Historic Newspapers: Founding Fathers (U.S.)
The following newspapers include articles with content related to: George Washington, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Hancock, Patrick Henry, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, George Mason, Thomas Paine, Paul Revere, and Benjamin Rush.
You may also want to consider doing a search for the following who have not been included within these listings:
Josiah Bartlett, Carter Braxton, John Calhoun, Charles Carroll, Samuel Chase, Abraham Clark, Henry Clay, George Clymer, John Dickinson, William Ellery, William Floyd, and Elbridge Gerry
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, Benjamin Harrison, John Hart, Joseph Hewes, Thomas Heyward, William Hooper, Stephen Hopkins, Francis Hopkinson, Samuel Huntington, and Andrew Jackson
Francis Lightfoot Lee, Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lewis, Philip Livingston, Thomas Lynch, Thomas McKean, Arthur Middleton, Lewis Morris, Robert Morris, John Morton, and Thomas Nelson
William Paca, John Penn, William Penn, Thomas Stone, Robert Treat Paine, George Read, Caesar Rodney, George Ross, Edward Rutledge, Roger Sherman, and Richard Stockton
Adam Smith, James Smith, George Taylor, Matthew Thornton, George Walton, Daniel Webster, William Whipple, William Williams, James Wilson, John Witherspoon, Oliver Wolcott, and George Wythe
If you believe we have a significant omission, please contact us with their name at: guy@rarenewspapers.com
You may also want to consider doing a search for the following who have not been included within these listings:
Josiah Bartlett, Carter Braxton, John Calhoun, Charles Carroll, Samuel Chase, Abraham Clark, Henry Clay, George Clymer, John Dickinson, William Ellery, William Floyd, and Elbridge Gerry
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, Benjamin Harrison, John Hart, Joseph Hewes, Thomas Heyward, William Hooper, Stephen Hopkins, Francis Hopkinson, Samuel Huntington, and Andrew Jackson
Francis Lightfoot Lee, Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lewis, Philip Livingston, Thomas Lynch, Thomas McKean, Arthur Middleton, Lewis Morris, Robert Morris, John Morton, and Thomas Nelson
William Paca, John Penn, William Penn, Thomas Stone, Robert Treat Paine, George Read, Caesar Rodney, George Ross, Edward Rutledge, Roger Sherman, and Richard Stockton
Adam Smith, James Smith, George Taylor, Matthew Thornton, George Walton, Daniel Webster, William Whipple, William Williams, James Wilson, John Witherspoon, Oliver Wolcott, and George Wythe
If you believe we have a significant omission, please contact us with their name at: guy@rarenewspapers.com
Found 799 Results
-
Item #702283THE AMERICAN MAGAZINE, Boston, May, 1745
* Very rare & early colonial magazine
* Great Boston masthead engraving
This is a very rare title, actually the first successful magazine in American history done in the traditional magazine format (Christian History preceded this by several years but was exclusively a chronicle of... Read full description -
Item #703481THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, Philadelphia, July 26, 1750 A quite early colonial newspaper published by none other than Benjamin Franklin, although the "advertising leaf" which appeared with this issue, and upon which was the imprint of "B. Franklin", is not here as it was typically not bound with the issue... Read full description
-
Item #701438THE 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, easily Constructed, for Making the Experiment by which Franklin's new Theory of... Read full description -
Item #703537THE 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 imprint, noted as: "Printed By B. FRANKLIN, Post-Master, and D. HALL at the New Printing Office, near the Market". Franklin... Read full description -
Item #703479THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, Philadelphia, Aug. 2, 1753 In the imprint at the bottom of the back page is the much-desired Benjamin Franklin imprint, noted as: "Printed By B. FRANKLIN, Post-Master, and D. HALL at the New Printing Office, near the Market". Franklin would later dissolve his involvement with this newspaper he made... Read full description
-
Item #703480THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, Philadelphia, Oct. 4, 1753
* The iconic Benjamin Franklin newspaper
A quite early colonial newspaper published by none other than Benjamin Franklin, although the "advertising leaf" which appeared with this issue, and upon which was the imprint of "B. Franklin", is not here as it was... Read full description -
Item #694150THE 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 Maryland newspapers from such an early year.
Page 2 has a report from Halifax, Nova Scotia,... Read full description -
Item #710763THE 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 & Indian War period, which includes what we believe is the earliest... Read full description -
Item #645683GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, May, 1757
* Early Major George Washington
* Jewish colony in the East Indies
The first 2 1/2 pages have reports from the French & Indian War in America, including five letters written by General Braddock datelined Williamsburgh and Alexandria. In the... Read full description -
Item #694196THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, Dec. 29, 1757 Fully half of page 4 is taken up with a fine letter regarding the on-going French & Indian War. It begins: "The preservation of our Colonies and preventing the French from making any encroachments was the cause and design of the present war. But we have yet... Read full description
-
Item #697976THE 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 Population", signed "F", which has recently been attributed to Ben Franklin (see Swann Auctions for more... Read full description -
Item #715671THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, April, 1768
* Ben Franklin letter regarding the poor
* Engraving of Pascal Paoli of Corsica
Taking nearly two pages (156-157) is a letter: "Hardheartedness to the Poor Considered" which was written by Ben Franklin specifically for this... Read full description -
Item #713644THE PENNSYLVANIA CHRONICLE & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, Sept. 26, 1768
This newspaper was a primary means of voicing the anti-British sentiment that was rapidly spreading throughout the colonies prior to the American Revolution. The paper gained much notoriety when Goddard printed an... Read full description -
Item #696050THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, Feb. 4, 1769
* One year prior to the "Boston Massacre"
* Pre American Revolutionary War tensions
Page 2 has an interesting report: "It is whispered, that some letters of great importance and bad tendency, which were written in the spring to the... Read full description -
Item #687381THE PENNSYLVANIA CHRONICLE & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, March 6, 1769
* Early Yankee Doodle song mention
* Importation - exportation tensions
The front page has an interesting article about: "...George being now master of the ceremonies made the music play just as he pleased; and one night...he swore he would exhibit to the... Read full description -
Item #701324PENNSYLVANIA CHRONICLE & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, July 3, 1769
* The Non-Importation movement
The front page includes an illustration relating to a new kind if water-powered mill. Page 3 has an interesting report of: "A bill for a charitable lottery for the relief of distressed Virgins in Great Britain" which... Read full description -
Events in Charlestown, SC - pre-Battle of Alamance...
Item #567722THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, June, 1771 Near the back is a full page headed "American Affairs" which includes: "Charles-Town, May 8. The General Assembly of the province of Georgia, met at Savannah on the 23d past. On the 24th the new elected Commons House of Assembly unanimously re-chose the Hon. Noble... Read full description -
Item #667871THE 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 by the famed black poetess Phillis Wheatley. This piece also includes a brief biography of her.
Phillis Wheatley was... Read full description -
Item #711660ROYAL AMERICAN MAGAZINE, Boston, July, 1774
* Exceedingly rare periodical just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War
* Masthead engraving by Paul Revere with outer wrappers (rare)
The quite famous and extremely rare magazine published by Isaiah Thomas. This is the first of the title we have offered in... Read full description -
Item #719725THE 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 difficult to properly place both the scarcity and... Read full description -
Item #716892THE 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, 1776, containing the Declaration of Independence in its final issue.
It was the only American magazine to print the... Read full description -
Item #724559THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE (with Supplement), Williamsburg, Mar. 17, 1775 This newspaper was published by Alexander Purdie, a distinction to be made since there were three newspapers of this title printed in Williamsburg during the early period of the Revolutionary War.
The entire front page is a terrific... Read full description -
Item #705418THE 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 War, it would have to be the ubiquitous segmented snake with the famous "Unite Or Die"... Read full description -
Item #701395PENNSYLVANIA 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 their Revolutionary War collection: an American newspaper with a terrific report on the famous battles at Lexington and Concord.
This page 3 report,... Read full description -
Item #697032THE 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 entire front page is taken up with a terrific and vitriolic attack on General Gage concerning his actions at... Read full description -
Item #687295THE 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 issue w/ many reports
Nice engraving in the masthead of a post boy on horseback.
... Read full description -
Item #700583THE 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 Sense; 2) the Declaration of Independence; and 3) the earliest of the Revolutionary trinity: The Causes and... Read full description
-
Item #702529THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, August, 1775
* Causes & Necessities for Taking Up Arms
* American Revolutionary War beginning
Taking 3 1/2 pages is "A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies of North America, now met in General Congress at Philadelphia, setting forth... 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 -
Lexington & Concord content...
Item #718011THE 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 the front page contains not only the full text of the Conciliatory Resolution by Parliament, but the Continental Congress' lengthy response to it, signed... Read full description -
Item #692362THE CONNECTICUT JOURNAL, New Haven, Sept. 27, 1775
* American Revolutionary War
The front page has some reports on the actions of Major Rogers in Maryland & Virginia. Also mention of work of the Virginia Provincial Convention. Plus a report of a soldier: "...who\ is on his parole in Gen. Wooster's camp. This... Read full description -
Item #677956GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, October, 1775
* Early events of the Revolutionary War
* Early map of the Boston, Massachusetts area
The first several pages contain a nice account of Parliamentary discussion concerning the troubles in America, a portion including: "...the rebellious war... Read full description -
Item #720649THE LONDON MAGAZINE, England October, 1775
* Conciliatory plan with the American colonies
* Continental Congress rejects the offer
* Prelude to the American Revolutionary War
Over 2 pages area taken up with the document--signed in type by John Hancock--in which the Continental... Read full description -
Item #687318STORY & HUMPHREYS'S PENNSYLVANIA MERCURY & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, October 6, 1775
* Battle of Bunker Hill
* Revolutionary War
* Very rare publication
Certainly one of the more scarce titles from during the Revolutionary War. This is the volume 1 number 27 issue of a... Read full description -
Item #701321THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, Philadelphia, Oct. 11, 1775
* General George Washington
* Battle of Bunker Hill - Boston
* American Revolutionary War
This is a wonderful issue on several accounts.
Taking the middle column of the front page is a notable address which: "...will be... Read full description -
Item #687211THE 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 George Washington: "General Washington, who was lately appointed Generalissimo over the Provincials, has... Read full description -
Item #704397THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Jan. 20, 1776
* American Revolutionary War
* Great year to have (1776)
* Fife and drum corps advertisement
Great to offer an American newspaper dated in 1776 and from Philadelphia.
Most of the front page is taken up with a detailed description on how to make saltpetre... Read full description -
Item #704399THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Jan. 25, 1776
* The "dishonest malevolence" controversy
* Thomas Paine "Common Sense" & Robert Bell
* Great year to have (1776) Revolutionary War
As a bit of a back story, printer Robert Bell ran an advertisement taking... Read full description -
Item #723820THE ESSEX JOURNAL & NEW HAMPSHIRE PACKET, Newburyport, Massachusetts, Feb. 9, 1776
* Paul Revere masthead engraving
* American Revolutionary War
* Great year to have (1776)
There were but a few masthead engravings of the 18th century which were created by Paul Revere. The "Massachusetts Spy" is perhaps the most... Read full description -
Item #715770THE 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 British efforts in America. This newspaper ended publication in June, 1778 when the British evacuated the city.
Over half of the front... Read full description -
Item #687419THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, March 30, 1776
* Rare Revolutionary War era title
* Tory issue from Pennsylvania
* Great year to have (1776)
This was a decidedly Tory newspaper, supportive of the British efforts in America. This newspaper ended publication in June, 1778 when the... Read full description -
Item #704673THE 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 Ministry have boasted much of their regular, their... Read full description -
Item #700574NEW-ENGLAND CHRONICLE: OR THE ESSEX GAZETTE, April 4, 1776
* Ethan Allen as a prisoner
* General George Washington
* American Revolutionary War
* Great year to have (1776)
A wealth of fine content in this issue from this desirable year.
Page 2 has a wonderful address from... Read full description -
Item #703276THE AMERICAN GAZETTE; OR THE CONSTITUTIONAL JOURNAL, Salem, Massachusetts, June 25, 1776
* Very rare Revolutionary War publication
* Volume 1 Number 2 issue - great year to have
This is the volume one, number two issue of a very rare newspaper. Its rarity would seem to be sufficient for its desirability, as... Read full description -
Item #687396THE UNIVERSAL MAGAZINE, London, England, August, 1776
* Original Declaration of Independence... the complete text
* As reported from Great Britain
It would be difficult to argue for a more important document in American history than the Declaration of Independence. It remains a desire of most collectors to find issues containing reference to... Read full description -
Item #715771THE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER, Philadelphia, Nov. 30, 1776
* Rare Revolutionary War era title
* Tory issue from Pennsylvania
* Great year to have (1776)
(editor's copy) This was a decidedly Tory newspaper, supportive of the British efforts in America. This newspaper ended publication in June, 1778 when the... Read full description -
Item #703307THE CONNECTICUT COURANT & WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, Hartford, Feb. 10, 1777
* Thomas Paine's "American Crisis"
* Essay # 2 re. Revolutionary War
* Intended to bolster American morale
Almost the entire front page is taken up with the continuation of Thomas Paine's essay #2 of his famous... Read full description -
Samuel Webster's 1777 sermon...
Item #706755Pamphlet: "A SERMON Preached before the Honorable COUNCIL, and the Honorable House of Representatives, of the state of Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England. At BOSTON, May 28, 1777. Being the anniversary for the election of the Honorable Council. By Samuel Webster, A.M. Pastor of a church in Salisbury."
Printed at Boston, by Edes and Gill,... Read full description -
Item #667876THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, Sept., 1777
* Siege of Fort Ticonderoga
* General George Washington
* American Revolutionary War
Over 2 1/2 pages are taken up with: "Letter from Gen. Washington to Gen. Sir William Howe" from Middlebrook, June 10, 1777, signed by him in type: Geo. Washington. This is... Read full description -
Item #702480GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, December, 1777
* Battles of Saratoga
* General John Burgoyne surrenders
* Germantown and Brandywine
The very first article is a two page continued: "Debate in the House of Lords on Lord Chatham's Motion for an Address to his Majesty relative to the American War".
This is one of the more... Read full description






















































