Books and Manuscripts

An Early American Newspaper Printing of the Definitive Treaty of Paris Ending the American Revolution

Philadelphia: Printed by E. Oswald, and D. Humphreys, Saturday, December 6, 1783. Numb. 110. Bifolium leaf, 18 1/4 x 11 in. (463 x 279 mm). Printed newspaper in four columns. Disbound; creasing from old folds; scattered light foxing.

An early American newspaper with a front page printing of the Definitive Treaty of Paris, officially ending the American Revolution with Great Britain's recognition of the United States as, "Free, Sovereign, and Independent". The ten articles of the treaty are printed in full on the first and second pages, and is signed in type by the American negotiators, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay, as well as British negotiator, David Hartley.

After the Definitive Treaty was signed in Paris on September 3, 1783, news reached American shores by the end of November. The first arrival of the treaty was the official copy in the care of John Thaxter, Jr., private secretary to John Adams, who arrived in Philadelphia on November 22, 1783. The following day, the packet ship Lord Hyde landed in New York carrying British newspapers that printed the text of the historic treaty. The Lord Hyde then traveled to Philadelphia, further spreading the news. The Independent Gazetteer was one of the first newspapers in Philadelphia to print the Treaty in full.

Also printed is news of the British evacuation of New York City on November 25, along with reports of the ensuing celebrations, and letters of thanks to the people of New York from General George Washington and New York Governor George Clinton.