The digitized content of the IHLC Collection of New York Herald Facsimiles consists of eighteen commemorative facsimile advertisements promoting companies and products for purchase. These advertisements are printed on the interior pages of facsimile copies of various editions of The New York Herald from April 15, 1865, announcing President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.

The New York Herald was a New York City based newspaper, printed from 1835 to 1924. The use of commemorative newspaper reproductions as advertisements began around the United States centennial in 1876 and continued until roughly 1908. To attract potential customers, companies would print their advertisements on reproductions of newspapers from notable days in American History. The reproduction of The New York Herald from the day of Lincoln’s assassination to create facsimile advertisements was relatively common, as at least 32 facsimile versions of this paper have been identified. These reproductions have frequently been misidentified for original New York Herald editions announcing Lincoln’s assassination.

The digitized content contains eighteen commemorative facsimile advertisements for consumer products printed on reproductions of The New York Herald from April 15, 1865. Some of the most frequent advertisers include Grain-O-Coffee, Kitchel’s Liniment, and MA-LE-NA liver pills.

The Illinois History and Lincoln Collections unit at the University of Illinois Library manages the physical items of the IHLC Collection of New York Herald Facsimiles (MS 216). The collection was completely digitized in 2025. For more information, contact an archivist at ihlc@library.illinois.edu.