Fantastic piece of Confederate history here!  This is an original copy of the January, 1863 edition of The Southern Literary Messenger.  It is complete and 65 pages in length.  This is in good to very good condition, though as you can see in the scan, there is much wear and some fraying of pages.  If you read it, you will want to do so with care. That said, 99% of these original Confederate magazines are in much worse condition...often missing covers and entire sections. It is bound with string and the binding, though weak, is original.

 

The "Messenger" began publication in 1834 and ceased publication in 1864.  It's purpose was to highlight literary, scientific and artistic accomplishments in the South. Wardated copies are extremely hard to find.  One of the staff writers in the 1830's was none other than Edgar Allan Poe, legendary American poet. Some of Poe's most controversial work was first published in The Messenger! In the 1840's, famed oceanographer and Naval officer Matthew Fontaine Maury because editor in chief...further proof of Maury's extensive intellect. Maury later became a devoted Confederate Naval officer.

 

The very first article in this issue is "History of the War".

 

 

 

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