THE OBSERVATOR, London, England, February 4, 1681

* 17th century original
* Uncommon title
* Woman publisher

This is a handsome dialogue newspaper founded by Sir Roger L'Estrange, a Tory pamphleteer, as a vehicle for attacking dissenters and Whigs. Done in a dialogue format, between Whig & Tory. This early single sheet newspaper has the old style type making it great for framing, but the most intriguing aspect of this issue is that the imprint at the bottom of the back page reads: "London, Printed for Joanna Brome, at the Gun in S. Paul's Church-yard."

 I believe this to be the earliest periodical we have seem done by a woman publisher. Could it be the earliest woman publisher to be found? Very nice condition.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: "In 1679, he assailed Shaftesbury and the exclusionists in pamphlets which won him the royal regard. During the next year, he was in the thick of the controversy about the popish plot, labouring to allay the popular fury against Roman Catholics. His denunciations of Oates and other informers led to machinations against himself. He was falsely accused of endeavouring by bribery to secure the defamation of Oates, and he was charged with being a papist. He was acquitted by the council; but public opinion ran so high against him that he fled, for a short time, to Holland. To employ a phrase in the title of one of his tracts, a whole Litter of Libellers assailed him at this season; but the Dog Towzer was not to be thus daunted. He returned in February, 1681, and kept the press busy, not only with apologetic pamphlets, but with bitter assaults upon the dissenters and with one of the most important of his works, his political newspaper The Observator: In Question and Answer.