Harper’s Weekly Mar 4 1876 – Molly Maguires, Thomas Nast Cover, Fire Patrol, Centennial Plaza, Complete + Supplement

Harper’s Weekly Mar 4 1876 – Molly Maguires, Thomas Nast Cover, Fire Patrol, Centennial Plaza, Complete + Supplement


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DESCRIPTION

Original Harper’s Weekly, dated March 4, 1876, complete in 16 pages with the supplement included. This issue is especially notable for its rare printed material relating to the Molly Maguires, the secretive and often violent Irish-American coal-region labor organization that shaped 19th-century labor history.

A highly desirable issue for collectors of labor history, political Americana, early fire-fighting illustration, and Thomas Nast material.


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⭐ Molly Maguires Content (Key Feature)

The interior contains:

A brief but historically important article on the Molly Maguires.

A striking illustrated advertisement on the facing page for “Molly Maguire, The Terror of the Coal Fields,” by Daniel Doyle, a mine boss.

The advertisement includes detailed text describing the Mollies, unusual for Harper’s and visually impactful for display.


These pages are rarely preserved intact and are strong standalone pieces for framing.


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⭐ Major Illustrations in This Issue

• Full Front Page – Thomas Nast Political Cartoon: “February 22, 1876”

A bold, symbolic cartoon by America's most influential political cartoonist. Nast’s 1870s political work is highly collectible.


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• Over Half-Page – “A Scrub-Race on the Plains”

An energetic Western scene depicting young riders racing horses across open land—excellent for display.


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• ¾ Page – “The Country of Macbeth”

Six atmospheric engravings illustrating the landscapes associated with Shakespeare’s tragedy.


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• Full Page – “The New York Fire Insurance Patrol”

A dramatic firefighting print showing equipment, uniforms, and mid-19th-century emergency response methods.
Very popular with collectors of early fire service history.


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• Full Page – “The Grand Plaza, Centennial Grounds, Philadelphia”

A large architectural view connected to the Centennial Exposition of 1876—America’s first World’s Fair.


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• ¾ Page Portrait – “Charlotte Cushman”

One of the most important American actresses of the 19th century, illustrated in a detailed engraved portrait.


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⭐ Supplement Included

Your listing specifies a supplement was present — these often contain:

Additional engravings

Fashion plates

Literature or serialized fiction

Large-format architectural or scenic prints


If you provide photos, I can incorporate its exact contents.


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📏 Size

Approx. 16 x 11 inches (Harper’s folio size)


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📜 Condition — Very Good

Clean, complete issue

Light expected toning

Strong printing impressions

Minor edge wear

No major tears or losses


A well-preserved copy of a highly desirable 1876 issue.


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🖼️ Framing Available

I offer framing services for any page, especially:

The Molly Maguires advertisement

The Nast cover

The Centennial Plaza engraving

The Fire Patrol engraving

The Western “Scrub-Race” scene


Message me for mockups.


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📦 Shipping

Ships flat, never rolled.


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SEO TAGS

molly maguires, harpers weekly 1876, thomas nast cartoon, centennial exposition 1876, early firefighting print, labor history americana, irish american history, coal fields pennsylvania, charlotte cushman portrait, antique newspaper original, 19th century engraving, western horse race print