THE ATHENIAN MERCURY, London, March 12, 1692  

* Rare 17th century publication

This was the very first of the "agony aunt" newspapers, a newspaper providing personal advice to its readers.
In creating this format of responding to questions from readers, the publisher, John Dunton, did so as a result of feeling guilty for cheating on his wife. He thought that people like himself might appreciate confiding in a stranger --anonymously--& that readers would be titillated by the exchange.
It proved to be a success as he was bombarded with queries on everything from marriage to the ethics of slave-trading to why sermons seem longer than they are. There are 7 questions in this issue.
Single sheet, 8 by 12 inches, very nice condition.

Background: The Athenian Mercury was a London periodical published between 1690 and 1697, notable as one of the earliest advice and question-and-answer newspapers in England. Founded by John Dunton, a bookseller, it was produced by a group calling themselves the Athenian Society, which included writers such as Richard Sault, Samuel Wesley (the elder), and others. The paper invited readers to send in questions on subjects ranging from philosophy, science, and religion to love and everyday life—making it one of the first examples of public interaction through print. It was issued twice weekly and became famous for its “problem pages,” where readers’ inquiries were answered with wit and learning. In 1691, a separate companion paper titled The Ladies’ Mercury was launched, considered the first English periodical written specifically for women. The Athenian Mercury’s blend of curiosity, education, and entertainment made it an important forerunner of modern magazines and advice columns.