THE TATLER, London, March 14, 1709  This newspaper was founded in this year by Richard Steele who used the nom de plume "Isaac Bickerstaff, Esquire", the first such consistently adopted journalistic persona.
Steele's idea was to publish the news and gossip heard in London coffeehouses, hence the title, leaving the subject of politics to the newspapers. To assure complete coverage of local gossip, a reporter was placed in various coffeehouses: accounts of manners and mores were datelined from such places, this issue with items from "White's Chocolate House". It was published three times a week for less than two years, from April 12, 1709 to January 2, 1711.
Single sheet, 7 1/2 by 13 inches, two small bits of mounting tape at the top of the back page, very nice condition.