The Pre 1799 Rare Newspaper Collection

For hundreds of years, the reading medium of Newspapers has amassed a strong popularity since the time of Ancient Rome. Carved into either metal or stone, these plaques were placed in public venues, mainly displaying governmental bulletins.

Today, newspapers contain up-to-date news, articles, features and a variety of advertising made for the sole purpose of informing society of what’s relevant in the here and now. Historic Newspapers is an established archive business of over 25 years, owning the largest private archive of British Newspapers, with over 4 million in stock and dating back to 1680.

This Pre 1799 Rare Newspaper Collection showcases Original Newspapers printed on the day, covering events from the 17th and 18th century. They are the earliest news sheets and papers to emerge in Britain, and begin with reports on the reign of William of Orange and Queen Mary II from 1689.

Following on from this date, the collection showcases original features on The Great Capture of Geriah in 1756, by Vice Admiral Watson aided by the British Squadron and the seven years war till 1763. 1757 displays the Loss of the Doddington Ship and Loss of Bengal Garrison, detailing the events captured at the time. From 1788 onwards, titles feature in-depth coverage on the 50th birthday of King George III, the Illness of George III and finally, The Madness of King George III before his deteriorating mental health, and incapability of his court to handle his condition.

Each of these newspapers are original artefacts, covering the news of the day as it developed, and as reported in the early newspaper titles of the 17th as well as the 18th Century.

The Evolution of the Modern Format Newspaper

Before the invention of the printing press, single hand written news sheets were known. With increasing literacy rates and print technology, newspapers in the 17th and 18th century slowly emerged into the format and style familiar today, with regular editions. Before the 17th / 18th Century, newspapers were more like information sheets printed on two sides of a single sheet and printed only for key news events.

The London Gazette began publication in 1660 and is considered to be the newspaper that decisively changed the look of English news printing. The style echoes the coranto format of two columns and clear title and clear date, developed in Holland in the early 17th Century. It was issued on a biweekly basis. Other English papers began issuance on a tri weekly period and eventually dailies began, partially because of a change in the postal system and the continuing popularity of this reading medium.

Newspapers in this period in general included short articles, ephemeral topics, some illustrations, service articles (classifieds), dates they were printed, were unbound and were often written by multiple authors (although the authors’ identities were often obscured). They began to contain some advertisements and did not yet include sections. Mass market papers emerged, including Sunday papers for workers to read in their leisure time. Newspaper titles familiar today came into being in the late 18th Century including The Times. It began its publication in the 1780s and adopted new technologies and set the standards for other newspapers.

The Pre 1799 Rare Newspaper Collection Titles

Please email research@historic-newspapers.co.uk or call John McMillan on 01988 402 132 if interested in these or any other key dates, from Nelson’s victory at the Nile and Trafalgar, Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, Jack The Ripper, Queen Victoria’s coronation and funeral to more recent events such as Kennedy’s assassination, the lunar landings and 9/11.

Back to the top ↑