THE NEW JERSEY GAZETTE, Trenton, April 29, 1778 

* The Articles of Confederation
* Revolutionary War
* Very rare title

This was the very first newspaper in New Jersey, having begun in December, 1777. This is issue number 22.
There are only a handful of documents in American history which can be considered cornerstones in the creation of our national government, which would include the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution among a few others as well.
This issue contains on the front page and page 2 the complete printing of one of these, headed at the top of the first column on the front page: "ARTICLES of CONFEDERATION and Perpetual UNION between the States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia."
What follows are all thirteen articles of this document, taking all of the front page and most of the first column on page 2 following which is a note signed by Henry Laurens, President of Congress, reading: "These articles shall be proposed to the legislatures of all the united states, to be considered, and if approved of by them, they are advised to authorize their delegates to ratify the same in the Congress of the united states; which being done, the same shall become conclusive."

This was the first governing document, or constitution, of the United States. The Articles were created in 1777 by the representatives of the states in the Continental Congress out of a perceived need to have "...a plan of confederacy for securing the freedom, sovereignty, and independence of the United States." Ten years later it would be replaced by the Constitution which exists to this day.

Complete in 4 pages, an old tape mend at the blank spine margin, one small slip near the top of the left margin of the front leaf not touching any text, in very nice condition.

A cornerstone issue for any Americana collection.