THE CHRISTIAN HISTORY, (Boston), May 5, 1743  This was the first successful magazine in America although formatted unlike typical magazines. It was exclusively a chronicle of the Great Awakening in America, exclusively of secular news reports. It was preceded by just a few magazines which lasted but a couple of issues--one of which was by Ben Franklin. Even this title lasted but a few short years.
As the subtitle reads: "Containing Accounts of the Propagation & Revival of Religion in Great Britain & America", this 8 page magazine is almost entirely taken up with religious content from the "Great Awakening" period in American history.
Eight pages, 4 3/4 by 8 inches, some light damp staining, good condition.
A rare opportunity for an American periodical from such an early year. Since the issue does not include a Boston imprint, we include a photocopy of the volume's title page which contains the Boston imprint. 

Background: The Christian History, published in Boston beginning in 1743, was one of the earliest magazines in colonial America, dedicated to documenting the religious revival known asFirst Great Awakening. Edited and guided by the Congregational minister Thomas Prince, the weekly periodical provided detailed accounts of revival meetings, missionary efforts, and spiritual awakenings in both Great Britain and the American colonies. Printed by Samuel Kneeland and T. Green, each issue typically spanned eight pages and was later bound into annual volumes, making it a valuable record of early American religious life. Unlike secular publications of the era, it focused entirely on spiritual matters, offering news of conversions, sermons, and the spread of Protestant Christianity, while also fostering a sense of shared religious identity among its readership. Its publication represents both an early experiment in American journalism and a critical tool for promoting and preserving the narratives of religious revival during a transformative period in colonial society.