189

John Peter Zenger

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:2,500.00 - 3,000.00 USD
John Peter Zenger

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Auction Date:2018 Jul 11 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
German American printer and journalist in New York City (1697–1746) who printed The New York Weekly Journal. He was accused of libel in 1734 by William Cosby, the governor of New York, but the jury acquitted Zenger, who became a symbol for freedom of the press. Rare issue of John Peter Zenger's The New–York Weekly Journal from Monday, June 24, 1734, No. 34, four pages on two adjoining sheets, 6.75 x 11. An excerpt from the front page: “Mr. Zenger; I Find Mr. Bradford's [William Bradford's competing New York Gazette] Writers are not contented to asperse the Character of People in the Province, but extend their Endeavours beyond Sea, and that in an Instance which shews no great Regard to His Majesty: They take upon themselves to say, That Sir John Norris, whom His Majesty has thought fit to entrust with the Command of the British Fleet, is Superanuated. This I suppose is to insinuate to the World, That His Majesty has thought fit to employ a Person whose great Age renders him unfit for that Station, and therefore a Conduct not altogether prudent. How fit a Thing of that Kind (if true, as it is not) was to be published in the Government's Paper here I leave the World to judge. The Admirers of Atterbury and Collier, and the Principles they espoused, cannot help showing themselves. We desire them to tell us when and where their next imaginary Fleet is to appear, and whether the Ten Sail is it be augmented or not?” Included among the advertisements on the final page are a series of three reward notices for runaways, including: “a Servant Man, named Edward pain, about 26 Years of Age, is of a middle Stature, walks very upright, with a lively Look” and “one Jacob Powelle of Hackingsack, aged 40 Year or thereabouts, middle Statute, Molatto Man, lame in one of his Finger.” In fine condition, with splitting, and minor paper loss, to the hinge. John Peter Zenger's iconic newspaper, The New-York Weekly Journal, “Containing the freshest Advices, Foreign, and Domestick,” was created to spark popular opposition to William Cosby, the new royal governor of New York. He was the last colonist to be prosecuted for seditious libel, and to have his case go to trial, before the American Revolution. Zenger's case, which ended in his acquittal, remains a landmark in the history of one of America's most basic rights—freedom of the press. Pre-1768 newspapers are exceedingly rare.