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First mention of an American colony... Issue #3...



Item # 615054

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November 23, 1665

THE OXFORD GAZETTE, England, Nov. 23, 1665  This is an extremely famous--and rare--title, being the predecessor of the famous "London Gazette", the oldest continually published English language newspaper in the world. Plus this is the #3 issue, only the third to be published.
Because of the Plague at this time, the Royal Court had removed itself from London to Oxford when this newspaper began, so issues #1 thru #23 were published simultaneously in Oxford & London and when the contagion had subsided & the Court returned to London this newspaper went with it and renamed itself "The London Gazette" with issue #24, and the rest is history.
The content is entirely taken up with reports from various parts of Europe, most with a military theme. The front page includes a report noting: "...Last Saturday past by 20 sail of good ships from King Road, bound for Virginia, which, with those from Barnstable, Plymouth, and Ireland, will make near a hundred sail for the same place." This is the very first mention of an American colony in this famous title. Many more mentions would be made in further 17th century issues, but this is the very first.
The bottom of the back page also includes an account of the Great Plague for the week, noting: "The account of the Weekly Bill of Mortality at London runs thus. The total 505. Plague 652. Decreased 454."
Complete as a single sheet newspaper measuring 7 by 11 1/4 inches, a professional repair to a very small portion of the middle of the left side causes partial loss to one word on pg. 1 and 5 words on the back page. A few very small worm holes near the bottom, otherwise rather nice.

Category: The 1600's and 1700's