"DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN", Most Iconic Error in Newspaper History

A rare surviving edition of the "Chicago Daily Tribune", 26pp, 16.75" x 23.75", Chicago, November 3, 1948, bearing the rushed and incorrect headline, "DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN". Uniform toning; wear at center horizontal fold; closed tear extends to the middle of the front page; chipping at edges; tape repair to the bottom half. Fair to good condition, with no substantial paper loss.

"DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN" is the most famous newspaper error of all time, mistakenly declaring Harry S. Truman the loser of the 1948 presidential election. An early deadline compelled the editors of the “Chicago Daily Tribune” to go to press before the polls had closed in many states. Dewey won the electoral votes of the nation’s two largest states, New York (47) and Pennsylvania (35), both on the east coast. With incomplete data, the editors of the newspaper relied on their earlier polls, which predicted Dewey’s victory. The Tribune so quickly rushed its printing that some of the type on the second page is even printed upside down. Most of the issues were taken off the stands when the Tribune realized its error, and only 2,000 were estimated to have reached private hands.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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