Description:

FIRST FLEET & BOTANY BAY: THE LONDON CHRONICLE

The first printed accounts of the Expedition to and the Settlement at Sydney Cove, appeared in issues of the London Chronicle newspaper issued in early 1789.

This lot, and the following four lots, comprise the earliest printed reports emanating from the new settlement at Sydney Cove. This, and all the following items comprise complete editions of The London Chronicle:

February 21-24, 1789: Notice of the arrival of "the Botany Bay squadron...." A small entry, recounting information received from "A merchant in Amsterdam..." rare, and of the greatest importance.

Much news, in the early days of newspapers, came from private letters which the recipient made available to the newspaper men. In fact, newspapers came about initially as multiple copies of private letters between the branches of business houses.