The Washington times., 1901-12-01
EARLY USERS OF
PRINTERS INK.
Date of the First Newspaper "Ad'
in Dispute.
REFERRED TO HORSE THEFT
Its Claim to Priority, However. Not
Universally Conccded-a New Book
Announcement in I64:5-A Few
Quaint "Nnnt Ads.v of Long Ago.

The question as to which was the first
advertisement to appear in a newspaper
printed in the English language recently
came up for discussion between two
Washington collectors, Who ultimately
came to the conclusion that this interest
degree of certainty. In an early number
of a paper called the Impartial Intelli-
gencer," published in the year 1913, ap-
pears an advertisement referring to the
theft of two horses, and this has been
commonly quoted as the first. A certain
gentleman, however, recently claimed that
he had in his possession copy of Me
GURUS Civicus," or "London's Intelligen-
cer," printed August IL, 1913. which con-
tains an advertisement of a book on the
Sovereign Power of Parliament, and
this antedates the horse theft advertise
ment five years. After the appearance OF
these early advertisements, similar
announcements were for time
made only at rare intervals. BY
slow degrees the practice of invoking the
printers aid gradually became prevalent,
until at the beginning of the eighteenth
century the germ of advertising. as it is
now understood and seen in the modern
newspaper, became fairly developed.
Quuint Early "Ads."
In the "Observator Reformed" Lon
don journal, of September 10, 17O4, which
inserted advertisements of eight lines for
a shilling. and at the same time became
tha IL
munication between advertisers, series
of notices appeared somewhat after, or
rather before, those enticing announce
ments so eagerly sought after by the nu-
merous persons on the lookout for bar
gains. Here are a few quantity worded
advertisements from this sheet:
IF any Hamburg or other merchant.
who shall deserve 1900 with an appren-
tice, wants one, l can help"
cone has a pert boy, about ten years
old, can write, read, and be very well rec
commended she is willing he should serve
some lady or gentleman"
81 want a cook-maid for a merchant"
Il sell chocolate made of the best nuts,
without spice or perfume, and with VI
nelloes and spice, from four TO ten shil-
lings the pound, and I know them to be
a great helper OF bad stomachs and re-
storative to weak peoTle, and I'll insure
for their goodness"
IF any will sell free estate, within
thirty miles OF London, with or without
a house, to the value of e100 the year,
or thereabouts, l can help to customer
"lf any divines or their relicts have
complete sets of manuscript sermons
upon the Epistles and Gospels, the Cate
chisms or Festivals, can help to a GUS
toner"
"a fair house in Eustcheap, next to
the Flouer- -de-lis. now in the tenure of
q smith. with fair yard laid with free
stone, and a vault underneath. with a
cellar under the shop, done with the
same stone. is to be sold. l have the
disposal OF it."
An OId-Time Employment bureau.
81 believe I could furnish all the no
bility and gentry in England with valu-
able servants, and such as can have very
good recommendation
Mr.. David Rose, chinnyeon and man
midwife, lives at the first brick house on
the right hand in Gunyard. Hounds ditch,
near Aldgate, London. l have known him
these twenty years"
81 want an apprentice for an eminent
tallow chandler"
IF any want all kind of necessaries for
corps, or funerals, | can help to one who
does assure me he viii use them kindly;
and whoever can keep their corps till
they get to London and have a coffin
set down, may have them afterward kept
any reasonable time"
about forty miles from London is
has had such success with
boys, as there are almost forty ministers
and schoolmasters that were his scholars.
His wife also teaches girls iacemaking,
plain work, raising paste, sauces, and
cookery to the degree OF exactness. His
price is 10 to Ell the year, with q pair
of sheets and one spoon; to be returned,
II desired; coaches and other conven-
fences pass every day withir half mile
OF the house; and tits but an easy days
journey TO or from London"
Il know of several men whose friends
would gladly have them matched, which
I'll endeayor to do, as from time to time
| shall hear of such whose circumstances
are likely to agree. and I'll assure such
as will come to me 1t shall be done with
all the honor and secrecy Imaginable.
Their own parents shall not manage IL
more to their satisfaction, and the more
comes to me the better l shall be able 10
serve EN-"
Early American Advertisements.
In the same year that the above an
appeared in the "observa-
tor" 170D, John Campbell, of Boston, in
publishing the first number Of the first
successful American newspaper, the
Boston News Letter" advertised for ad-
vertisements, and gave circulation to the
first newspaper advertisements in this
as follows:
This News Letter is to be continued
Weekly. and all persons who have any
Houses, Lands, Tenements. Farms, Ships,
etc. to be Sold or Let, or servants Run
away, or Goods Stole or Lost. may have
the same inserted at a Reasonable Rate,
from Twelve Pence, to Five Shillings.
and not TO exceed: Who may agree with
John Campbell Postmaster of Boston"
This appeal of the editor and pioneer
advertiser in this country appears to have
met with but faint response. Many sue
ceeding numbers of the News Letter.
ments, and indeed, a similar dearth evil
IDENTIFY afflicted all the arly colonial
newspapers. until wealth gradually accu-
but as wants multiplied the
habit of advertising became established.
and the fact that it could be made. in
many instances, a source of profit and
advantage. was at last so clearly demon
that British newspapers. shortly
after the Revolutionary era, noted with
surprise the extensive advertising patron
age OF the American journals.
II may be said that II has only been in
recent years that the uni
value of advertising has become
well recognized, and it may be promised
that II shall be carried to much greater
lengths in the future.
A Tnx on Windows.
When somebody mentlorad In Jonathan