American Historical Ephemera and Photography

The Pennsylvania Gazette. No. 1326. Philadelphia, PA: [Benjamin Franklin], 22 May 1754. 4pp., folio, 25 x 18 1/4 in. 4pp., folio, 14 3/4 x 9 1/2 in. This issue was originally produced as a 6-page newspaper with the last page (page 5/6) being solely an advertising supplement. Thus, this is a 4-page issue, lacking the Ben Franklin imprint colophon, which was located at the bottom of the advertising leaf. (Fully separated at centerfold. Chipping to edges. Toning, occasional soiling.)

With inside page news of the upcoming Albany Congress, a meeting of representatives sent by the legislatures of seven of the thirteen British North American Colonies to discuss better relations with the Native American tribes and common defensive measures against the French threat from Canada in the opening stages of the French and Indian War. Delegates did not have the goal of creating an American nation; rather, they were colonists with the more limited mission of pursuing a treaty with the Mohawk and other major Iroquois tribes.
This was the first time colonists had met together, which provided a model that came into use in setting up the Stamp Act Congress in 1765 as well as the First Continental Congress in 1774, which were preludes to the American Revolution.

[With:] The Pennsylvania Gazette. No. 1395. Philadelphia, PA: [Benjamin Franklin], 18 September 1755. 4pp., folio, 14 3/4 x 9 3/4 in. This issue was originally produced as a 6-page newspaper with the last page (page 5/6) being solely an advertising supplement. Thus, this is a 4-page issue, lacking the Ben Franklin imprint colophon, which was located at the bottom of the advertising leaf. (Fully separated along centerfold. Edge and corner wear including some chipping, short tears. Occasional spotting.)

The issue features an inside-page report on the Battle of Lake George, which took place on 8 September 1755, during the French and Indian War. American William Johnson, building Ft. William Henry with 3,500 Colonials and 400 Indians, defeats Baron Dieskau in the Battle of Lake George, NY. 

Together, 2 newspapers.