THE BOSTON GAZETTE, "New-England", March 12, 1739  

* Extremely early & rare Colonial publication 

This is one of the most noted & long-lived American newspapers we have had the pleasure to offer, and is the earliest of this title we have offered. It began publishing in 1719 and existed thru 1798. It was founded by James Franklin, older brother of Ben Franklin and from whom Ben apprenticed in the printing business.
Brigham notes only 3 institutions have this date.
A handsome issue for display with two detailed engravings in the masthead. Complete in four pages, 7 3/4 by 9 3/4 inches, very nice condition.

Background: This highly exceptional 1739 issue of The Boston Gazette represents a paramount artifact of early American journalism, characterized both by its extreme institutional rarity and its tangible connection to the origins of the free press in the colonies. Documented by bibliographer Clarence S. Brigham as being held by only three institutional repositories worldwide, this pristine, four-page specimen is an incredibly rare survivor from the pre-Revolutionary era, printed on the compact, imported paper stock typical of the period. While the paper was originally established in 1719 by Boston Postmaster William Brooker—with Ben Franklin’s older brother, James, serving as its very first printer—this specific March 12, 1739 edition captures the publication during its formative colonial years, long before it became the radical mouthpiece of the American Revolution under later publishers. Adorned with its iconic masthead engravings of a ship and a postman—symbols representing the lifeblood of colonial commerce and transatlantic communication—this issue serves as a vital historical window into the daily life, politics, and shifting identity of early New England, making it a museum-quality centerpiece of early Americana.