1689 Extremely Rare New Observator Newspaper William & Mary Reign

  

A one of a kind find. A diminutive size newspaper (could not find another for sale) that was a single page publication (front and back of one leaf).

Preface of paper lists discussed topics depicted in issue. A unique paper written by the thoughts of one man, James Wellwood. Some text might be trimmed. Overall quite a rare find and super early publication. Mercurius Reformatus, or the New Observator was a weekly newspaper and political commentary publication in London, active from 1689 to 1691.

It was established during the political, tumultuous period of the Glorious Revolution, specifically following the accession of William III and Mary II, which brought a decrease in state control over the press. Newspaper was written by James Wellwood. Welwood was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, son of John Welwood ca. 1680 and Margaret Fury ca.

He attended University of St Andrews, and by the summer of 1671 had gained BA and MA degrees. He fled Scotland due to controversial sermons given by his brother, John, and studied medicine in Leiden and Paris, MD University of Rheims 1684. He practised medicine in Edinburgh before moving to Newcastle in 1687. He became engaged in printed debates surrounding the 1688 revolution, and eventually became physician to William and Mary in 1690. When he became fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in the same year he was welcomed as royal doctor, and other medical appointments followed, including that of superintendentof surgeons in the fleet.