THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE, Boston, December, 1790  

* President George Washington
* 2nd State of the Union Address

Certainly the most notable content is the 1 1/2 pages taken up with: "President Washington's Speech" which was his second state-of-the-union address, signed by him in type: George Washington. 
The balance of the issue is taken up with a wide range of eclectic articles as noted in the title/contents page. Among the articles are: "Account of the Moravian Settlement at Bethlehem in Pennsylvania" which takes over a full page; "The Family Economy & Employments of the Gypsies" "Chinese Letter" "Classical Allusions to America Considered" "On Evil Invisible Beings" "Geographical Description of Bachelor's Island" "Curious Particulars Concerning the Inhabitants of the Island of Sumatra" "Remarks on the English Language, by Noah Webster" and much more.
Other fine news content as well including a report of the erection of the: "Column on Beacon Hill" with details, and a letter concerning the death of Ben Franklin.
Included is the full page plate called for (rarely found) captioned: "Bird Catching at Orkney" with the first article in the issue relating to it.
Complete in 68 pages, various foxing, nice condition.

Background: This December 1790 issue of The Massachusetts Magazine serves as a vital cultural and political barometer for a fragile, newly born United States trying to define its national identity. At its core, the inclusion of George Washington’s second State of the Union address captures a government in transition, newly relocated to Philadelphia and actively grappling with the existential challenges of securing its borders and stabilizing its economy. Yet, the significance of the artifact extends far beyond official statecraft; by juxtaposing Washington’s speech with Noah Webster’s linguistic critiques and reflections on the recently deceased Benjamin Franklin, the magazine documents a conscious effort to forge a distinct "American" intellectual identity independent of British influence. Combined with Enlightenment-era travelogues and rare copperplate illustrations like "Bird Catching at Orkney," this issue encapsulates the dual nature of the early American psyche—intensely focused on the grueling, practical mechanics of domestic nation-building, while simultaneously eager to position itself as a sophisticated, worldly participant in the global Republic of Letters.

Eighteenth century American magazines are increasingly scarce in today's market. This title was published by the famed Isaiah Thomas, the patriot printer from the Revolutionary War & founder of the American Antiquarian Society.