William Cowper on slavery... 1791...

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, June 16, 1791  The back page has: "SLAVE TRADE - CHARITY: Extract from a Poem, By William Cooper", it being an extract from a poem by William Cowper, poet/hymnologist whom Dr. Martin Luther King often quoted, and who was considered by some to be "the best modern poet" of his day. Great to have this contemporary excerpt from one of the most vocal... See More  

Two 1798 Thanksgiving sermons...

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Dec. 26, 1798  Over a column on the front page is taken up with: "Extracts From a Thanksgiving Sermon, Delivered in the Vicinity of Boston" which is under the heading: "Clerical Patriotism", followed by: "Extracts from the Rev. Dr. Eckley's Discourse on Thanksgiving Day", which carries over to page 2.  The balance of the issue... See More  

Nice George Washington issue...

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, May 9, 1795  The front page features not one but three Acts of Congress, each signed in script type by the president: George Washington. One of the Acts is for trading with the Indians. The ftpg. also has a detailed ad: "30 Dollars Reward" for deserters from the military.

Four pages, various scattered foxing, otherwise good condition.

Washington script signature... Light house on Sequin Island...

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, April 25, 1795 



* President George Washington act of Congress

* Seguin Island Maine Lighthouse proposed



The top of third column on the ftpg. has: "Laws Of The United States" "Published By Authority" "Third Congress of the United States". Hereafter is the text of: "An act to regulate the compensation of Clerks...", sign... See More  

Only ten issues published with this title...

THE COURIER & GENERAL ADVERTISER, Boston, November 24, 1796 



* Very rare publication

* Short-lived newspaper



Certainly one of the less common 18th century American titles. This was the continuation of "The Federal Orrery" newspaper, changing the title to that noted with the Nov. 3, 1796 issue, and Brigham notes that the newspaper discontinued with the Dec. 8, 1796 issue.

... See More  

Very displayable... Four George Washington script signatures...

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, March 30, 1796 



* President George Washington - John Adams

* Four Acts of Congress signed in type



The front page features not one but four Acts of Congress, each one signed in script type by: Go. Washington, President of the United States. Each is also signed in block type by the Vice President, John Adams.

One of the Acts is: "...for allowing compensa... See More  

The Jay Treaty: preventing another war...

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, March 16 & 19, 1796  A very significant pair of issues as they contain, in its entirety, the full text of the Jay Treaty, one of the more significant 18th century documents in American history.

Taking much of the front page and part of page 2 in the issue of the 16th is part of Jay's Treaty through Article 12. Prefacing the Treaty is a "Proclamation&q... See More  

One of the more decorative mastheads of the 18th century...

INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Boston, March 12, 1798



* Nice masthead engraving

* 18th century America



If you are looking for a handsome American newspaper of the 1700's which is displayable & priced reasonably, this is one of the best. This title features one of the more decorative mastheads of the era.

Complete in 4 pages, never-trimmed margins, some various li... See More  

The British evacuate Boston...

THE WESTMINSTER MAGAZINE, London, May, 1776  Certainly a very uncommon title from the 18th century, formatted much like the more common 'Gentleman's Magazine" or the era.

Under the "Monthly Chronicle" is a report mentioning: "General Howe, commander in chief of his Majesty's forces in North America, having taken a resolution on the 7th of March to remove from ... See More  

On the troubles in Boston...

THE TOWN & COUNTRY MAGAZINE, London, April, 1774 



* Prelude to the Revolutionary War



Formatted much like the 'Gentleman's Magazine" but a much less common title.

In "Debates in the Political Club' is mention that: "Lord North said, that the test of the Bostonians will not be the indemnification of the East-India company alone, it will remain in the breast... See More  

With considerable content from America...

THE WEEKLY REGISTER, London, April 15, 1732  A quite rare title as this is the first we have encountered in our 44 years. It appears to have run from 1730-1735. Later in 1732 the title would add: "...or, Universal Journal".

Rarely do we find such early-dated newspaper from England which give much space to American reports, but this is one. Over one-third of the front page has: &quo... See More  

One of the more decorative mastheads of the 18th century...

INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Boston, Aug. 13, 1798



* Nice masthead engraving

* 18th century America



If you are looking for a handsome American newspaper of the 1700's which is displayable & priced reasonably, this is one of the best. This title features one of the more decorative mastheads of the era.

Complete in 4 pages, never-trimmed margins, some various lig... See More  

One of the earliest newspapers from the colonies...

THE AMERICAN WEEKLY MERCURY, Philadelphia, April 3, 1735   



* Earliest of American newspapers

* Very early & rare publication



As any serious collector of newspapers knows, it is exceedingly difficult to find any colonial American newspapers from before 1760, let alone an issue from 1735. It began in 1719 and only published through 1749. It was the very first newspaper in all o... See More  

Dealing with the Indians...

FEDERAL ORRERY, Boston Nov. 26, 1795 



* Uncommon title



Certainly one of the less common American titles from the 18th century.

Pages 1 and 2 contain: "Creek Indians - Extract of a Letter from the Sec. of War to...George Mathews, Gov. of Georgia..." which concerns a treaty with the Creek Indians. Also on page 2 is a report from Winchester which begins: "A gentleman from t... See More  

Governor Sam Adams document on capturing the vandals...

THOMAS'S MASSACHUSETTS SPY OR THE WORCESTER GAZETTE, July 1, 1795 



* Uncommon title



Page 3 has a document: "By the Governour" concerning: "...bringing to justice all persons...who with force & violence did...burn a vessel lying at the Long Wharf in Boston..." signed: Samuel Adams.

Also an article: "Mr. Jay's Treaty", a controversial document at... See More  

General Anthony Wayne & the Chippawa Indians...

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Nov. 6, 1793  



* "Mad Anthony" Wayne



A page 3 item reports in part: "...from Pittsburgh, we learn that General Wayne had marched from the Miami against the Indians with 3000 regular troops and 1500 volunteers from Kentucky....Still Knee, a chief of the Chippawas, had come into Fort-Pitt, with assurance that his nation had resolved to observe a ... See More  

Huge list of pensioners, signed in script type by President Washington...

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, May 14, 1796 



* Act of Congress re. pensioners

* Retired military men

* President George Washington



Most of the front page is taken up with an Act of Congress: "An ACT Authorizing & Directing the Secretary at War to Place Certain Persons therein named on the Pension List", with a huge list of names (great for genealogical purposes). It complet... See More  

Two front page George Washington script signatures...

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, March 23, 1796 



* President George Washington



Fully half of the front page, the two middle columns, are taken up with a lengthy treaty of peace and amity between the United States and Algeria, relating to the problems with the Algerian pirates capturing American ships.

At the top is: "Treaty with the Dey of Algiers" with the George Washington scrip... See More  

Sam Adams signatures in type...

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Feb. 17, 1796  The front page has over a full column taken up with three Acts of the Massachusetts Legislature, each Act signed in type by the governor: Samuel Adams.

Four pages, nice condition.

The Edmund Randolph scandal that would cause his resignation...

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Jan. 9 1796  The front page has several crucial letters on the scandal involving Sec. of State Edmund Randolph which would result in his resignation.

Randolph had been tasked with keeping friendly relations with France. The British Navy had intercepted correspondence from the French minister, Joseph Fauchet, to his superiors and turned it over to Washington. Washi... See More  

Laying the cornerstone of the Boston State House...

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, July 4, 1795 



* Massachusetts State House's cornerstone laid



Page 2 contains a nice editorial headed: "The Treaty" referring to the controversial Jay Treaty, which had recently been approved by the Senate. It begins: "The ratification of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation between the United States and his Britannic Majesty...must... See More  

The precedent-setting case of American slave James Somersett...

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, January, 1773 



* Somersett's case

* Slaves - slavery



Certainly the most historically significant item in this issue is: "An Argument in the Case of James Somersett, a Negro, Lately Determined in the court...attempted to be Demonstrated the Present Unlawfulness of Domestic Slavery in England" which takes about a full page.

This case i... See More  

Early American title from the French & Indian War...

THE BOSTON NEWS-LETTER AND NEW ENGLAND CHRONICLE, May 13, 1762 



* Rare Colonial Massachusetts

* St. Augustine, Florida



This is a much later issue of America's first successful newspaper, founded in 1704.

The top of the ftpg. has a nice recruiting advertisements to enlist soldiers to fight in the on-going French & Indian War: "For Recruiting His Majesty's Regular Forc... See More  

The Hatteras Shoals...

THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE, Boston, August, 1793  (note: the "July" at the top of page 1 is a printer's error) Articles include: "Accounts of Hatteras Shoals" "Concise Character of the Persians" and more.

Near the back is the "Monthly Gazette" with news reports including much on the French Revolution, plus: "Domestick Occurrences" which i... See More  

A Boston magazine from 1793...

THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE, Boston, July, 1793  Page 1 has a descriptive article of the State House (the plate called for is lacking).

Also in this issue: "Essay on Female Charms" "Of Various Phenomena of the Ocean" "The Benefits of Adversity" "On the Excellence of Christianity" & much more.

At the back is "Foreign Occurrences" and "... See More