Historic Newspapers: American Forefathers

THE LONDON GAZETTE, England, Aug. 10, 1710  The back page has a notable report: "The Queen hath been pleased to appoint the Honourable Lord Archibald Hamilton to be Captain-General and Governor in

"An Astronomical Diary Or An ALMANACK..." for the year 1738, printed in Boston by John Draper.  This is a great rarity, and one of the earliest American imprints we have been fortunate enough to

THE AMERICAN WEEKLY MERCURY, Philadelphia, April 3, 1735

• Among the earliest of American newspapers
• Very early & rare colonial publication

As any serious collector of newspapers knows, it is

THE AMERICAN WEEKLY MERCURY, Philadelphia, May 15, 1735

• Among the earliest of American newspapers
• Very early & rare colonial publication

As any serious collector of newspapers knows, it is

THE BOSTON GAZETTE, "New-England", March 12, 1739

• Extremely early & rare Colonial publication

This is one of the most noted & long-lived American newspapers we have had the pleasure to offer, and is

THE BOSTON WEEKLY NEWS-LETTER, "New England", April 10-17, 1740

• Among the earliest of American newspapers to be had
• Ad for sale of a "healthy negro woman"

This very rare title was the first

THE CHRISTIAN HISTORY, (Boston), May 5, 1743  This was the first successful magazine in America although formatted unlike typical magazines. It was exclusively a chronicle of the Great Awakening in

THE CHRISTIAN HISTORY, (Boston), May 14, 1743  This was the first successful magazine in America although formatted unlike typical magazines. It was exclusively a chronicle of the Great Awakening in

THE CHRISTIAN HISTORY, (Boston), May 21, 1743  This was the first successful magazine in America although formatted unlike typical magazines. It was exclusively a chronicle of the Great Awakening in

THE CHRISTIAN HISTORY, (Boston), March 10, 1743,4  (year noted as such as it was 1743 or 1744 depending on which calendar was used).
This was the very first successful magazine in America, preceded

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 of

THE CHRISTIAN HISTORY, (Boston),  March 3, 1743,4 (1744 by today's calendar)  This was the very first successful magazine in America, preceded by just a few magazines which lasted but a couple of

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, April, 1747

• 18th Century Genoa, Italy map
• "The Speech of Polly Baker"
• Early Benjamin Franklin story

Inside includes the well-known Ben Franklin item: "Speech of Polly

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, July, 1752

• Benjamin Franklin
• Electricity experiments
• Lightning rod

An inside page has an extremely significant article titled: "A Cut and Description of a Machine,

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, December, 1752  Inside has a terrific account of a legendary event in history--the famous kite experiment conducted by Benjamin Franklin. Note there is even mention

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, December, 1752  Inside has a terrific account of a legendary event in history--the famous kite experiment conducted by Benjamin Franklin. Note there is even mention

THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, Philadelphia, July 19, 1753

• Most famous of newspapers
• Benjamin Franklin (very rare)

In the imprint at the bottom of the back page is the much desired Benjamin Franklin

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, February, 1755  Among the articles are: "Secret of the Fire-eating Art" "An Account of some New Experiments on Human Blood" "Life of a Modern Physician" "A Letter

THE MARYLAND GAZETTE, Annapolis, March 13, 1755

• Very rare & early American publication

A very scarce and early newspaper from the early period of the French & Indian War. Rarely are we able to offer

GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, November, 1755  Of great interest is: "Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind, Peopling of Countries, etc. By B. Franklin, Esq. of Philadelphia", which takes 3

THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, Philadelphia, Feb. 12, 1756

• Rare Benjamin Franklin publication
• Early Colonel George Washington
• French and Indian War officer

A fine Ben Franklin issue from the French &

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, September 4, 1759

• "Political Aphorisms...", by Benjamin Franklin (?)

The first and a portion of the second column on page 7 has "Political Aphorisms concerning

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, Feb. 2, 1760  Most of the front page is retaken up with: "The Speech of the Hon. James Hamilton, Governor of Pennsylvania...to the General Assembly of the said

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, Feb. 2, 1760  Most of the front page is retaken up with: "The Speech of the Hon. James Hamilton, Governor of Pennsylvania...to the General Assembly of the said

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, April 19, 1760

• Book by Benjamin Franklin advertisement

The back page has an advertisement for a book headed: "This Day was Published". The text of the ad reads: "The

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, January 19, 1768  Page 2 has a letter from Pittsburgh mentioning: "It is feared here that an Indian war will break out in the Spring...on an act of hostility committed by a

SUPPLEMENT TO THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, No. 2119  (Philadelphia, Aug. 3, 1769)

• Rare colonial publication

This "Supplement" issue came with the Aug. 3, 1769 (date not printed here) issue of the

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE London, September, 1773

• Phillis Wheatley poem & biography
• Famous Woman servant turned poet

Near the back is a printing of a poem titled: "On Recollection" which was written

THE MASSACHUSETTS SPY, Or Thomas's Boston Journal, October 27, 1774

• Extremely rare publication w/ Paul Revere
• Pre American Revolutionary War era
• "Join or Die" snake issue masthead

It would be

THE PENNSYLVANIA JOURNAL; AND THE WEEKLY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, December 7, 1774

• Benjamin Franklin's "Unite Or Die" cartoon

If there was one graphic which represented the spirit of the

THE PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE, Philadelphia, February, 1775

• Pre American Revolutionary War
• Thomas Paine - first time as editor

This is a very rare magazine, published only from January, 1775 thru July,

THE CRISIS, London, March 11, 1775

• Very rare publication
• British pro-American

In our over 50 years of dealing in rare newspapers, we have only once had the great fortune to encounter issues of this

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 distinction

THE PENNSYLVANIA JOURNAL; AND THE WEEKLY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, April 5, 1775

• Benjamin Franklin's "Unite Or Die" cartoon

If there was one graphic that represented the spirit of the Revolutionary

THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE, Williamsburg (with Supplement), April 28, 1775

• Very rare Colonial Virginia title
• Gunpowder Incident - Affair

This newspaper was published by Alexander Purdie, a distinction to

PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, May 11, 1775

• The Battles of Lexington and Concord
• Start of American Revolutionary War

This is a gem of an issue, as it is what all serious collectors seek for

THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, June 27, 1775

• Battle of Bunker Hill - Charlestown
• Siege of Boston, Massachusetts
• George Washington named commander
• American Revolutionary War

Almost the

THE CONNECTICUT JOURNAL & THE NEW HAVEN POST-BOY, July 5, 1775

• Battle of Bunker Hill - Charlestown
• Siege of Boston, Massachusetts
• George Washington named commander
• American Revolutionary War
• Terrific

THE PROVIDENCE GAZETTE & COUNTRY JOURNAL, Rhode Island, July 29, 1775  In the world of American Revolutionary literature and manuscripts three bodies of work stand out: 1) Thomas Paine's Common

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 concerning

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, December, 1775

• Early Version of the Articles of Confederation
• Captain Cook and his voyage to the South Pacific

Over three pages taken up with: "Protest entered in

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 ads, with

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

THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, March 9, 1776

• Rare Revolutionary War era title
• Tory issue from Pennsylvania
• Great year to have (1776)

This was a decidedly Tory newspaper, supportive of the

THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, March 26, 1776

• British evacuation of Boston
• American Revolutionary War
• Great year to have (1776)

Wonderful to have a newspaper not just dated 1776, but

THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, March 30, 1776

• American Revolutionary War
• Great year to have (1776)
• Benjamin Franklin song

The front page begins with a wonderful letter beginning; "The

THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, April 6, 1776  Wonderful to have a newspaper not just from 1776, but less than 3 months before the Declaration of Independence (which was first printed

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 have

A

THE GENTLEMAN’S MAGAZINE. London, August 1776

• Original Declaration of Independence... the complete text
• From our American Revolutionary War foe

This issue contains one of the earliest British

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 of