Jerusalem News. An American Newspaper (Vol. 1, No. 1, 1919, through Vol. 1, No. 151, 1920 - All Published) [FIRST ENGLISH-LANGUAGE DAILY NEWSPAPER IN JERUSALEM, INSCRIBED TO MRS. DE WITT HUTCHINGS BY MRS. ULYSSES GRANT MCQUEEN]
Jerusalem: Elizabeth L. McQueen, 1919. First printing. Hardcover. Vol. 1, No. 1, December 9, 1919, through Vol. 1, No. 111, April 20, 1920, to 133 (pasted over with 2 x 2 1/2, 1 x 4 inch x 3/8 inch paper tape), No. 149 (2 sheets) to 151, Tuesday June 8, 1920
Elephant Folio (18 34 x 12 1/2"). 151 [1] plates. Bound in three-quarter calf over burgundy buckram with gilt lettering and ruling on black leather labels of spine; raised bands. Decorative endpapers. Inscribed "Presented to my dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. De Witt Hutchings Mission Inn, Riverside California Mrs. Ulysses Grant McQueen December, thirteenth, nineteen hundred and thirty four" on front free endpaper facing printed first issue of Jerusalem News.
The Jerusalem News was founded by Elizabeth L. McQueen and William D. McCrackan in 1919 under the auspices of the Christian Science movement. It was the first daily in Jerusalem printed in English and was sold for one Piastre. Each issue contains information on subscriptions, including foreign countries, advertisement rates, listing the distributing and subscription agent Bouloas Y. Said, and includes a printed order form. The Jerusalem News was available at all bookstores in Jerusalem.
Being the first English language daily it is a one-leaf newsprint with masthead on front side and four columns of news on front and back side. The left column on front and back side for the most part offers news from the region, e.g. and article about the American Consul in Jerusalem, the examination of officers and officials in Arabic, crop reports, Arabic names, the American Red Cross in Jerusalem, etc. The two center columns are reserved for world news while the right front column contains local advertisements and announcements.
The left column on the verso is reserved for a mix of international as well as regional news with economical, cultural or historical subject matters. Column two contains Editorial on regional and international matters, including cultural themes, often followed by a short passage on a variety of themes. Column three starts with contributions headlined "Flashes of Light," containing brief, at times cynical or humorous notes on a variety of issues, followed by BUZZ BUZZ, a regular installation in the same vain. E.g. "Well, anyhow, one doesn't have to dodge to escape being hit by falling prices." The fourth Column four, with few exceptions, is reserved for local advertisements and the Jerusalem News impressum as well as rates for advertisements and subscriptions, incl. mentioned order form.
The first issue contains articles on the "Supreme Council's" decision on the breakup of the German submarine fleet, the relations between Egypt and the United States, a message from Otis A. Galzebrook, the American Consul in Jerusalem, and a printed congratulatory note on the publication of the first issue of Jerusalem News on the day of the taking of Jerusalem by Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby who let the British Empire's Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the conquest of Palestine.
The verso with a contribution on Armistice Day, General Gouraud's visit of Beyrout, Clemencau's stay in America, an editorial "The New Jerusalem,' and a few contributions usually found in the Feuilleton of larger publications. Almost all of the issues contain contributions headlined "Reuters Telegrams" with headline news from the US, England and various Middle East countries, e.g. the celebration of the taking of Jerusalem, the Syrian crisis, an interview with Theodore Roosevelt by an Jerusalem News reporter, the visit of the Prince of Wale, the Bulgarian Treaty, etc.
In addition the paper contains a smidge of what could be considered a Feuilleton in regular newspapers, and local events and advertisements. Some scuffing of leather of binding and block lightly age-toned. Very good condition. Item #55530
Price: $5,000.00