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The World
The World, Vol. XXIII, No. 7,934
New York: The World, May 11, 1883
World Papers, Box 10
This is a copy of the first edition of the World to be published under the ownership of Joseph Pulitzer. It was included with the materials placed in the cornerstone box, used throughout this exhibition. It contains his first editorial in which he wrote “There is room in this great and growing city for a journal that is not only cheap but bright, not only bright by large, not only large but truly Democratic—dedicated to the cause of the people rather than that of purse-potentates—devoted more to the news of the New than the Old World—that will expose all fraud and sham, fight all public evils and abuses—that will serve and battle for the people with earnest sincerity.” This would be his clarion call throughout his life.
Gift of Joseph Pulitzer, Jr.
The World
The World, clipping, Masthead 1889
New York: The World, [1889]
World Papers, Box 10
Also from the World Building cornerstone materials, this clipping shows the World’s masthead depicting Liberty between the two world hemispheres. The old masthead had featured the hemispheres with a wooden common printing press in the center. Pulitzer replaced the press with the figure of Liberty, her hand holding the torch aloft, two weeks after taking over the newspaper in 1883, and over three years before the Bartholdi statue was erected in New York harbor. Pulitzer had seen her head on exhibit at the Paris Exposition in 1878, and ever since then, had provided editorial support for the project.
Gift of Joseph Pulitzer, Jr.
The World
Phenomenal Success and the Figures to Prove It
[New York, March 1885]
World Papers, Box 8
Gift of Joseph Pulitzer, Jr.
The World
Earnings For the Week ending May 26th 1888
New York, May, 1888
World Papers, Box 10
Gift of Joseph Pulitzer, Jr.
George W. Olney
Autograph letter, signed, to Joseph Pulitzer
New York, November 1, 1883
World Papers, Box 7
In this letter, the former editor of The World Almanac wrote to Pulitzer suggesting that the reference work be revived, writing: “The work was published primarily as an advertisement of the paper. As it was a reference book of political figures it had a permanent value as an advertisement wherever used during the current year of its publication… The cost was, I think, fully covered by the full page advertisements, which brought in from $100 to $250 (cover) per page.” Pulitzer was to revive the work in 1886.
Gift of Joseph Pulitzer, Jr.
The World
The World 1889 Almanac
New York: The World, [1888]
World Papers, Box 10
The World Almanac had been published prior to Pulitzer’s ownership of the newspaper but had died. He revived it in 1886, but was not happy with the first editions, writing “That it has not received the measure of my own concept is perhaps because I had not time enough at my disposal to do all I had planned.” This copy of the 1889 edition was included in the World building cornerstone box. As described in The World, Its History & Its New Home, “To peruse The World Almanac is a liberal education. It is a condensed encyclopaedia brought up to date.”
Gift of Joseph Pulitzer, Jr.
The back cover of the 1889 World Almanac featured an advertisement for R. Hoe & Co., manufacturer of the great presses that printed the World newspaper as well as The World Almanac. The papers of R. Hoe & Co. are also held by the Rare Book & Manuscript Library and can be accessed through http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/archival/collections/ldpd_4078901/