It may have been the 1700s, but the early days of the classified ads were surprisingly relatable.
The classified section is an incredible chronicle of our existence. At any given time, a glance at the classifieds tells us exactly what we were wearing, what we had lost, what we wanted to find, and how we courted.
They made their living writing announcements, which were, for all intents and purposes, classified ads. And these ads weren't called ads — they were calledSi quisAs Sara Bader tells the story, in her excellent history of the classifieds, titled,, the first printing press in America arrived in Cambridge, Mass., in 1638, but the first successful newspaper wasn't established until 1704, called the Boston News-Letter.
America's very first classified ad appeared in its debut issue, and was written by the publisher himself: "To all persons who have any houses, lands, tenements, farms, ships, vessels, goods, wares or merchandises to be sold or let, may have the same inserted at a reasonable rate."It was a very revealing ad for the times — because anvils were critical to life and progress in 1704.
The third issue of the Boston News-Letter attracted two more classified ads — one for stolen clothing, and another that would signal the start of what would eventually become the biggest of all classified columns: the first real estate ad.By 1765, 11 of 13 colonies boasted 23 weekly newspapers, and classified ads were a popular feature of the back page.
Lost and Found soon became one of the biggest columns. As Sara Bader notes, classified ads give us precious details — about the shape, colour, size and value of items of every era, like what a snuff box was made of, what kind of fabric was used to line a 19th-century cloak, and what the contents were of a Civil War soldier's saddle bag.People forgot books in carriages, left coats in theatres, umbrellas in bars, and dropped keys from their pockets.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Vancouver has highest fuel prices and highest fuel tax in North America, expert saysPrices in Metro Vancouver rose to $201.9 a litre on average Monday morning, with the carbon tax increase accounting for about three cents of that jump.
Read more »
Eclipse Spectators Gather Across North America for Rare Solar EventEclipse spectators across three countries gather to witness a rare coast-to-coast total solar eclipse, with hopes for clear skies despite cloudy forecasts.
Read more »
Millions across North America await total solar eclipseExplore stories from Atlantic Canada.
Read more »
Rare Solar Eclipse to Sweep Across North AmericaA solar eclipse will sweep across North America from Mexico today, darkening the sky and revealing the sun's hidden outer atmosphere. Europeans will not see a full eclipse before 2026.
Read more »
Total Solar Eclipse Thrills North AmericaA total solar eclipse raced across North America, thrilling those lucky enough to witness the spectacle through clear skies.
Read more »