One of the smallest newspapers ever printed?
THE BOYS PAPER, Colorado Springs, April 15, 1906
- Rare amateur press publication
This would rank among the world's smallest newspapers, as it measures just 3 3/4 by 4 1/2 inches, printed on a light brown, wrapper paper-type newsprint.
This would appear to be from the "amateur press", a popular hobby from the late 19th century, typically small in size and rather crudely printed. The content is very quaint.
Nice condition.
Background: This rare edition of The Boys Paper from Colorado Springs stands as a remarkable physical artifact of the turn-of-the-century American amateur press movement, earning its distinction as one of the smallest micro-newspapers ever produced. Measuring a tiny 3 ¾ by 4 ½ inches and printed on coarse, cheap wrapper paper, the publication bypasses standard regional politics and commercial reportage to deliver quaint, hyper-localized commentary, creative prose, and playful anecdotes tailored for a tight-knit network of youthful hobbyists. Because these self-published "boy press" micro-prints were typically produced in extremely low press runs using hand-set type on miniature tabletop presses, most were treated as disposable ephemera and discarded almost immediately. Surviving copies are exceptionally scarce, making this issue a rare piece of early 20th-century print history. Its remarkably fine condition is all the more impressive given the fragile, acidic, low-cost paper stock, offering a uniquely intimate window into youth media culture in Colorado during the fading years of the West's frontier era.