Harper’s Weekly February 28, 1863 – Winslow Homer Centerfold, Colored Troops & Army of the Potomac

Title
Harper’s Weekly February 28, 1863 – Winslow Homer Centerfold, Colored Troops & Army of the Potomac


Description
📰 Original Civil War–era issue of Harper’s Weekly, published February 28, 1863, during a crucial moment in the war as Union leadership reorganized and African American troops began to appear more prominently in the national press.

This issue is especially desirable for its large double-page centerfold by Winslow Homer, rare illustrated coverage of United States Colored Troops, and strong Army of the Potomac content.
Highlights of This Issue
🪖 Front Page – Army Leadership
Full front-page portrait:
“Major-General Hooker, Commanding the Army of the Potomac”
Issued shortly after Hooker assumed command, making this a timely and historically important image
🎨 Major Double-Page Centerfold – Winslow Homer
Stunning two-page illustration:
“Pay Day in the Army of the Potomac”
One of Homer’s most iconic Civil War scenes, capturing the everyday realities of soldier life with exceptional detail and humanity
Highly displayable and among the most sought-after Harper’s Weekly centerfolds of the war
🖤 African American Soldiers – Rare Coverage
Half-page illustration:
“Our Colored Troops — Line Officers of the First Louisiana Native Guards”
Half-page illustration:
“Our Colored Troops at Work — The First Louisiana Native Guards Disembarking at Fort Macomb, Louisiana”
Early and important visual documentation of Black soldiers serving the Union
⚓ Naval Warfare – Vicksburg Campaign
Full-page illustration:
“The Federal Ram ‘Queen of the West’ Attacking the Rebel Gunboat ‘Vicksburg’ Off Vicksburg”
Depicts dramatic Mississippi River combat during the Vicksburg campaign
🗺️ Virginia & the South
Full page with two views:
Skinner’s Neck, on the Rappahannock, Below Fredericksburg, Virginia
Cobbin’s Neck, on the Rappahannock
Full-page thematic map:
“Map of the Southern States Showing the Relative Proportion of Slaves in the Different Localities”
A powerful visual representation of slavery on the eve of emancipation
🗞️ Back Page Political Cartoon
Cartoon titled “The Copperhead Party”, critiquing Northern anti-war Democrats and wartime dissent


Condition
📌 Complete in 16 pages
📸 I photograph every page, so please review all images carefully and feel free to ask questions.
Original 1863 issue
Expected age-related toning and light wear
Strong impressions throughout, especially the Homer centerfold
No facsimiles or trimmed pages


Why This Issue Is Especially Desirable
⭐ Large Winslow Homer double-page centerfold
⭐ Rare illustrated coverage of African American troops
⭐ Front-page portrait of General Hooker
⭐ Mississippi River naval action at Vicksburg
⭐ Important slavery map with strong historical impact
This is a museum-level Civil War Harper’s Weekly, appealing to collectors of Winslow Homer, African American history, and Union military history.


Framing & Display
🖼️ Optional archival framing available
Acid-free matting
UV-protective acrylic (not glass)
Clean, museum-style presentation
Ideal for:
Libraries and studies
Civil War or African American history collections
Educational or gallery display


Shipping
📦 Ships flat (never rolled)
📦 Carefully protected for transit
📦 Tracking included


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