Harris Broadsides

Broadsides are single-sheet publications, often issued as ephemera or announcements. The Harris Broadsides Collection is a comprehensive collection of American poetry published in broadside format from colonial times to the present. The collection offers materials covering a broad spectrum of American life, and includes poetry of every description: 18th and 19th century ballads, verse describing newsworthy events, poetic effusions of sentimentality and patriotism, comic verse, and much more. When completed, this digital project will include over 20,000 titles.
This collection is part of Brown University Library, hosted by Brown University.

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Items in this collection

The owl & the snake: a fable

Metamorphic fold changes broadside appearance to show title, text and imprint only Wheat-colored paper printed in brown, black, green and maroon "There are seventy-three copies --- with forty copies for sale. The printing of the text (Palatino on Hosho) ... The drawing is by Ellen Lanyon." William Rutter was listed at above address from 1829 to 1834

The owl

The owl

Brown University

translated by Jerome Rothenberg and Richard J. John. Broadsheet printed in black and brown on brown paper. Individual letters forming shape of an owl enclose verse. On verso: The owl -- translation from traditional Seneca poetry... Publication date supplied by dealer.

The outlaw

The outlaw

Brown University

Within border of type ornaments.

The outcome

The outcome

Brown University

Printed in red and black on heavy paper in two columns divided by line of type ornament sections within border of type ornament sections; rubricated initial Poem in ten four-line stanzas On verso ms signature, "Frances E. Coates" and bookplate of Walter Coates; author autographed

The ould bathered rooshter I wore on me hat

At head of title cut of clothed rooster with drooping head. Poem in five eight-line stanzas. Suggested date because speaker voted for "Grover" last fall and "Grover" won; Grover Cleveland won in 1884 and 1892, so 1885 is another possible date.

The operation

The operation

Brown University

By the Casus Belli. Poem on pp. [2,3] Page [4] blank.

The only way out: poem

The only way out: poem

Brown University

by Cinda Wormley. Printed in red on heavy gray paper in postcard format. Poem in two lines. "J Stone Press Weekly, April, 75."

The only Billy Sunday

The only Billy Sunday

Brown University

Single line border on three sides. At head of text: (With apologies to James Whitcomb Riley and his "little Orphant Annie")

The onion

The onion

Brown University

Printed in two columns with headband containing title. At head of text: Dedicated to Mr. Joe Lynch. At end of text: Willie Penmore.

The one-arm soldier

The one-arm soldier

Brown University

Within double line border. There was fighting at Winchester, Va. in 1862, 1863 and 1864.