THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Feb. 29, 1776

• General Benedict Arnold
• American Revolutionary War
• Great year to have (1776)

This remarkably historic Revolutionary War issue contains a wealth of foundational content from the early months of 1876. 
Page 2 carries an exceptional military report from Montreal detailing the ongoing American campaign in Canada, reading in part: "Quebec is inclosed by a considerable body of forces under Brigadier General Arnold. They hope to avoid storming & thereby prevent effusion of blood on both sides...These circumstances we flatter ourselves will engage General Carleton (out of humanity) to offer terms..." 
The front page features a prominent, large-type Resolve from the Continental Congress concerning the care and treatment of prisoners of war, followed by a lengthy, passionate front-page essay signed by "The Apologist" addressing the fractured relations between America and England, which includes an oblique reference to Thomas Paine's recently published pamphlet, Common Sense.
Additional pages contain significant text regarding territorial disputes between Connecticut settlers in Wyoming and Northumberland counties—including a printed letter from Governor John Penn—as well as a notable political announcement regarding the election of new representatives to the General Assembly "for the city of Philadelphia, in the room of Benjamin Franklin, Esquire, who has resigned his seat in the said Assembly."The historical significance of this issue is exceptional, capturing a crucial pivot point in the fight for American independence. The report from Montreal showcases the legendary Benedict Arnold during his early days as a brilliant and fiercely loyal Continental hero, leading the grueling siege of Quebec following the tragic death of General Richard Montgomery. Furthermore, the resignation of Benjamin Franklin from the Pennsylvania Assembly highlights a momentous shift in his revolutionary career; Franklin stepped down from local politics at this exact time to fully dedicate his genius to the Continental Congress, where he would soon help draft the Declaration of Independence. Together with the contemporary nod to Common Sense and Congress's official prisoner mandates, this newspaper perfectly encapsulates the rapidly accelerating momentum toward a total break from the British Crown.Complete in four pages, never-trimmed with wide margins, 8 1/4 by 10 1/2 inches, in great condition.

Background: This remarkably rare, untrimmed four-page issue of The Pennsylvania Evening Post from February 29, 1776—printed on a leap day during the frantic early months of the American Revolution—captures the colonies at a monumental historical turning point just months before the Declaration of Independence. Exceptionally rare in such well-preserved condition with wide, untrimmed margins (8 1/4 by 10 1/2 inches), its primary-source content captures critical military and political shifts: a front-line military report from Montreal depicts Benedict Arnold in his early, heroic role leading the siege of Quebec following General Montgomery’s death; a formal notice announces Benjamin Franklin’s resignation from the Pennsylvania General Assembly to focus entirely on his pivotal work in the Second Continental Congress; a prominent front-page Continental Congress resolve mandates the formal treatment of prisoners of war; and a passionate front-page essay by "The Apologist" includes a contemporary reference to Thomas Paine’s newly released Common Sense, reflecting how quickly public sentiment was swaying toward total separation from Britain. Coupled with letters from Governor John Penn regarding territorial conflicts between Connecticut and Pennsylvania settlers, this issue stands as an extraordinarily complete and scarce piece of primary revolutionary history.