Colonial America
1771 Paul Revere Engraved Masthead for THE BOSTON GAZETTE Newspaper with Faneuil Hall "Lottery Scheme"
August 26, 1771-Dated Pre Revolutionary War Colonial Boston, Newspaper, "THE BOSTON-GAZETTE, AND COUNTRY JOURNAL," Printed by Edes & Gill, Queen-Street, Boston, Massachusetts, with Paul Revere, Jr. Engraved Woodcut Masthead, historic content and a new Faneuil Hall "Lottery Scheme" article, Choice Very Fine.
Rare complete and important Paul Revere-engraved masthead that illustrates Freedom with the engraved scene of a woman who has opened a birdcage, thus allowing the bird within to escape and fly away to achieve its liberty. Issue No. 833, measuring 15.5" x 9.5", 4 pages. Front page article with an account of "a battle fought between the Militia of North Carolina, commanded by William Tryon... and a party of men who stile themselves Regulators." The conflict ended with the Governor promising to "protect and redress them against any unlawful extortions and oppressions of any officer in the county; provided they would disperse and so home," at which point the people cried out, "Agreed! That is all we want; liberty to make our grievances known." A highlight is the 6" long historic notice on page 3: "SCHEME Of a LOTTERY," to finance the rebuilding of Faneuil Hall! Page two has a letter to his "Excellency Governor Thomas Hutchinson" from the "Essex Gazette" newspaper, in which grievances against the Crown are declared with great clarity and in detail including the hated Tax. Clean and pleasing, wear to edges, inked contemporary signature of a previous owner "Lemuel Holley" (sic) on front page left margin with a tiny tear made by the writer's quil pen. Overall, an attractive example having excelent historic content plus its well printed sharp and clear Paul Revere Masthead, suitable for framing and display.