Historic Newspapers: Founding Fathers (U.S.)
The following newspapers include articles with content related to: George Washington, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Hancock, Patrick Henry, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, George Mason, Thomas Paine, Paul Revere, and Benjamin Rush.
You may also want to consider doing a search for the following who have not been included within these listings:
Josiah Bartlett, Carter Braxton, John Calhoun, Charles Carroll, Samuel Chase, Abraham Clark, Henry Clay, George Clymer, John Dickinson, William Ellery, William Floyd, and Elbridge Gerry
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, Benjamin Harrison, John Hart, Joseph Hewes, Thomas Heyward, William Hooper, Stephen Hopkins, Francis Hopkinson, Samuel Huntington, and Andrew Jackson
Francis Lightfoot Lee, Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lewis, Philip Livingston, Thomas Lynch, Thomas McKean, Arthur Middleton, Lewis Morris, Robert Morris, John Morton, and Thomas Nelson
William Paca, John Penn, William Penn, Thomas Stone, Robert Treat Paine, George Read, Caesar Rodney, George Ross, Edward Rutledge, Roger Sherman, and Richard Stockton
Adam Smith, James Smith, George Taylor, Matthew Thornton, George Walton, Daniel Webster, William Whipple, William Williams, James Wilson, John Witherspoon, Oliver Wolcott, and George Wythe
If you believe we have a significant omission, please contact us with their name at: guy@rarenewspapers.com
You may also want to consider doing a search for the following who have not been included within these listings:
Josiah Bartlett, Carter Braxton, John Calhoun, Charles Carroll, Samuel Chase, Abraham Clark, Henry Clay, George Clymer, John Dickinson, William Ellery, William Floyd, and Elbridge Gerry
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, Benjamin Harrison, John Hart, Joseph Hewes, Thomas Heyward, William Hooper, Stephen Hopkins, Francis Hopkinson, Samuel Huntington, and Andrew Jackson
Francis Lightfoot Lee, Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lewis, Philip Livingston, Thomas Lynch, Thomas McKean, Arthur Middleton, Lewis Morris, Robert Morris, John Morton, and Thomas Nelson
William Paca, John Penn, William Penn, Thomas Stone, Robert Treat Paine, George Read, Caesar Rodney, George Ross, Edward Rutledge, Roger Sherman, and Richard Stockton
Adam Smith, James Smith, George Taylor, Matthew Thornton, George Walton, Daniel Webster, William Whipple, William Williams, James Wilson, John Witherspoon, Oliver Wolcott, and George Wythe
If you believe we have a significant omission, please contact us with their name at: guy@rarenewspapers.com
Found 790 Results
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Item #702283THE AMERICAN MAGAZINE, Boston, May, 1745
* Very rare & early colonial magazine
* Great Boston masthead engraving
This is a very rare title, actually the first successful magazine in American history done in the traditional magazine format (Christian History preceded this by several years but was exclusively a chronicle of... Read full description -
Item #710911THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, January, 1750 Although there is much interesting content in this issue, perhaps the best is an article: "By a Number of Experiments lately made in Philadelphia, Several of the Principal Properties of the Electrical Fire were Demonstrated...".
The fact that this article was by Franklin & about... Read full description -
Item #701438THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, July, 1752
* Benjamin Franklin
* Electricity experiments
* Lightning rod
An inside page has an extremely significant article titled: "A Cut and Description of a Machine, easily Constructed, for Making the Experiment by which Franklin's new Theory of Thunder is... Read full description -
Item #703537THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, Philadelphia, July 19, 1753
* Most famous of newspapers
* Benjamin Franklin (very rare)
In the imprint at the bottom of the back page is the much desired Benjamin Franklin imprint, noted as: "Printed By B. FRANKLIN, Post-Master, and D. HALL at the New Printing Office, near the Market". Franklin would later... Read full description -
Item #703480THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, Philadelphia, Oct. 4, 1753
* The iconic Benjamin Franklin newspaper
A quite early colonial newspaper published by none other than Benjamin Franklin, although the "advertising leaf" which appeared with this issue, and upon which was the imprint of "B. Franklin", is not here as it was typically not... Read full description -
Item #716371THE SCOTS MAGAZINE, (Edinburgh), June, 1754 Inside has two pages taken up with reports taken: "...from the journal of Major George Washington, sent by the Governor of Virginia, to the commandant of the French forces on the river Ohio...".
This is a great account of Washington's exploits near the Ohio River.
Some snippets... Read full description -
Item #713621THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, February, 1755 Among the articles are: "Secret of the Fire-eating Art" "An Account of some New Experiments on Human Blood" "Life of a Modern Physician" "A Letter from R. Brook, M.D. in Maryland..." concerning Fahrenheit's thermometer; "New Improvement of the... Read full description -
Item #694150THE MARYLAND GAZETTE, Annapolis, March 13, 1755
* Very rare & early American publication
A very scarce and early newspaper from the early period of the French & Indian War. Rarely are we able to offer Maryland newspapers from such an early year.
Page 2 has a report from Halifax, Nova Scotia, that:... Read full description -
Item #710763THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, Philadelphia, Feb. 12, 1756
* Rare Benjamin Franklin publication
* Early Colonel George Washington
* French and Indian War officer
A fine Ben Franklin issue from the French & Indian War period, which includes what we believe is the earliest mention... Read full description -
Item #703482THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, Philadelphia, Jan. 27, 1757 A quite early colonial newspaper published by none other than Benjamin Franklin, although the "advertising leaf" which appeared with this issue, and upon which was the imprint of "B. Franklin", is not here as it was typically not bound with the issue since it carried only... Read full description -
Item #645683GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, May, 1757
* Early Major George Washington
* Jewish colony in the East Indies
The first 2 1/2 pages have reports from the French & Indian War in America, including five letters written by General Braddock datelined Williamsburgh and Alexandria. In the introductory... Read full description -
Item #694196THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, Dec. 29, 1757 Fully half of page 4 is taken up with a fine letter regarding the on-going French & Indian War. It begins: "The preservation of our Colonies and preventing the French from making any encroachments was the cause and design of the present war. But we have yet been so far from... Read full description -
Item #697976THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, September 4, 1759
* "Political Aphorisms...", by Benjamin Franklin (?)
The first and a portion of the second column on page 7 has "Political Aphorisms concerning Population", signed "F", which has recently been attributed to Ben Franklin (see Swann Auctions for more information).
Another London... Read full description -
Item #715671THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, April, 1768
* Ben Franklin letter regarding the poor
* Engraving of Pascal Paoli of Corsica
Taking nearly two pages (156-157) is a letter: "Hardheartedness to the Poor Considered" which was written by Ben Franklin specifically for this publication. As... Read full description -
Item #713644THE PENNSYLVANIA CHRONICLE & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, Sept. 26, 1768
* Pre Revolutionary War tensions
This newspaper was a primary means of voicing the anti-British sentiment that was rapidly spreading throughout the colonies prior to the American Revolution. The paper gained much notoriety when... Read full description -
Item #696050THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, Feb. 4, 1769
* One year prior to the "Boston Massacre"
* Pre American Revolutionary War tensions
Page 2 has an interesting report: "It is whispered, that some letters of great importance and bad tendency, which were written in the spring to the friends of a certain Patriot... Read full description -
Item #687381THE PENNSYLVANIA CHRONICLE & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, March 6, 1769
* Early Yankee Doodle song mention
* Importation - exportation tensions
The front page has an interesting article about: "...George being now master of the ceremonies made the music play just as he pleased; and one night...he swore he would exhibit to the company a... Read full description -
Events in Charlestown, SC - pre-Battle of Alamance...
Item #567722THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, June, 1771 Near the back is a full page headed "American Affairs" which includes: "Charles-Town, May 8. The General Assembly of the province of Georgia, met at Savannah on the 23d past. On the 24th the new elected Commons House of Assembly unanimously re-chose the Hon. Noble Wimberly Jones, Esq; for... Read full description -
Item #667871THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE London, September, 1773
* Phillis Wheatley poem & biography
* Famous Woman servant turned poet
Near the back is a printing of a poem titled: "On Recollection" which was written by the famed black poetess Phillis Wheatley. This piece also includes a brief biography of her.
Phillis Wheatley was the first... Read full description -
Item #711660ROYAL AMERICAN MAGAZINE, Boston, July, 1774
* Exceedingly rare periodical just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War
* Masthead engraving by Paul Revere with outer wrappers (rare)
The quite famous and extremely rare magazine published by Isaiah Thomas. This is the first of the title we have offered... Read full description -
Item #719725THE MASSACHUSETTS SPY, Or Thomas's Boston Journal, October 27, 1774
* Extremely rare publication w/ Paul Revere
* Pre American Revolutionary War era
* "Join or Die" snake issue masthead
It would be difficult to properly place both the scarcity and desirability of... Read full description -
Item #716892THE PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE, Philadelphia, February, 1775
* Pre American Revolutionary War
* Thomas Paine - first time as editor
This is a very rare magazine, published only from January, 1775 thru July, 1776, containing the Declaration of Independence in its final issue.
It was the only American magazine to print the... Read full description -
Item #715524THE CRISIS, London, March 11, 1775 In our over 50 years of dealing in rare newspapers, we have only once had the great fortune to encounter issues of this very rare title. Although we had sold all years ago, this one has come back to us.
This extraordinary paper is one of the most bitter political sheets to be found, issued in London both in... Read full description -
Item #724559THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE (with Supplement), Williamsburg, Mar. 17, 1775
* Very rare Colonial Virginia publication
* Election of Patrick Henry
This newspaper was published by Alexander Purdie, a distinction to be made since there were three newspapers of this title printed in Williamsburg during the early period... Read full description -
Item #705418THE PENNSYLVANIA JOURNAL; AND THE WEEKLY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, April 5, 1775
* Benjamin Franklin's "Unite Or Die" cartoon
If there was one graphic that represented the spirit of the Revolutionary War, it would have to be the ubiquitous segmented snake with the famous "Unite Or Die" caption. The engraving, a... Read full description -
Item #701395PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, May 11, 1775
* The Battles of Lexington and Concord
* Start of American Revolutionary War
This is a gem of an issue, as it is what all serious collectors seek for their Revolutionary War collection: an American newspaper with a terrific report on the famous battles at Lexington and Concord.
This page 3... Read full description -
Item #697032THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, June 27, 1775
* Battle of Bunker Hill - Charlestown
* Siege of Boston, Massachusetts
* George Washington named commander
* American Revolutionary War
Almost the entire front page is taken up with a terrific and vitriolic attack on General Gage concerning his actions at... Read full description -
Item #687295THE CONNECTICUT JOURNAL & THE NEW HAVEN POST-BOY, July 5, 1775
* Battle of Bunker Hill - Charlestown
* Siege of Boston, Massachusetts
* George Washington named commander
* American Revolutionary War
* Terrific issue w/ many reports
Nice engraving in the masthead of a post boy on horseback.
... Read full description -
Item #700583THE PROVIDENCE GAZETTE & COUNTRY JOURNAL, Rhode Island, July 29, 1775 In the world of American Revolutionary literature and manuscripts three bodies of work stand out: 1) Thomas Paine's Common Sense; 2) the Declaration of Independence; and 3) the earliest of the Revolutionary trinity: The Causes and Necessity of... Read full description -
Item #702529THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, August, 1775
* Causes & Necessities for Taking Up Arms
* American Revolutionary War beginning
Taking 3 1/2 pages is "A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies of North America, now met in General Congress at Philadelphia, setting forth the Causes and... Read full description -
Item #726699THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, England, September, 1775
* Battle of Bunker Hill diagram - print
* John Hancock & George Washington
A nice issue with much historic content from the beginning months of the Revolutionary War.
Perhaps the best content is the very nice half page illustration of the "Redoubt & Intrenchment on the Heights of Charles... Read full description -
Lexington & Concord content...
Item #718011THE NEW ENGLAND CHRONICLE OR THE ESSEX GAZETTE, Cambridge, Sept. 7, 1775
* Lexington & Concord report
* John Hancock type signature
* The Conciliatory Resolution
A very historic issue as the front page contains not only the full text of the Conciliatory Resolution by Parliament, but the Continental Congress' lengthy response to it, signed in type... Read full description -
Item #687286THE NEW-ENGLAND CHRONICLE, OR THE ESSEX GAZETTE Cambridge, Sept. 21, 1775
* American Revolutionary War
This title has a rather short lifespan in Cambridge existing from just May 12, 1775 thru April 4, 1776, less than a year. After the latter date the newspaper was removed to Boston.
The front page begins with a strong appeal by the City of London to the... Read full description -
Item #677956GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, October, 1775
* Early events of the Revolutionary War
* Early map of the Boston, Massachusetts area
The first several pages contain a nice account of Parliamentary discussion concerning the troubles in America, a portion including: "...the rebellious war now... Read full description -
Item #720649THE LONDON MAGAZINE, England October, 1775
* Conciliatory plan with the American colonies
* Continental Congress rejects the offer
* Prelude to the American Revolutionary War
Over 2 pages area taken up with the document--signed in type by John Hancock--in which the Continental Congress... Read full description -
Item #687318STORY & HUMPHREYS'S PENNSYLVANIA MERCURY & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, October 6, 1775
* Battle of Bunker Hill
* Revolutionary War
* Very rare publication
Certainly one of the more scarce titles from during the Revolutionary War. This is the volume 1 number 27 issue of a newspaper... Read full description -
Item #687211THE CONNECTICUT JOURNAL, New Haven, Oct. 18, 1775
* General George Washington
* Named Commander-in-Chief
* Continental Army - British reaction
The front page begins with a nice item from London concerning George Washington: "General Washington, who was lately appointed Generalissimo over the Provincials, has... Read full description -
Item #704399THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Jan. 25, 1776
* The "dishonest malevolence" controversy
* Thomas Paine "Common Sense" & Robert Bell
* Great year to have (1776) Revolutionary War
As a bit of a back story, printer Robert Bell ran an advertisement taking most of a column in the... Read full description -
Item #723820THE ESSEX JOURNAL & NEW HAMPSHIRE PACKET, Newburyport, Massachusetts, Feb. 9, 1776
* Paul Revere masthead engraving
* American Revolutionary War
* Great year to have (1776)
There were but a few masthead engravings of the 18th century which were created by Paul Revere. The "Massachusetts Spy" is perhaps the most famous,... Read full description -
Item #715583THE ESSEX JOURNAL & NEW HAMPSHIRE PACKET, Newburyport, Massachusetts, March 1, 1776 There were but a few masthead engravings of the 18th century which were created by Paul Revere. The "Massachusetts Spy" is perhaps the most famous, plus there is the engraving in the "Boston Gazette" as well, with these two newspapers being among... Read full description -
Item #715770THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, March 9, 1776
* Rare Revolutionary War era title
* Tory issue from Pennsylvania
* Great year to have (1776)
This was a decidedly Tory newspaper, supportive of the British efforts in America. This newspaper ended publication in June, 1778 when the British evacuated the city.
Over half of the... Read full description -
Item #687419THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, March 30, 1776
* Rare Revolutionary War era title
* Tory issue from Pennsylvania
* Great year to have (1776)
This was a decidedly Tory newspaper, supportive of the British efforts in America. This newspaper ended publication in June, 1778... Read full description -
Item #704673THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, March 30, 1776
* American Revolutionary War
* Great year to have (1776)
* Benjamin Franklin song
The front page begins with a wonderful letter beginning; "The Ministry have boasted much of their regular, their disciplined troops,... Read full description -
Item #700574NEW-ENGLAND CHRONICLE: OR THE ESSEX GAZETTE, April 4, 1776
* Ethan Allen as a prisoner
* General George Washington
* American Revolutionary War
* Great year to have (1776)
A wealth of fine content in this issue from this desirable year.
Page 2 has a wonderful address from the... Read full description -
Less than 100 days prior to the Declaration...
Item #704788THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, April 23, 1776 Most of the first column on the front page is taken up with reports of ships trading in the Caribbean & related news. Also on the front page is: "The French appear exceedingly friendly to the American cause which they would have promoted by a much larger supply of arms &... Read full description -
John Hancock signature... A few weeks prior to his most famous...
Item #703276THE AMERICAN GAZETTE; OR THE CONSTITUTIONAL JOURNAL, Salem, Massachusetts, June 25, 1776
* Very rare Revolutionary War publication
* Volume 1 Number 2 issue - great year to have
This is the volume one, number two issue of a very rare newspaper. Its rarity would seem to be sufficient for its desirability, as it existed for... Read full description -
Item #716801THE WESTMINSTER MAGAZINE, London, July, 1776 Certainly a very uncommon title from the 18th century, formatted much like the more common 'Gentleman's Magazine" or the era.
An inside page has a great document headed: "American United Colonies, In Congress, May 15, 1776" which is a statement concerning the lack of... Read full description -
Item #719174THE CONNECTICUT JOURNAL, New Haven, July 24, 1776 A great issue from less than 3 weeks after the Declaration of Independence was endorsed by Congress. Relating to this, page 2 has a report from New York: "Thursday last the Declaration of the INDEPENDENCY of the United States of AMERICA, was... Read full description -
Item #687396THE UNIVERSAL MAGAZINE, London, England, August, 1776
* Original Declaration of Independence... the complete text
* As reported from Great Britain
It would be difficult to argue for a more important document in American history than the Declaration of Independence. It remains a desire of most collectors to find issues containing reference... Read full description -
Item #715771THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, Nov. 30, 1776
* Rare Revolutionary War era title
* Tory issue from Pennsylvania
* Great year to have (1776)
(editor's copy) This was a decidedly Tory newspaper, supportive of the British efforts in America. This newspaper ended publication in June, 1778 when the British... Read full description
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P.O. Box 3636
Williamsport, PA 17701
Phone: 1-570-326-1045
E-mail: info@rarenewspapers.com
Hours
Weekdays, 7:30 - 4 (ET)
Full Contact Information
