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Notable ad for Paine's "Common Sense"... Much on the faltering relationship with America...
Notable ad for Paine's "Common Sense"... Much on the faltering relationship with America...
Item # 704396
January 18, 1776
THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, Jan. 18, 1776 Wonderful to find a newspaper not just dated 1776, but from Philadelphia.
The entire front page is taken up with reports from Parliament, much concerning the tension with the American colonies. A few items include: "...we behold, with the utmost concern, the disorders & discontents in the British Colonies, rather increased than diminished...tending to tarnish the lustre of the British arms...to nourish without hope of end, a most unhappy civil war...we shall be most willing to apply the most effectual means of restoring order to the distracted affairs of the British empire..." and more.
Another part notes in part: "...I call the war with our brethren in America an unjust, felonious war, because the primary cause & confessed origin of it is the attempt to take their money from them without their consent...I trust no part of the subjects of this vast empire all ever submit to be slaves...the Americans are too high spirited to book the idea...More than half the empire is already lost...England was never engaged in a contest for such importance...We are fighting for the subjection of a country infinitely more extended than our own...Bunker Hill, with the loss of 1200 men. Are we to pay as dearly for the rest of America..." and much more.
More on this, and additional war-related reports can be seen in the photos, to lengthy to detail here.
Of notable significance is the back page advertisement dated at Philadelphia, January 9, 1776, beginning: "This day was published, and is now selling by Robert Bell, in Third street (price two shillings) COMMON SENSE, addressed to the Inhabitants of America, on the following interesting subjects..." with more. Historical accounts differ on the formal date of Common Sense being published, some noting January 9 and others January 10.
Many history scholars have credited this very significant work with leading the charge for independence from, rather than reconciliation with, England. The latter was the mood of most in America in early 1776, also a time when the spirits of the American forces was at their lowest ebb and their future military success looking very doubtful. Common Sense, by Thomas Paine, changed all that.
Terrific to have this historic advertisement of its printing in a Philadelphia newspaper, the town where Common Sense was written & published.
Four pages, never-trimmed margins, 8 1/4 by 10 1/4 inches, two small binding holes at the blank spine, an archival mend at the top margin not effecting any type, very nice condition.
Category: Revolutionary War
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