Handsome, 340 year old newspaper... published by Charles Brome...
Item # 707281
THE OBSERVATOR, London, England, Oct. 9, 1684
* Architect of the Partisan Press
* A Watershed for Women in Journalism
* During the reign of King Charles II
A dialogue newspaper founded by Sir Roger L'Estrange, a Tory pamphleteer, as a vehicle for attacking dissenters and Whigs. This early singlesheet newspaper has the old style type making it great for framing, particularly with the over 340 year old date clearly visible in the dateline.
Complete as a single sheet issue, 8 1/4 by 13 1/4 inches, very nice condition.
Background: The October 9, 1684, issue of The Observator captures a fever pitch in English history known as the Tory Reaction, a period of royalist resurgence following the failed Whig attempt to exclude the Catholic James II from the throne. Sir Roger L'Estrange, acting as the crown’s most acerbic propagandist, utilized this single-sheet dialogue to systematically delegitimize the "Whig" and "Dissenter" factions, framing their calls for parliamentary sovereignty as inherently seditious. This specific era is historically significant because it witnessed the birth of the partisan press and the refined use of the "dialogue" format—a clever rhetorical device where a loyalist character would "debate" and inevitably defeat a strawman radical—effectively bypasssing traditional news reporting to provide raw political commentary. Furthermore, the publication’s connection to Joanna Brome marks a watershed moment in the history of journalism; by managing the production and distribution of such a high-profile, controversial paper during her brother's absence, she challenged the gendered boundaries of the 17th-century London printing trade and established a precedent for women in editorial leadership long before the profession was formalized.
Note: This newspaper was published by Charles Brome, brother of Joanna Brome, who became one of the earliest woman newspaper publishers (perhaps the first?) when she took over for her brother in 1681-82 while he was away.
* Architect of the Partisan Press
* A Watershed for Women in Journalism
* During the reign of King Charles II
A dialogue newspaper founded by Sir Roger L'Estrange, a Tory pamphleteer, as a vehicle for attacking dissenters and Whigs. This early singlesheet newspaper has the old style type making it great for framing, particularly with the over 340 year old date clearly visible in the dateline.
Complete as a single sheet issue, 8 1/4 by 13 1/4 inches, very nice condition.
Background: The October 9, 1684, issue of The Observator captures a fever pitch in English history known as the Tory Reaction, a period of royalist resurgence following the failed Whig attempt to exclude the Catholic James II from the throne. Sir Roger L'Estrange, acting as the crown’s most acerbic propagandist, utilized this single-sheet dialogue to systematically delegitimize the "Whig" and "Dissenter" factions, framing their calls for parliamentary sovereignty as inherently seditious. This specific era is historically significant because it witnessed the birth of the partisan press and the refined use of the "dialogue" format—a clever rhetorical device where a loyalist character would "debate" and inevitably defeat a strawman radical—effectively bypasssing traditional news reporting to provide raw political commentary. Furthermore, the publication’s connection to Joanna Brome marks a watershed moment in the history of journalism; by managing the production and distribution of such a high-profile, controversial paper during her brother's absence, she challenged the gendered boundaries of the 17th-century London printing trade and established a precedent for women in editorial leadership long before the profession was formalized.
Note: This newspaper was published by Charles Brome, brother of Joanna Brome, who became one of the earliest woman newspaper publishers (perhaps the first?) when she took over for her brother in 1681-82 while he was away.
Item from last month's catalog - #365 - released for April, 2026
Category: The 1600's and 1700's
