Football Illustration (Key Feature)

One of the earliest visual depictions of American football to appear in a major American publication.

This pre-helmet, rugby-style scene captures:

Early scrimmage formations

Players in period athletic attire

The rough, chaotic nature of the sport before modernization

A historically significant moment prior to major rule standardizations (1880s–90s)


These early football engravings are scarce and highly desirable, especially framed.


---

⭐ Other Major Illustrations in the Issue

• Thomas Nast Cartoon – “No Rudder—No Aim…”

A political cartoon poking at Republican leadership in the post-Civil War era.
Nast remains America’s most influential political cartoonist, and 1870s Nast pages are increasingly collectible.


---

• Two Nast Cartoons – “Another ‘Dead Issue’ Turned Up” & “News!”

Smaller, sharp political pieces, each approx. 4.75" x 4.5", surrounded by period advertisements.


---

• Edouard Frère – “Gathering Wood” (¾-page engraving)

A beautiful domestic genre scene by the noted French painter.
Soft, emotional lines typical of Frère’s work, excellent for framing.


---

• “The Dinner Bell – A Sketch Near Silberhausen, Saxony” (¾-page Supplement Illustration)

Originally accompanied by a short article.
Rural European life rendered in fine detail.


---

Additional Content

As in all Harper’s Weekly issues:

Serialized literature

National and international news

Engravings of public figures

Gilded Age advertisements

Editorial commentary


Your complete issue includes all text and images from front to back.


---

📏 Size

Standard Harper’s folio: approx. 16 x 11.25 inches


---

📜 Condition — Very Good (VG)

Complete issue

Light age toning only

Strong image impressions

Tight fold

Minor expected edge wear

No major tears or losses


A well-preserved 148-year-old newspaper.


---

🖼️ Framing Available

I offer professional custom framing for the football page, Nast cartoons, or the Frère illustration.

Options include:

Acid-free matting

UV-protective acrylic

Multiple frame styles


Message me for mockups or recommendations.


---

📦 Shipping

Ships flat, never rolled.


---

🎁 Perfect For:

Football historians
Sports collectors
NCAA alumni gifts
Collectors of Thomas Nast
19th-century illustration enthusiasts
Art lovers (Frère, European scenes)
Gilded Age Americana collectors


---

SEO TAGS

harpers weekly 1876, early football print, american football history, thomas nast cartoon, edouard frere engraving, 19th century sports art, victorian newspaper, antique football illustration, 1870s americana, harpers weekly original issue, gilded age political cartoons, vintage sports history