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Original or Reprint? A Guide to Noteworthy Newspaper Issues

Maryland Journal, and the Baltimore Advertiser

August 20, 1773

The Maryland Journal, and the Baltimore Advertiser of Friday, August 20, 1773, is the first issue, "Vol. I, Numb. I," of the first newspaper published in Baltimore. William Goddard was the editor and publisher. It is known to have been reprinted eight or more times. The quality of the paper and the style of type make it possible to distinguish the reprints from an original. Aside from this, the following variance should be noted:

  • All reprints have the announcement by William Goddard "To the Public" filling the first column of the first page and the heading "My Lord" at the top of the second column.
  • In the original, the Goddard article runs over two inches into the second column.

Source: Information Circular 7 (Revised 1957).

Library Holdings

The Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, and the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts, have the only original copies of this issue on record. Copies about which the Library of Congress has been consulted have always proven to be reprints. These have little monetary value.

The Library of Congress does not have an original copy, although it has several reprints.