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One of the earliest newspapers from the colonies...
One of the earliest newspapers from the colonies...
Item # 678543
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May 04, 1732
THE AMERICAN WEEKLY MERCURY, Philadelphia, January 14, 1728-9 The double-date is due to the use of two calendars at the time, the older Julian and the more modern Gregorian. The year by the Gregorian calendar is 1729.
As any serious collector of newspapers knows, it is exceedingly difficult to find any colonial American newspapers from before 1760, let alone an issue from 1729. And although we have offered several issues of this title through our 45 years, this is three years earlier than any we have on our records.
This title began in 1719 and only published through 1749. It was the very first newspaper in all of the Middle Colonies, and only the fourth newspaper published in all of the American colonies.
This is a great issue from the premier city of the colonies at that time--when Ben Franklin was just beginning his career--and a handsome issue as well, as the masthead features two wood engravings, one showing a newsboy on horseback "trumpeting" the news.
As was typical with such early American newspapers much of this issue is taken up with European reports, although the back page has several news items from Annapolis and Philadelphia. One report is of a slave having shot to death his master.
The back page also includes several advertisements including a runaway ad. The imprint appears at the bottom of the back page: "Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by Andrew Bradford...". The Bradford family published newspapers in various towns during the colonial period.
Four pages, there is a dime-size hole in the front leaf affecting 4 words on each of pages 1 & 2, otherwise a bit close-trimmed to a portion of the top margin affecting the top border of the "trumpeting" engraving. Some light dirtiness, never bound nor trimmed. Priced dramatically less than the $3600 price due to the small hole.
A rare opportunity for an American newspapers from the decade of the 1720's.
Category: The 1600's and 1700's
No Longer Available
