Britain’s oldest newspaper is a treasure trove of trivia
Why historians love the London Gazette
On August 6th 1776 the London Gazette did what it had done for over 110 years. It named freshly bankrupted merchants. It advertised imported linens and ostrich feathers, and listed the average price of corn for each of England’s counties. And when it added that the American colonies had declared independence, it reported the news as if it were a failed business or a lost dog.
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This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Published by Authority”
Britain February 1st 2025
- Backing Heathrow expansion suggests Labour is serious about boosting growth
- Britain’s oldest newspaper is a treasure trove of trivia
- Why Britain has fallen behind on road safety
- Is British justice too secretive?
- Many Britons are waiting 12 hours at A&E
- What the rise of bubble tea says about British high streets
- The rise of the Net-Zero Dad
From the February 1st 2025 edition
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