The Observer. Sunday, December 4, 1791. [Facsimile Reprint]

Broadside c.48 x 32cms, folded once vertically to form 4 pages of text, and folded once horizontally for ease of storage and handling. Slight darkening at edge and near central fold, a fine copy in excellent uncreased condition. ** Facsimile reprint of the historic first issue of The Observer. The world’s oldest Sunday newspaper, The Observer was established by W. S. Bourne and printed and published in London by the little-known W. Locke. *** The venture drove Bourne deep into debt, from which he was rescued by a government subsidy in return for government direction of editorial policy. The government now used its control of the paper to counter the influential advocacy of parliamentary reform by radicals such as Tom Paine, Joseph Priestley et al. *** This facsimile of the historic first issue of The Observer features extensive advertising on the front and back pages for numerous books and magazines, as also goods and services and quack cures for various ailments. The centre spread features the credo of The Observer, along with news of war in India and developments in Botany Bay, news of the aristocracy and their fashionable residences, theatre reviews, and much about appointments, bankruptcies, births, marriages, deaths, and the price of stocks and shares. **** To order this book, please click the link Ask Bookseller A Question. We can then confirm availability.…