Historic Newspapers: Pre-1800 American Titles

THOMAS'S MASSACHUSETTS SPY OR WORCESTER GAZETTE, Nov. 25, 1795

* 18th century American publication

Published by Isaiah Thomas, perhaps the most famous printer of the 18th century, and whose collection… more

THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, August 10, 1776 

* Great year to have (1776)
* re. Declaration of Independence
* American Revolutionary War

This was a decidedly Tory newspaper, supportive of the… more

THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET OR THE GENERAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, May 27, 1779  The front page begins with two detailed reward ads for deserted soldiers.

One-third of the front page and over one-third… more

THE INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE AND THE UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Boston, Dec. 6, 1781 

* American Revolutionary War
* Post Surrender of Cornwallis
* Loyalist James Rivington

 The masthead features an engraving… more

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Aug. 4, 1790  

* President George Washington
* Act of Congress script signed
* Tonnage Act of 1790 - shipping

Almost a full column is taken up with an Act of Congress, headed… more

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Aug. 29, 1798  Most of the front page is taken up with  3 Acts of Congress, one for: "...the relief of sick and disabled seamen.", each signed in script type by the… more

THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET OR THE GENERAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, May 2, 1782  

* American Revolutionary War

The front page begins with a lengthy report headed: "Office of Finance" signed by: Robert

THE NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE and GENERAL ADVERTISER, Portsmouth, Feb. 23, 1782

* Rare publication during Revolutionary War

 This is certainly one of the less common titles from the Revolutionary War… more

THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET, Philadelphia, Nov. 20, 1779

* Ethan Allen captivity
* Revolutionary War original

 Most of the front page is taken up with an Act of the Pennsylvania Legislature, prefaced with… more

THE INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE & THE UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Boston, Jan. 25, 1781  

* Two John Hancock signatures
* Richard Langdon signature (President of Harvard) 

A very handsome issue as the masthead… more

THE CONNECTICUT JOURNAL, New Haven, Oct. 18, 1775

* General George Washington
* Named Commander-in-Chief 
* Continental Army - British reaction

The front page begins with a nice item from London… more

THE CONNECTICUT JOURNAL, New Haven, October 11, 1781 

* American Revolutionary War original
* American Issac Hayne's execution - hanging

Most of the front page is taken up with various correspondences… more

THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, August 17, 1776 

* Post Declaration of Independence 
* American Revolutionary War 

This exceptional, content-rich issue was published just weeks after the signing

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… more

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Feb. 27, 1796  

* President George Washington
* U.S. government in it's infancy

Fully half of the front page is taken up with an Act of Congress which is signed in script… more

THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, Feb. 24, 1776  

* Governor John Penn
* American Revolutionary War
* Great year to have (1776)

The front page has half a column taken up with 2 desertion reward… more

GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Aug. 7, 11, 14, and 28, 1790 (a 4-issue set) 

* United States Funding Act of 1790
* President George Washington signs
* Also John Adams & Thomas Jefferson

The… more

COLUMBIAN 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:… more

THE 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… more

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… more

THE INDEPENDENT GAZETTEER; OR THE CHRONICLE OF FREEDOM, Philadelphia, May 26, 1787  

* Constitutional Convention begins
* George Washington elected president 

An exceedingly historic issue as this… more

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Dec. 7, 1791 

* French Revolution
* Constitution of France

A very notable issue on the French Revolution as the front page begins with: "The French Constitution, Revised,… more

THE CHRISTIAN HISTORY, Boston, May 5, 1744  

* Rare colonial periodical 

This was the first successful magazine in America although formatted unlike typical magazines. It was exclusively a chronicle… more

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, March 31, 1798 

* Daniel Hewes's Umbrella Manufacturer advertisement

The back page has an advertisement for the: "Boston Umbrella Manufactury" by Daniel Hewes. (see… more

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Oct. 24, 1798 

* The XYZ Affair - France relations
* John Adams & Thomas Jefferson
* Battle if the Nile (Napoleon/Nelson)

The front page has an address: "To John Adams,… more

INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Boston, June 18, 1798

* Nice masthead engraving
* 18th century America

If you are looking for a handsome American newspaper of the 1700's which… more

THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE OR MONTHLY MUSEUM, Boston, May, 1789  

* President George Washington
* Inauguration - inaugural address
* A detailed eyewitness account 
* In a American publication (rare)

Rarel… more

THOMAS'S MASSACHUSETTS SPY OR WORCESTER GAZETTE, Oct. 30, 1799  Page 2 has an item noting the France has assured the President that the American envoys will be received to negotiate issues with the… more

GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, New York, Aug. 7, 1790  Taking about a full page of text, including almost all of page 2 is: "An Act making Provision for the Debt of the United States" which is signed… more

THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE (with Supplement), Williamsburg, Mar. 17, 1775 

* Very rare Colonial Virginia publication
* Election of Patrick Henry

 This newspaper was published by Alexander Purdie, a… more

THE INDEPENDENT LEDGER & THE AMERICAN ADVERTISER, Boston, Nov. 24, 1783  

"One Inflamed Enlightened Heart" patriotic masthead

A very nice feature of this issue is the masthead engraving

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Dec. 4, 1793 

* Citizen Genet Affair
* Edmond Charles Genet

The front page contains nearly a full column headed: "Official Communications" which has two letters… more

THE NEW WORLD, Philadelphia, Jan. 16, 1797  

* Rare 18th century publication
* President George Washington

A scarce title, and until a recent find, the very first we have offered in our (soon… more

THE CONNECTICUT JOURNAL, New Haven, July 24, 1776 

 * News of the Declaration of Independence spreads
* Battle of Sullivan's Island - General Charles Lee 
* American Revolutionary War - great year to… more

THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, Oct. 21, 1775

* Ethan Allen captured
* American Revolutionary War

The front page includes a letter: "To the King" which references the American… more

THE NEW JERSEY GAZETTE, Trenton, April 29, 1778  

* The Articles of Confederation (historic)
* American Revolutionary War

This was the very first newspaper in New Jersey, having begun in… more

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston Sept. 22, 1798  

* General - President George Washington

Page 3 has under "Pennsylvania": "A meeting of the deluded citizens of Kentucky, at Lexington...to the… more

THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE, Boston, August, 1795  The bulk of the issue is taken up with a wide range of eclectic articles. Among the articles are: "The Test of Virtue" "Advice to Females on the… more

THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET & DAILY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, May 4, 1789  

* President George Washington
* 1st Inauguration - inaugural address

Most of page 3 is taken up with reports on the: "Proceedings… more

THE NEW ENGLAND CHRONICLE OR THE ESSEX GAZETTE, Cambridge, Sept. 7, 1775 

* Lexington & Concord report
* John Hancock type signature
* The Conciliatory Resolution

A very historic issue as… more

THOMAS'S MASSACHUSETTS SPY OR WORCESTER GAZETTE, Dec. 12, 1798 

* Lord Horatio Nelson victorious
* Battle of the Nile - Napoleon Bonaparte
* President George Washington
* Masonic - free… more

DUNLAP'S AMERICAN DAILY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, Oct. 25, 1792  The front page features 26 illustrated ship ads. Page 2 has a letter to Anthony Wayne from Capt. John Stake on his resignation from… more

THE PENNSYLVANIA JOURNAL & THE WEEKLY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, Oct. 24, 1771  This newspaper features one of the larger & more decorative masthead engravings to be found in a colonial America… more

THE NORWICH PACKET, Norwich, Connecticut, Dec. 19, 1793  Certainly the prime content is the: "PRESIDENT'S SPEECH" to Congress, being the annual state-of-the-union address of George Washington,… more

THE DAILY ADVERTISER, New York, Jan. 28, 1789  A nice newspaper from what was the nation's capital at the time, in fact, Washington would be inaugurated in this city in just 3 months. Pages 1, 3 & 4… more

THE INDEPENDENT REFLECTOR, New York, Oct. 11, 1753 This rare newspaper lasted for less than one year, publishing but 52 issues. Primarily moral and political essays, it gave offense to men in power… more

THE HERALD; A GAZETTE FOR THE COUNTRY, New York, Feb. 18, 1797  The front page has a nice list of the various forts, the: "...posts necessary to be garrisoned in future, and the number of men… more

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, March 5, 1796  The front page has the document on the controversial Jay Treaty headed: "Ratification of the United States" reading in part: "Now, therefore, I George… more