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Formerly published by Benjamin Franklin...



Item # 564205

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August 31, 1769

THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, Philadelphia, August 31, 1769  This was the newspaper which was printed & published by Benjamin Franklin for most of its life, in fact his name appeared in the imprint through 1765.
The front page includes a letter from a committee of merchants in Philadelphia to the same in London, including: "...seems to afford little hopes of obtaining redress in a way that will put an end to the unhappy difference that has arisen between Great Britain and her American Colonies. We are told that the Act imposing duties on glass, paper, etc. is inexpedient...We are at a loss to know what behaviour the minister refers to, or who those are with whose behaviour he is disgusted. The Americans think that no people, who have any regard for liberty, could, in their circumstances, shew a more respectful behaviour...The Americans consider themselves as British subjects, entitled to all the rights & privileges of Freemen. They think there can be no Liberty without a security of property..." with much more, taking over a full column and with the signatures (in type) of 18 men (see). Terrific reading.
Page 2 has another letter from London to Boston, followed by a report which begins: "Monday last, being the 14th of August, the anniversary was celebrated by the Sons of Liberty. In the morning the British flag was displayed on Liberty Tree, under the shade of which at noon the true born Sons met..." (see).
This issue still has attached the single sheet "Postscript Extraordinary" broadside, with reports fro Europe including "Paoli's Speech", with much of the other content relating to Corsica and Paoli.
Complete in 6 pages, nice coat-of-arms engraving in the masthead, in great condition and a great example of not only a colonial newspaper, but one of the more famous (due to the Franklin connection) and successful of the era.

Category: The 1600's and 1700's