Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers currently serves as consultants to the Freedom Forum and the American Antiquarian Society, and are members of the Ephemera Society of America. Our issues have been or are currently on display at The Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, Pa., The Stephen Decatur House Museum, Disney World, the Newseum, and the Smithsonian (as well as many other historical museums throughout the country), and are found hanging on the walls of the Supreme Court. They are acknowledged as one of the top collectors and dealers of original and historic newspapers in the world. With one of the largest and most comprehensive newspaper inventories to be found anywhere, their rare newspapers have been featured in books, movies and magazines. Every item offered is guaranteed to be absolutely genuine and as described – no reprints or reproductions of any kind.

In addition to a massive online offering at rarenewspapers.com, they also maintain an extensive eBay store, History’s Newsstand, with thousands of listings.

As sponsor of the Printing Office of Edes & Gill, Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers contributes marketing services and authentic, early newspapers, which we display and offer for sale at the print shop. Guy Heilenman, president of Hughes Rare Newspapers, also serves on our Executive Advisory Board. Thank you, Guy and the Hughes Rare Newspapers, for your generous support!

For more videos, click visit http://www.youtube.com/user/RareNewspapers

Before 1870, newspapers were printed on a heavy-duty paper made by pulping linen rags, often from clothes or ship sails. Thanks to the durability of rag linen paper and Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press, history’s most important events from the 15th through the 19th centuries are often well preserved in printed form. The historic accounts printed within the pages of these newspapers and periodicals come to life in the Rag Linen blog.

With historic newspapers you’ll travel back in time to read reports from the Late Middle Ages, the European Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment. You’ll learn about the evolution of the British Empire and the settling of the first American colonies. You’ll better understand the pain and suffering from countless European and American wars, including these major conflicts:

* The Eighty Years’ War (1566-1648)
* The Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648)
* The English Civil Wars (1642-1651)
* King Philip’s War (1675-1676)
* The War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748)
* The French and Indian War (1756-1763)
* The American Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
* The War of 1812 (1812-1815)
* The American Civil War (1861-1865)

Todd Andrlik is the curator, designer, historian and author working behind the scenes at Rag Linen. Todd works diligently to preserve original historic newspapers for future generations. Early newspapers were printed on durable paper made of linen rags and often bound by libraries for long-term storage; however, these newspapers survived countless natural and man-made disasters, including wars, floods, fires and deaccession, so many still show scars such as tears, holes, stains, acidification and non-archival tape mends. Through a partnership with one of the top paper conservators in the world, Todd helps save these first drafts of history from loss and restores them as close as possible to their original condition. The restored papers are then shared for public research and education via raglinen.com.

As a sponsor of the Printing Office of Edes & Gill, Todd Andrlik contributes web design and marketing services. Todd also serves on the Executive Advisory Board of the Printing Office. Thank you, Todd and Rag Linen, for your generous support!

The enduring fame of the Old North began on the evening of April 18, 1775, when the church sexton, Robert Newman, climbed the steeple and held high two lanterns as a signal from Paul Revere that the British were marching to Lexington and Concord by sea and not by land. This fateful event ignited the American Revolution.

The Old North Church is officially known as Christ Church in the City of Boston. It was built in 1723, and is the oldest standing church building in Boston. In 1775, on the eve of Revolution, the majority of the congregation were loyal to the British King and many held official positions in the royal government, including the Royal Governor of Massachusetts, making Robert Newman’s loyalty to the Patriot cause even more extraordinary. The King gave the Old North’s its silver that was used at services and a bible.

Today the Old North Foundation, a secular, not-for-profit organization, is devoted to the preservation of Old North and to creating educational and interpretive programs for students and visitors. The Foundation has embarked on a master planning process to restore the church and transform the entire campus into an interactive learning environment.

We are extremely grateful for the kindness and generosity of Old North Foundation, Christ Church and its vestry. Thank you for your support! For more information about the Old North Church, click http://oldnorth.com.

The Clough House, located adjacent to and owned by the Old North Church, was built in 1712. It’s one of the few surviving 18th century homes in Boston. Today, it houses The Printing Office of Edes & Gill. From the home’s plaque:

“This graceful home was built around 1712 and managed to survive when all its neighbors – including the house that Ben Franklin owned next door – were torn down. This was the home of one of Boston’s ‘substantial mechanicks,’ Ebenezer Clough, the master mason who helped build Christ Church (‘Old North’). Once, before the present-day promenade and newer buildings were here, many small brick houses like this one made up the prosperous neighborhood.”

Master Mason Ebenezer Clough built six identical houses at the back of Christ Church (Old North) in 1712. He settled in number 21 Unity, the only of the six still standing. The other five were demolished long ago. Benjamin Franklin lived in one of the original attached row houses.

To support our print museum financially, please consider a donation. We are a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, so donations are tax deductible.

If you wish to contribute your time or talents, please contact us at edes@bostongazette.org with details.  Thank you very much for your support and generosity!

Our Top Sponsors (contributing more than $3000 in time, talent or dollars):

• Lessons on Liberty
• Old North Foundation and Christ Church
• Rag Linen | Online Museum of Historic Newspapers
• Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers

Our hours starting April 15, 2011, will be:

Friday 10 am to 4 pm
Saturday 10 am to 4 pm
Sunday 10 am to 4 pm

Starting June 15, 2011, we anticipate opening our doors seven days a week from 10 am to 4 pm, possibly 5 pm. Stay tuned for more details soon.

About Benjamin Edes & John Gill

On April 7, 1755, Edes and Gill became the proprietors of The Boston Gazette and Country Journal. According to the author of Infamous Scribblers (2006), the Boston Gazette, arguably the most influential newspaper the country has ever known, got us into the Revolutionary War, sped up the course of the war and may have even determined the outcome of the war.

Freedom Trail

Freedom Trail is a registered trademark of the Freedom Trail Foundation.

With the opening of the colonial print shop on April 15, visitors will have the opportunity to engage living historians working their printers trade in pre-revolutionary Boston. These same printers were at the vanguard of citizen angst over British governmental policies that Bostonians felt violated their rights as Englishmen.

Historians generally agree that the Boston Patriot press was a major factor in America’s rise to rebellion and independence. Sites along today’s Freedom Trail were witnesses to our revolution, and meeting places for Patriots and Loyalists. Perhaps our colonial print shop can again be a meeting place for visitors and groups where they can gather and hear the stories of regular citizens who came together in 1775 in defense of their rights and who created a nation.

On April 7, 1755, Edes and Gill became the proprietors of The Boston Gazette and Country Journal. Edes was also a well known member of the Sons of Liberty. According to the author of Infamous Scribblers (2006), the Boston Gazette, arguably the most influential newspaper the country has ever known, got us into the Revolutionary War, sped up the course of the war and may have even determined the outcome of the war.