Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper

Q: My mother would like to know what her bound volume of “Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper” is worth. The spine is marked “Vol. 1,” and the book includes issues dated from Dec. 15, 1855, to May 31, 1856. The newspaper pages are large, about 12 by 16 inches.

A: Bound volumes of Frank Leslie’s illustrated weekly, the first one published in the United States, often show up at shows and can be found for sale online. Leslie (1821-1880) was born in England and immigrated to the United States in 1848. He was an engraver and illustrator before he became a publisher, and his many publications are wanted by collectors not only for their historical value, but also for their wood engravings and early photographs. The price your volume could sell for depends on condition of the binding and of the newspapers themselves. We have seen early volumes sell for $50 to $200.