Skip to Main Content

Original or Reprint? A Guide to Noteworthy Newspaper Issues

Additional Resources

What is my newspaper worth?

Our reference staff does not authenticate or appraise library users' newspapers; this is the business of bookdealers and professional appraisers. The websites of the American Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America External and the American Society of Appraisers External provide directories. Local public and state libraries often provide current directories for local businesses, for example, the New York State Library has compiled this helpful list of Newspaper Appraisers, Collectors and Dealers External.

How can I preserve my newspapers?

Specialists in the Preservation Directorate at the Library of Congress have created a helpful guide: Preservation Measures for Newspapers. Also see How can I preserve an important edition of a newspaper? External from the National Archives, How do I preserve my newspaper? External from the Smithsonian Institution Archives, and this technical leaflet from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference: Preparing and Digitizing Brittle 19th- and 20th- Century Newspapers External.

Can I donate my newspaper to the Library of Congress?

Interest in donating items to the Library of Congress collections is greatly appreciated. Every offer is given careful consideration by Library staff in order to ensure that any item accepted into the collections can be properly cared for while meeting the needs of users. To best meet the needs of users, the Library selectively accepts materials that extend the breadth and depth of the collections.

For the items you wish to donate, please include the following information in the "More Detail/Explanation" section when filling out this "Ask a Librarian" form, and a staff member will be in touch regarding the decision and next steps.

  • newspaper title
  • date of the issue
  • condition of the issue
  • historical or significant event(s) featured in the newspaper, if any
  • contact information (full name, phone number, email, mailing address)

Selected Reference Works

The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog.

Online Resources about Reprinted Newspapers