The Pennsylvania Evening Post - photo 1

The Pennsylvania Evening Post

Lot 104
17.01.2024 11:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 30 240
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
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Archive
ID 1119104
Lot 104 | The Pennsylvania Evening Post
Estimate value
$ 30 000 – 50 000
The Pennsylvania Evening Post

Philadelphia, March-November 1776

AMERICAN REVOLUTION – The Pennsylvania Evening Post. Nos. 174-291; No. 376. Philadelphia: Benjamin Towne, 2 March 1776 - 30 November 1776; 10 July 1777.



"Yesterday, at twelve o'clock, INDEPENDANCY was declared at the State-House in this city, in the presence of many thousand spectators, who testified their approbation of it by repeated acclamations of joy."



Nearly 100 issues of this crucial Revolutionary War newspaper, a primary news outlet of the Continental Congress; mostly in superb condition. Benjamin Towne founded his paper in early 1775 and was firm in his opposition to the British right up until they occupied Philadelphia in the fall of 1777, when he promptly switched sides. The Pennsylvania Evening Post at this period was issued every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evening and sold for "only Two Coppers." In 1783, Towne was successful enough to turn it into a daily newspaper: the first in the country.



Towne's closeness to the Continental Congress is attested by the fact that he was the first to print the Declaration of Independence in a newspaper, on the 6th of July. That particular issue of the Pennsylvania Evening Post is lacking here (it would now be worth seven figures), but the issues of July 4th and July 9th are present. The July 9th issue is particularly emotive as it reports the thrillingly famous first public proclamation of the Declaration at the Philadelphia State House yard: "Yesterday, at twelve o'clock, INDEPENDANCY was declared at the State-House in this city, in the presence of many thousand spectators, who testified their approbation of it by repeated acclamations of joy."



Indeed every issue is rich in the fabric of Revolutionary life. Topics include preparations for War, strategies against the English trade embargo, editorials on Independence, the movements and elections of Benjamin Franklin and others, the doings of George Washington, Benedict Arnold and other military news, arguments for the Declaration of Independence, Pennsylvania's Declaration of Rights (20 August 1776 issue) and the proposed Pennsylvania Constitution (10 September 1776 issue, front page). List of individual issues available on request.



92 issues, quarto (260 x 214mm). Four pages each. Scattered issues lacking, but still a very substantial run. Loose in archival folders. The first 62 issues (March through 12 September 1776) in superb condition, never bound and with deckle edges preserved (a scattered few light brown stains; remaining 30 issues washed and browned, one headline shaved, backfolds and some edges repaired). Loose in archival folders.

Auction house category:Magazines and Newspapers
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
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