THE HERALD; A GAZETTE FOR THE COUNTRY, New York, Feb. 24, 1796

• Founding father John Jay

Page 2 has a letter signed in type by: John Jay, and a report of the arrival of Major-General Anthony Wayne, with a list of 13 toasts. Page 3 has: "A Proclamation" signed in type by: John Jay as governor of New York.
Four pages, scattered foxing, nice condition.

Background: This 1796 issue of The Herald; A Gazette for the Country is a notable piece of early American history, capturing a key moment in post-Revolutionary governance and military heroics under the governorship of Founding Father John Jay. The presence of official state documents—including Jay’s signed proclamation and letter—highlights the operational mechanics of early New York government following his return from negotiating the controversial Jay Treaty, while the detailed account of Major-General "Mad" Anthony Wayne's arrival accompanied by 13 symbolic toasts reflects the national jubilation following his decisive victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers and the 1795 Treaty of Greenville. Single-issue newspapers from the late 18th century, particularly four-page complete editions like this one printed by George Hopkins & Co., are inherently scarce survival artifacts, as most were discarded or bound into institutional volumes. Complete, unrestored issues containing high-profile content related to prominent Constitutional Framers like Jay and celebrated heroes like Wayne hold exceptional collector appeal and research value, serving as authentic first-draft records of Federalist-era politics, military celebration, and daily 1790s New York commerce.