HAEGSE MERCUR, The Hague, The Netherlands, Nov. 15, 1698 

* Rare 17th century publication

Nice engraving of the winged Mercury in the masthead of this small-size newspaper. Four pages, totally in the Dutch language, 6 by 7 3/4 inches, great condition.

AI notes: The Haegse Mercur (also spelled Haagse Mercurius) was a late‑17th‑century Dutch periodical printed in The Hague that combined news, commentary and satirical observations rather than functioning like a modern daily newspaper; its title literally means “The Hague Messenger,” with Mercurius referring to the Roman messenger god often used in early press titles. It was published from about August 1697 until September 1699—typically twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays—and was largely the solo creation of the writer Hendrik Doedijns, whose witty, anecdotal style wove reflections on political and social events into entertaining prose, blending information with satire and literary asides. Issues were printed in The Hague and sold locally and in other Dutch cities, often on quarto sheets of four pages, and although only fragments survive today, they are recognized as part of the early Dutch press’s development at a time when printed news and commentary were expanding rapidly across Europe.