Before revision: Scot Morris' 1979 Book of Strange Facts & Useless Information speculated that it originated when Melville E. Stone founded the Chicago Daily News in 1875 and priced it at one cent to compete with the nickel papers of the day; however, Cecil Adams has directly address Morris' claims, noting that Stone sold the News in 1876, and also that the News archives indicate that "prices ending in 9 (39 cents, 69 cents, etc.)
After revision: Scot Morris' 1979 Book of Strange Facts & Useless Information speculated that it originated when Melville E. Stone founded the Chicago Daily News in 1875 and priced it at one cent to compete with the nickel papers of the day; however, Cecil Adams has directly addressed Morris' claims, noting that Stone sold the News in 1876, and also that the News archives indicate that "prices ending in 9 (39 cents, 69 cents, etc.)