1 piece.
(Declaration of Independence.) The Pennsylvania Journal; and The Weekly Advertiser. (Philadelphia), Wednesday, July 10, 1776. 4 pp., folio. Small paper loss at old folds affecting a few words in the text of The Declaration & elsewhere; professionally restored to archival standards. Graphic illustrated masthead. Subscriber's name in ink above masthead, contemporary ink inscription at upper left, "The Declaration of Independence by The Congress in this Paper, July 4th, 1776." Housed in custom gilt-lettered blue Italian goatskin folder.
Among the rarest early newspaper printings of the Declaration of Independence, this complete issue of William and Thomas Bradford's weekly prints in large bold type on its front page the dramatic heading "A Declaration" and "United States" under which the complete text of the declaration is presented, with only its closing and John Hancock's signature, (in large bold type) on the second page.
The Pennsylvania Journal was established on December 2, 1742 by William Bradford. During the Revolutionary era, it became a great Patriot organ and early advocate of independence. It was the original publisher of Thomas Paine's first "Crisis" paper. Although forced to suspend publication several times during the Revolutionary War's British occupation of Philadelphia, The Journal did not cease publication altogether until September 18, 1793.
This issue is replete with news of the American Revolution, a detailed eyewitness account of the Battle of Trois Rivieres, led on the American side by General "Mad" Anthony Wayne and others, is presented (likely for the first time) as well as reports of General Burgoyne and other British troops and supplies sailing to prosecute the war in America; Benjamin Franklin's appointment as a delegate from Philadelphia to the Pennsylvania Convention is also reported.
No copy of this issue of the Pennsylvania Journal has appeared at auction since 1988. Clarence S. Brigham's History and Bibliography of American Newspapers, 1690-1720 records only five institutional holdings. This copy is likely the only one in private hands, and thus the only one available to the market.