U.S. CONSTITUTION. THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION IN A NEWSPAPER, IN THE INDEPENDENT GAZETTEER

4 pages (9 1/2 x 11 5/8 in.; 239 x 292 mm), letterpress text printed in three columns, woodcut boat devices; some browning, minor foxing, inner margin expertly repaired.

Rare first-day publication of the U.S. Constitution in a newspaper  The Constitution was approved by the Convention on Monday, 17 September 1787. The text of the official version was set that evening, and a very limited number were printed for the use of the delegates. After being drafted in complete secrecy, the Constitution was first made public on the morning of Tuesday, 18 September, when it was read before the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The next morning, Wednesday, 19 September, the five Philadelphia newspapers published the Constitution. All five are considered first editions, with surviving copies of the Packet the most common.

The Independent Gazetteer was an Anti-Federalist paper, which published some of the most famous arguments against ratification. In addition to opinion and updates related to the Constitution, these issues include local and domestic news, foreign affairs, national and state legislation, public notices and advertisements.