THE COUNTRY JOURNAL: OR THE CRAFTSMAN, London, Dec. 7, 1734

* Rare 18th century publication

This was the leading anti-Walpole political journal of its time: Thomas Lockwood describes it as "the most successful political journal of the first half of the eighteenth century...". 
The stated purpose of the newspaper was to expose political craft--hence the title--but the overriding purpose was to unseat Robert Walpole as Chancellor, or as the new term of abuse called him, "Prime Minister".
Various news reports of the day with one item noting the shipping of tobacco.
The back page has an illustrated advertisement for "Dr. Richard Rock's Tincture Which Instantly & totally Eradicates the most excruciating Pains of the Tooth--Ach & Infallibly Rectifies all Disorders of the Teeth...".
Four pages, 10 1/4 by 14 1/2 inches, red tax stamp on the page 3, bit of foxing on the front page, good condition.

Background: The Country Journal: or, The Craftsman, particularly in issues like that of December 7, 1734, distinguished itself as the premier organ of anti-administration rhetoric in 18th-century Great Britain by blending high-minded constitutional critique, sharp satire, and everyday Georgian commerce. Spearheaded by Henry St. John, Viscount Bolingbroke, and William Pulteney under the collective pseudonym "Caleb D'Anvers," the journal's leading content centered on unmasking "state-craft"—a term it used to frame Sir Robert Walpole’s governance, patronage, and financial influence as systemic bribery and corruption—while actively popularizing the derogatory epithet "Prime Minister" to decry his monopolization of executive power. Beyond its core political essays, ideological volleys, and allegorical attacks on the ministry, individual issues offered a vivid cross-section of London life, featuring shipping and commodity intelligence like tobacco transport alongside colorful period advertisements, such as Dr. Richard Rock’s famous patented toothache tinctures. By combining sophisticated opposition philosophy with accessible cultural satire and daily news items, The Craftsman commanded an unprecedented readership, forever shaping the trajectory of British partisan press and investigative journalism.