Thomas Paine on War, Truth Seeker cover, December 1914

What it is

This is the front page of the Truth Seeker, Vol. 41, No. 51, dated New York, December 19, 1914. The headline reads 'Thomas Paine on War' and is credited to W. M. Van der Weyde. A portrait of Thomas Paine appears in the centre column. The cover celebrates the magazine's century and a half of support for the American revolutionary. The publisher, Roderick Bradford, gave permission for the image to be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons.

Why it matters

The headline shows that the paper chose to present Paine's views on war to its readers in 1914, the year the First World War began in Europe. Paine wrote about war and peace in his own time, so an editor could draw on his opinions to speak to a new conflict. The cover shows that later writers used Paine's name to support their own arguments. It is a secondary source, made long after Paine's death, so it reflects the views of its editors as much as his.

Look closer

• Why might an editor in December 1914 choose to publish an article on Paine's views about war?
• What does the headline claim about Paine, and what evidence would a reader need to check it?
• Whose voice is heard on this cover, Paine's or the newspaper's, and how can you tell?