This December 14, 1872, issue of Harpers Weekly is headlined by a massive, dramatic multi-panel supplement documenting the aftermath of the Great Boston Fire of 1872, providing a rare, comprehensive visual report of the destruction that leveled 65 acres of downtown Boston.

​Title: 1872 Boston Fire Panoramic Print Harpers Weekly Dec 14 Supplement


​📜 ABOUT THIS PIECE OF HISTORY 📜
​📜 The Panoramic Aftermath of the Great Fire: Included with this issue is the Supplement, featuring a massive, multi-panel engraved view of Boston following the Great Fire of 1872. This panaroma is a stark visual report of the citys worst fire in history. In the foreground, steamboats hose down the charred wharves, while behind them, the burnt downtown district stretches out as a mass of charred remains and rubble. The print also shows the recently leveled Fort Hill neighborhood, illustrating how such breaks in the landscape attempted, but failed, to stop the inferno.
​📜 Reconstruction Era Sketches: The main 16-page issue includes charming vignettes of daily life, such as "Seeing the Circus Pass—A Va. Sketch" by Sol Eytinge, depicting African American children watching a parade, and "The American Common School," a full-page illustration of a 19th-century classroom.
​🌟 FEATURED HIGHLIGHTS 🌟
​🔥 "Boston After the Great Fire of 1872" (Supplement Centerfold):
​A detailed multi-panel view documenting the devastation of 65 acres of downtown Boston.
​A key document for Urban History and Fire Department collectors.
​Shows the burnt district, wharves, and steamboats in the harbor.
​🎪 "Seeing the Circus Pass—A Va. Sketch" (Half-Page):
​By renowned illustrator Sol Eytinge.
​A rare, empathetic genre scene focusing on African American childhood in 1870s Virginia.
​🏫 "The American Common School" (Full-Page):
​A detailed depiction of a 19th-century classroom, highlighting the eras focus on universal education.
​🔍 CONDITION & TRANSPARENCY 🔍
​Completeness: This is the complete 16-page issue plus the Supplement.
​Condition Study: I take pictures of the entire sheet so you can study the condition. The main issue is in good condition; the supplement print is in good condition with original folds as issued, showing some wear to the left edge.
​🥂 WHY IT IS A MUST-HAVE 🥂
​Boston History Buffs: The supplement provides a comprehensive, dramatic visual record of the post-fire landscape.
​Fire Department Historians: A crucial primary source for studying 19th-century urban firefighting and fire damage.
​Reconstruction Historians: The "Virginia Sketch" is a rare, positive primary source documenting daily life and childhood in the post-war South.
​Custom Framing: I offer professional framing for any item in my shop. The Boston Fire supplement would make a museum-quality historical focal point!
​📦 SHIPPING & PRESERVATION 📦
​Safe Storage: Housed in an acid-free archival folder with a Mylar overlay to protect the 154-year-old newsprint.
​Flat Shipping: Shipped with heavy-duty reinforcement to ensure the issue and its supplement arrive safely.
​Tracked: All orders include tracking for your peace of mind.
​🏷️ TAGS (SEO) 🏷️
​1872 Harpers Weekly, Great Boston Fire 1872 Supplement, Panoramic Print Boston Aftermath, Fire Department History 1872, Seeing the Circus Pass Virginia Sketch, Sol Eytinge African American Art, December 14 1872.
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