Early Toronto Newspapers 1793–1867 — book, Leslie (Sam) Smart, 1961

The cover design incorporates an early hand-typesetting compositor’s case. The display types used, from top to bottom, are Craw Clarendon Book, Cheltenham Bold Condensed, Goudy Text, and Craw Clarendon Book again. The three lines of text are set in Baskerville Roman. We have not yet identified the newspaper used as background texture.
The title page repeats the display type settings from the cover. The row of Union Jack flags serves as a reminder that Canada was still a Dominion at the time of publication – our national flag would not be officially adopted until 1965. Both the Union Jack and the pointing hands were popular metal type ornaments, widely available in Canadian type shops during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
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Notes

We can do no better than quote the opening paragraph from this invaluable catalogue.

“A Canadian newspaper,” wrote Mrs. Susanna Moodie in 1852, “is a strange mélange of politics, religion, abuse, and general information.” Most of the newspapers in this in this catalogue illustrate the truth of her comment. And yet, through a study of them, we can learn not only of past events but of the growth of ideas. In these Toronto papers we can see the development of the city from its humble eighteenth century beginnings to the political and cultural metropolis of the province… H. C. Campbell, Chief Librarian, Toronto Public Library.

This 32-page catalogue lists 82 newspapers that were published in Toronto between 1793 and 1867 – remarkably, two of them are still in operation; The Globe and Mail and The Toronto Star.

Newspapers are among the most invaluable resources for anyone wishing to learn about life in earlier times. Little happened that wasn’t either announced first in a newspaper or reported in detail after the fact. – Rod McDonald

Items in this Collection

Title: Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor

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Artifact

Article Data

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Category

Publications & Editorial

Date

1961

Title

Early Toronto Newspapers 1793–1867
A catalogue of newspapers published in the Town of York and the City of Toronto from the beginning to Confederation

Description

Book

Two-colour booklet, paperback. 32 pp

8.5 × 11 inches

Publication

Publisher

Baxter Publishing Company

Client

Credits

Agency:
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Biography:

Edited by Edith G. Firth, Introduction by Henry C. Campbell

Principal Typefaces

Display: Craw Clarendon Book, Cheltenham Bold Condensed, Goudy Text
Text: Baskerville Roman (cover), Caledonia Roman and Italic (interior)
Find more:

Craw ClarendonClarendonGoudyBaskervilleCaledoniaCheltenham

Region

Ontario

Language

English

Holding

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Artifact copyright

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Notes copyright

Accompanying notes are licensed under Creative Commons licensing CCbyNC which allows for non-commercial use with attribute.

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