Topography of the Butterfield Express

We call attention to the fact that the typography of the BUTTERFIELD EXPRESS was very carefully done to simulate that of a newspaper of the nineteenth century. The heads. the cut-off rules (oxford rules), the single-column effect, the "fists," the various ornaments, the type-faces - all are chosen to be in keeping. (There was once a considerable argument among editors as to whether the two oxford rules at tope and bottom of the front-page dateline should be put in with the heavy part at the top in each case, or with the hairline part turned toward the dateline, the latter seem to have won.)

In reprinting items from early newspapers, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization are substantially followed. (Strangely enough, those persons who profess an allergy to commas because "they merely clutter up the text" will find that the excess commas in the last century's writing do not seem to contribute confusion.)

By-lines in the 1850's were almost non-existent; in 1853 a novel was running in Harper's without a by-line, and Charles Dickens, for "Bleak House," and W. M. Thackeray, for "The Newcomes," rated only six-point by-lines. A few by-lines appeared in newspapers in the 1880's or perhaps earlier, but they did not come into general use until after World War I (the 1920's).

Occasionally in Harpers's fortunate author was allowed to sign his article or story. To stay in keeping, then, the BUTTERFIELD EXPRESS articles will be signed by the authors.

[Note: Throughout the nineteenth century, newspapers still kept in mind their function as town crier, and it was common to print an item and request other papers to copy. This was especially true through California, because many times nothing was known about a man except his home town or that he came from a region - New England, say. Therefore, the newspaper took this method of notifying the relatives. This item appeared in the second issues of the San Diego Herald, June 5, 1851. -ED.]:

© All Rights Reserved.