«Published by Authority»: The "London Gazette", 1665-1780

In this paper I review the history of the London Gazette from its foundation in 1665 to the late eighteenth century. I consider the paper’s foundation, form and frequency, circulation, sale and distribution, content (looking at news, notices and advertisements), readers, its reuse in other publications and its current availability. My aim is to chart what we already know about the Gazette’s history as well as to suggest some future directions for research. I also make a few observations about the Gazette’s later history.