BENJAMIN FRANKLIN’S LEGENDARY NEWSPAPER
GIBRALTAR CEDED TO ENGLAND – TREATY OF AIX-LA-CHAPELLE
JEWS AND MOORS BANNED FROM THE CITY!
The Pennsylvania Gazette, Philadelphia
November 10, 1748
An original issue of the printer Benjamin Franklin’s famous Gazette printed at the end of the War of the Austrian Succession (King George’s War in America). Report from Aix-la-Chapelle that the peace talks have finally come to an end. SPAIN CEDES GIBRALTAR TO GREAT BRITAIN INDEFINITELY (and set up Prudential Insurance, lol)! Printing of the Tenth Article of the Treaty: “The Catholick King, for himself, his heirs and successors, yields to the crown of Great Britain, the full property of the town and castle of Gibraltar, with the port, fortifications, and forts thereunto belonging, to be enjoyed forever without exception or impediment; but with this restriction, to prevent fraudulent importation of goods, &c.” Another interesting term of the ceding of Gibraltar reads, “That Jews or Moors shall not reside in the said town, nor shall the ships of the latter remain in the harbour, except purely on the account of merchandizing….”
There are three superb woodcut sketches of sailing vessels showing the intricacy of early printing. And, I love the notice placed by Ben Franklin himself for delinquent subscribers to pay for their accounts in full (see scan)!
Four pages, complete, original, and in simply superb condition–to see it in person is to be amazed at the quality of the rag paper. One of the finest Franklin printings in existence, and still almost ridiculously undervalued. (Mediocre condition Mickey Mantle baseball cards from 1952 sell for far more–go figure….)
$4,950