Historic Newspapers: Newspapers from the 1700s
The eighteenth century saw the heyday of the Age of Reason, and the rising popularity and increased distribution of newspapers played a key role in deepening and expanding public discourse. We carry only absolutely authentic original newspapers, and there's no better way to discover the history of the 1700s than to hold a newspaper from that century in your own hands.
Found 1533 Results
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Item #686796COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Aug. 24, 1791
* President George Washington
* Timothy Pickering appointed
Page 2 has a report that: "Another expedition to the Indian country is now in operation--it consists of 500 men...". This is followed by a letter from Pittsburgh noting in part: ... Read full description -
Item #686794COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Aug. 13, 1791 The front page has an interesting article: "Parallel - The Civilized Man and The Savage" which speaks favorably for the Native Americans on how they conduct their lives.
Page 3 notes the President's appointment of James Barry as ambassador to Portugal, followed by a report... Read full description -
Item #686790COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, July 30, 1791 Page 3 includes: "We are informed that the President of the United States has been pleased to appoint William Jackson Post Master General of the United States."
Above this is a report of the celebration of the 4th of July, and also a note that: "The... Read full description -
Item #686786COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, May 14, 1791 Over half of the front page is taken up with: "Commonn Sense -- In Answer to Burke's Phillipick" which relates to Thomas Paine's work, plus much concerning he French Revolution and several references to the Maquis de LaFayette.
Page 2 has "A... Read full description -
Item #686781COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Dec. 15, 1790
* Site for United States Government
* Along the Potomac River ?
Detailed front page article "Observations On the Whale-Fishery and Seal-Catching" says the two combined would make for a "...profitable voyage..." and that the Nantucket and Long Island Whalemen: "...will... Read full description -
Item #686767COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Oct. 30, 1790
* 18th century bareknuckle boxing
Page 2 has an article: "Boxing" which is a very early report of the sport. The match is between "Big Ben" and the "Tinman".
Other items including a page 3 article on: "Duelling" "King of France's Demand" "the Art of... Read full description -
Item #686742THE MASSACHUSETTS CENTINEL, Boston, June 6, 1787
* Constitutional Convention begins
* George Washington elected president
An exceedingly historic issue as this newspaper reports the formal beginning of the Constitutional Convention.
Page 2 has a report from Philadelphia datelined May 26 with the historic... Read full description -
Item #686732COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Jan. 29, 1791
* John Hancock signed speech
* Vermont statehood - joins union
Over half of page 2 and a bit of page 3 are taken up with the "Speech" of the governor of Massachusetts which is signed in type: JOHN HANCOCK. It is rare to find newspapers with documents signed by... Read full description -
Item #686710COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Nov. 14, 1792
* President George Washington
* State of the Union Address
Taking over half of the front page and concluding on page two where it is signed in script type: G. Washington, is President George Washington's "Speech to Both Houses of Congress".
This was his annual... Read full description -
Item #686699THE INDEPENDENT GAZETTEER; OR THE CHRONICLE OF FREEDOM, Philadelphia, May 26, 1787
* Constitutional Convention begins
* George Washington elected president
An exceedingly historic issue as this newspaper reports the formal beginning of the Constitutional Convention--terrific to have in... Read full description -
Item #686698THE CONNECTICUT COURANT, Hartford, Dec. 14, 1795
* President George Washington
* State of the Union Address
Page 3 include the historic annual state-of-the-union address of President George Washington to Congress. Headed "SPEECH" it is prefaced with: "This day, precisely at 12 o'clock, The President of the United... Read full description -
Item #686694THE EDINBURGH ADVERTISER, Scotland, May 12, 1780
* American Revolutionary War era newspaper
* Independence for America ?
Pages 2 and 3 have much discussion in the House of Commons concerning the Revolutionary War. A few bits include: "...introduced his motion for a reconciliation between Great Britain... Read full description -
Item #686595THE 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... Read full description -
Item #686561THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, January, 1779
* Abraham Carlisle & John Roberts
* Treason trials - Revolutionary War
The first article: "Summary of Proceedings in the Present Parliament" takes ten pages and includes much talk of the on-going Revolutionary War, bits including: "...He enumerated... Read full description -
Item #686556THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, October, 1778
* No compromise w/ England
* American Revolutionary War
Among the articles within are: "The Theory of Insulating Bodies Examined, & some of the Supposed Properties which Electricians have ascribed to Glass, proved by Experiments not to Exist" which... Read full description -
Item #686525THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, August, 1780
* Revolutionary War Era
* 18th century
* From The Enemy
One report notes: "The assembly of Pennsylvania have fallen upon a new mode of distressing the friends of this country resident among them by obliging persons to take the oaths of allegiance or affirmation of... Read full description -
Item #686477THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, December, 1779
* Ben Franklin's book is reviewed (brief)
* Fort Stanwix report
* Captain Cook's ships observed?
Near the back is a brief review of a book titled: "Political, Miscellaneous, & Philosophical Pieces, Written by Benjamin Franklin...".
Some talk of "American News" near the back, with... Read full description -
Item #686462THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, December, 1781
* Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
* Surrender at Yorktown VA Virginia
* Revolutionary War from the enemy
Certainly the most historic report in this issue--and perhaps in any issue from the Revolutionary War--is that near the back of the issue under the "Historical... Read full description -
Item #686410GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, February, 1781
* Revolutionary War
* From the enemy
* Lengthy reporting
The first article is a "Summary of Proceedings in the Present Parliament" which takes 6 pages and includes discussions on the Revolutionary War.
One first page item notes: "...That it was now no question about independency... Read full description -
Item #686407THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, August, 1781 The "Historical Chronicle" includes a short bit about: "Two gentlemen...charged with carrying on a treasonable correspondence with the American agent Adams at Amsterdam & with supplying the Colonists with arms & ammunition...".
This is followed by a letter from Lord... Read full description -
Item #686266THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, England, September, 1775
* Battle of Bunker Hill diagram - print
* John Hancock & George Washington
A nice issue with much historic content from the beginning months of the Revolutionary War.
Perhaps the best content is the very nice half page illustration of the "Redoubt & Intrenchment on the... Read full description -
Item #686168THE CONNECTICUT COURANT, Hartford, Aug. 26, 1799 Various news of the day from both America and Europe. Most of the back page is taken up with a portion of a lengthy (and continued): "An Act to Regulate the Collection of Duties on Imports & Tonnage" headed with an engraving of a heraldic eagle.
Four pages, never-trimmed margins, minor... Read full description -
Item #686162THE CONNECTICUT COURANT, Nov. 28, 1791 Mot of the front page is taken up with the French Revolution with a lengthy letter signed: Louis.
Most of page 3 is taken up with reports from Congress, including a brief note to the House concerning expenses for the year signed by the Secretary of the Treasury: Alexander Hamilton. This is... Read full description -
Item #686152COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, May 14, 1794
* George Washington document script signed
Page 3 has a document signed in script type: Go. Washington, President of the United States, concerning authorization for ships belonging to the U.S. to enter ports beyond the Cape of Good Hope, etc.
Page 2 has a report: "From the Western... Read full description -
Item #686143COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, April 5, 1797
* President George Washington
* Napoleon Bonaparte
At the bottom of the front page is an Act of Congress which is signed in script type by the President: Go. Washington.
This was one of just a few newspapers which used the script type for documents signed by politicians, making such issues very... Read full description -
Item #686139COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, May 6, 1797
* President George Washington
* (4) acts signed in script
On the front page under "Laws of the United States" are four "Acts", each signed in script type: George Washington. The acts take all of the third and fourth columns, and all of the script signatures appear in the last column.
... Read full description -
Item #686137CONNECTICUT JOURNAL, New Haven, Nov. 9, 1797 The entire front page and a good portion of page 3 are taken up with: "AN ACT Laying Duties on Stamped Vellum, Parchment and Paper" which is signed in type at its conclusion by John Adams, President, and Thomas Jefferson, Vice President.
Four pages, a very handsome issue as... Read full description -
Item #686134THE FARMER'S WEEKLY MUSEUM: NEW HAMPSHIRE & VERMONT JOURNAL, Walpole, May 22, 1798
* 18th century American publication
The front page has 1 1/2 columns taken up with a: "Treasury Department" report signed: Oliver Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury.
Page 2 has much reporting on: "Proceedings... Read full description -
Item #686133THE FARMER'S WEEKLY MUSEUM; NEW HAMPSHIRE & VERMONT JOURNAL, Walpole, May 15, 1798 The front page has a lengthy "Treasury Department" notice signed: Oliver Wolcott, followed by another shorter one.
Inside has a lengthy document signed: Timothy Pickering, Secretary of State, relating to the Quasi War with... Read full description -
Item #686132THE FARMER'S WEEKLY MUSEUM: NEW HAMPSHIRE & VERMONT JOURNAL, Walpole, April 24, 1798
* Oliver Wolcott Jr. - U.S. Treasury
* President John Adams letters signed
The front page has 1 1/2 columns taken up with a report headed: "Treasury Department" signed in type: Oliver Wolcott, Secretary of the... Read full description -
Item #686131FARMER'S WEEKLY MUSEUM: NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT JOURNAL, Walpole, May 1, 1798 The front page has 1 1/2 columns taken up with: "Treasury Department, Public Notice is Hereby Given..." signed by: Oliver Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury. Much of the front page & most of pages 2 & 3 are taken up with:... Read full description -
Item #686129THE SPECTATOR, New York, June 8, 1799 The entire front page & a bit of page 2 are taken up with a portion of the very lengthy Act of Congress on regulating duties on imports, headed with an engraving of a heraldic eagle.
Page 2 has a "Five Dollars Reward" ad for a runaway negro man, as well as reports on the Napoleonic... Read full description -
Item #686126THE SPECTATOR, New York, June 5, 1799 Most of the front page is taken up with the continuation of: "An Act to Regulate the Collection of Duties on Imports & Tonnage" which carries over to pg. 2 & is continued in a future issue. It is headed with an engraving of a heraldic eagle.
Page 2 has a short bit headed: "Trial of Fries"... Read full description -
Item #686125THE CONNECTICUT COURANT, Hartford, July 15, 1799 Two columns on the front page are taken up with "An Act to regulate the Collection of Duties on Imports & Tonnage" continued in a future issue. It is headed with a nice engraving of a heraldic eagle.
The back page has over a full column report from the "War Department" seeking bids... Read full description -
Item #686121THE CONNECTICUT COURANT, Hartford, Aug. 16, 1790
* Funding Act of 1790
Taking two-thirds of the front page and half of page 2 is: "An Act making Provision for the Debt of the United States" which is signed in type by John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington.
This was the very historic Funding Act of 1790 which was passed on... Read full description -
Item #686120THE CONNECTICUT COURANT, Hartford, July 15, 1799 Two columns on the front page are taken up with "An Act to regulate the Collection of Duties on Imports & Tonnage" continued in a future issue. It is headed with a nice engraving of a heraldic eagle.
The back page has over a full column report from the "War Department" seeking bids... Read full description -
Item #686116THE MASSACHUSETTS CENTINEL, Boston, Sept. 19, 1789 The front page has an interesting article which could be appropriate today: "Propositions for Reforming the Present System of Publick Education in Boston".
Page 2 begins with reports from the House of Representatives concerning discussions on... Read full description -
Item #686115THE MASSACHUSETTS CENTINEL, Boston, Oct. 10, 1789
* (2) President George Washington acts
* First year of his administration
Most of the first column of page 2 contains not one but two of the very desirable Acts of Congress each signed in script type by President George Washington and in block type by Vice President John Adams. This... Read full description -
Item #686114THE INDEPENDENT GAZETTEER OR CHRONICLE OF FREEDOM, Philadelphia, July 9, 1789 Nice to have a newspaper from this town from the year of the formation of our nation's government.
Page 3 includes reports from "Proceedings of Congress" which includes some discussion on: "The bill to regulate the... Read full description -
Item #686107COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Aug. 4, 1790
* President George Washington
* Act of Congress script signed
Almost a full column is taken up with an Act of Congress, headed with an engraving of a heraldic eagle, this is: "An Act Imposing Duties on the Tonnage of Ships or Vessels" which is signed in script type (desired) by the... Read full description -
Item #686083THE NEW YORK JOURNAL & PATRIOTIC REGISTER, Oct. 29, 1790
* President George Washington
* Early Washington D.C. construction
* Future of the federal government
Half of page 2 is the conclusion of an "Act to provide more effectually for the Collection of the Duties imposed by Law on Goods, Wares...imported... Read full description -
Item #686080DUNLAP'S AMERICAN DAILY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, Jan. 12, 1791 The bottom of page 3 has a letter from the "Treasury Department" signed in type by the Secretary of the Treasury: Alexander Hamilton, to the Speaker of the House of Rep., concerning national financial matters.
Among the many front page... Read full description -
Item #686029COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Feb. 14, 1795
* President George Washington
* Acts of Congress
The first column of the ftpg. begins with not one but two Acts of Congress, each signed in script type by the President: Go. Washington.
This title was one of just a few which used the script type in printing, making such issues quite... Read full description -
Item #685880ACT OF PARLIAMENT, London, England, 1759 Nice full title page has an engraving of the Royal coat-of-arms. Inside has an act: "...for adding certain annuities...to the joint stock...and for carrying the several duties therein mentioned to the Sinking fund..."
A decorative document given the displayable title page.
Twenty pages, 11... Read full description -
Item #685843THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, May, 1779 A fine opportunity to purchase a magazine from during the Revolutionary War at a reasonable price, as we find almost no American content. At the back under the "Historical Chronicle" is mention that the New York, Quebec & Newfoundland fleets have set sail under the convoy of Admiral Arbuthnot. The... Read full description -
Item #685820GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, July, 1780
* Surrender of Charleston SC
* Waxhaw South Carolina massacre
* Revolutionary War from the enemy
Inside has a letter from Gen. Clinton providing additional details about the situation in South Carolina following the surrender of "Charles-Town" [Charleston].
In his letter... Read full description -
Item #685818GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, July, 1780
* Surrender of Charleston SC
* Waxhaw South Carolina massacre
* Revolutionary War from the enemy
Inside has a letter from Gen. Clinton providing additional details about the situation in South Carolina following the surrender of "Charles-Town" [Charleston].
In his letter he... Read full description -
Item #685805THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, March, 1780 A fine opportunity to purchase a magazine from during the Revolutionary War at a reasonable price, as there is very little American content in this issue.
Just one report in the "Historical Chronicle" with two items: "There have been no material advices from America that can be... Read full description -
Item #685711THE DUBLIN CHRONICLE, Ireland, May 5, 1791 Ornate lettering int he masthead of this uncommon title. Filled with news items from Europe, and discussion in the "House of Commons" on the: "Quebec Bill".
Eight pages, 9 1/4 by 12 inches, pgs. 3 & 4 close-trimmed at the bottom affects some words, otherwise... Read full description -
Item #685709THOMAS'S MASSACHUSETTS SPY OR WORCESTER GAZETTE, July 4, 1798
* re. the XYZ Affair
* France relations
* John Adams
The front page, most of pg. 2 & some of page 5 are taken up with a lengthy letter from the U.S. ambassadors to the French ministers of state concerning the XYZ Affair, including an introductory note signed by the... Read full description
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P.O. Box 3636
Williamsport, PA 17701
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Full Contact Information
