Home > The world's oldest continually published English language newspaper...
Click image to enlarge 722979
Hide image list »

The world's oldest continually published English language newspaper...



Item # 722979

February 13, 1667

THE LONDON GAZETTE, England, Feb. 13, 1667 (1668 by today's calendar)  

* Among the earliest of English language newspapers to be had
* Hold something in your hands from the 17th century
* Unique gift idea for that history buff


This is the world's oldest continually published English language newspaper, having begun in 1665 and is still printing in London to this day.
There are various news reports of the day from cities throughout Europe, each report with its own dateline.
Complete as a single sheet issue, 6 1/2 by 10 3/4 inches, nice condition.

AI notes: The London Gazette, first issued in 1665 as The Oxford Gazette and renamed in 1666 when publication moved to London, is one of the oldest continuously published newspapers in the world and served as the official journal of record for the British government, printing proclamations, military dispatches, and commercial notices. Early 17th-century issues were printed on small folio sheets, often just one or two pages, in extremely limited runs of a few hundred copies, and were not intended for general circulation, making them highly ephemeral. Because of their age and limited print numbers, surviving copies are exceedingly rare, with most now preserved only in institutions like the British Library or Bodleian Library, while private collectors prize them for both historical significance and scarcity. These early issues document critical events such as the Great Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of London in 1666, and their rarity, combined with the insight they offer into 17th-century government and society, means that even a single well-preserved issue can command substantial value, often in the thousands of pounds or dollars, reflecting their status as both historical artifacts and collectible items.

Category: British