Historic Newspapers: American

THOMAS'S MASSACHUSETTS SPY OR WORCESTER GAZETTE, Nov. 25, 1795

• 18th century American publication

Published by Isaiah Thomas, perhaps the most famous printer of the 18th century, and whose collection

GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES & PHILADELPHIA DAILY ADVERTISER, March 7, 1798

• Uncommon 18th century American publication

The capital of the United States was in Philadelphia at this time while the

THE INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE AND THE UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Boston, Dec. 6, 1781

• American Revolutionary War
• Post Surrender of Cornwallis
• Loyalist James Rivington

The masthead features an engraving taken

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Aug. 4, 1790

• President George Washington
• Act of Congress script signed
• Tonnage Act of 1790 - shipping

Almost a full column is taken up with an Act of Congress, headed with

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Aug. 29, 1798  Most of the front page is taken up with  3 Acts of Congress, one for: "...the relief of sick and disabled seamen.", each signed in script type by the

THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET OR THE GENERAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, May 2, 1782

• American Revolutionary War

The front page begins with a lengthy report headed: "Office of Finance" signed by: Robert

THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET, Philadelphia, Nov. 20, 1779

• Ethan Allen captivity
• Revolutionary War original

Most of the front page is taken up with an Act of the Pennsylvania Legislature, prefaced with a

THE INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE & THE UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Boston, Jan. 25, 1781

• Two John Hancock signatures
• Richard Langdon signature (President of Harvard)

A very handsome issue as the masthead features

THE 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

THE CONNECTICUT JOURNAL, New Haven, October 11, 1781

• American Revolutionary War original
• American Issac Hayne's execution - hanging

Most of the front page is taken up with various correspondences

THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, August 17, 1776

• Post Declaration of Independence
• American Revolutionary War

This exceptional, content-rich issue was published just weeks after the signing of

THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Feb. 29, 1776

• General Benedict Arnold
• American Revolutionary War
• Great year to have (1776)

This remarkably historic Revolutionary War issue contains a

THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, Feb. 24, 1776

• Governor John Penn
• American Revolutionary War
• Great year to have (1776)

The front page has half a column taken up with 2 desertion reward ads, with

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Nov 21, 1795  The back page begins with a poem titled: "Negro's Prayer".  This poem a remarkable anti-slavery poem that purported to have been written by an enslaved

GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Aug. 7, 11, 14, and 28, 1790 (a 4-issue set)

• United States Funding Act of 1790
• President George Washington signs
• Also John Adams & Thomas Jefferson

The 4-issue

THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, April 20, 1776

• re. the upcoming Declaration of Independence
• Founding father Thomas Paine's "Common Sense"
• American Revolutionary War - great year to have

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Nov. 14, 1792

• President George Washington
• State of the Union Address

Taking over half of the front page and concluding on page two where it is signed in script type: G.

THE CONNECTICUT COURANT, Hartford, Dec. 14, 1795

• President George Washington
• State of the Union Address

Page 3 include the historic annual state-of-the-union address of President George Washington to

THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE, Boston, December, 1790

• President George Washington
• 2nd State of the Union Address

Certainly the most notable content is the 1 1/2 pages taken up with: "President

THE INDEPENDENT GAZETTEER; OR THE CHRONICLE OF FREEDOM, Philadelphia, May 26, 1787

• Constitutional Convention begins
• George Washington elected president

An exceedingly historic issue as this newspaper

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Dec. 7, 1791

• French Revolution
• Constitution of France

A very notable issue on the French Revolution as the front page begins with: "The French Constitution, Revised,

THE CHRISTIAN HISTORY, Boston, May 5, 1744

• Rare colonial periodical

This was the first successful magazine in America although formatted unlike typical magazines. It was exclusively a chronicle of

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, March 31, 1798

• Daniel Hewes's Umbrella Manufacturer advertisement

The back page has an advertisement for the: "Boston Umbrella Manufactury" by Daniel Hewes. (see

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Oct. 24, 1798

• The XYZ Affair - France relations
• John Adams & Thomas Jefferson
• Battle if the Nile (Napoleon/Nelson)

The front page has an address: "To John Adams, President

INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Boston, June 18, 1798

• Nice masthead engraving
• 18th century America

If you are looking for a handsome American newspaper of the 1700's which is

THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE OR MONTHLY MUSEUM, Boston, May, 1789

• President George Washington
• Inauguration - inaugural address
• A detailed eyewitness account
• In a American publication (rare)

Rarely are we

THOMAS'S MASSACHUSETTS SPY OR WORCESTER GAZETTE, Oct. 30, 1799  Page 2 has an item noting the France has assured the President that the American envoys will be received to negotiate issues with the

GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Aug. 7, 1790  Taking about a full page of text, including almost all of page 2 is: "An Act making Provision for the Debt of the United States" which is signed

THE 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

THE INDEPENDENT LEDGER & THE AMERICAN ADVERTISER, Boston, Nov. 24, 1783

"One Inflamed Enlightened Heart" patriotic masthead

A very nice feature of this issue is the masthead engraving which features

THE MASSACHUSETTS CENTINEL, Boston, Jan. 14, 1789   A great issue from this formative year for the federal government, with much of the content discussing the new Constitution, etc.
The front page

NEW-ENGLAND CHRONICLE OR THE ESSEX GAZETTE, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Dec. 14, 1775  A very historic issue as the first column of the front page has the: "Articles of Capitulation" for the capture

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Dec. 4, 1793

• Citizen Genet Affair
• Edmond Charles Genet

The front page contains nearly a full column headed: "Official Communications" which has two letters signed by

THE 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

THE NEW WORLD, Philadelphia, Jan. 16, 1797

• Rare 18th century publication
• President George Washington

A scarce title, and until a recent find, the very first we have offered in our (soon to be) 50

THE CONNECTICUT JOURNAL, New Haven, July 24, 1776

• News of the Declaration of Independence spreads
• Battle of Sullivan's Island - General Charles Lee
• American Revolutionary War - great year to have

A

THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, Oct. 21, 1775

• Ethan Allen captured
• American Revolutionary War

The front page includes a letter: "To the King" which references the American situation &

THE NEW JERSEY GAZETTE, Trenton, April 29, 1778

• The Articles of Confederation (historic)
• American Revolutionary War

This was the very first newspaper in New Jersey, having begun in December, 1777.

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston Sept. 22, 1798

• General - President George Washington

Page 3 has under "Pennsylvania": "A meeting of the deluded citizens of Kentucky, at Lexington...to the number...of 5

THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE, Boston, August, 1795  The bulk of the issue is taken up with a wide range of eclectic articles. Among the articles are: "The Test of Virtue" "Advice to Females on the

THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET & DAILY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, May 4, 1789

• President George Washington
• 1st Inauguration - inaugural address

Most of page 3 is taken up with reports on the: "Proceedings of

THE 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

THOMAS'S MASSACHUSETTS SPY OR WORCESTER GAZETTE, Dec. 12, 1798

• Lord Horatio Nelson victorious
• Battle of the Nile - Napoleon Bonaparte
• President George Washington
• Masonic - free masonry - Masons

Most of

DUNLAP'S AMERICAN DAILY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, March 25, 1791  Page 2 has a brief item: "The President has appointed the following gentlemen to receive subscriptions to the Bank of the United

THE HERALD; A GAZETTE FOR THE COUNTRY, New York, April 25, 1795  Page 2 has: "A Proclamation" signed in type by Anthony Wayne, for establishing a permanent peace with all the Indian tribes and

PENNSYLVANIA PACKET & DAILY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, July 3, 1786  Page 3 has a report noting in part: "...from Connecticut that the Susquehanna Company are perfectly satisfied with the late

THE CONTINENTAL JOURNAL & WEEKLY ADVERTISER, Boston, July 21, 1785  Perhaps the best feature of this issue is the very displayable masthead featuring a great engraving of the U.S. Seal.
The front

THE SPECTATOR, New York, Oct. 3, 1798  An unusual issue being single sheet rather than the typical 4 pages due to the on-going Yellow Fever Epidemic which ravaged much of the Eastern United States

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston Oct. 18, 1797  Taking three front page columns is: "A List Of Prizes in Gloucester Road Lottery. Class Fourth."
Listed among the page 3 obituaries is one reporting the

GENERAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, March 28, 1794  The capital of the United States was in Philadelphia at this time while the District of Columbia was under construction. This