Broadside (printing)
Encyclopedia
A broadside is a large sheet of paper printed on one side only. Historically, broadsides were posters, announcing events or proclamations, or simply advertisements. Today, broadside printing is done by many smaller printers and publishers as a fine art variant, with poems often being available as broadsides, intended to be framed and hung on the wall.
The historic type of broadsides were ephemera
, i.e. temporary documents created for a specific purpose and intended to be thrown away. They were one of the most common forms of printed material between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, particularly in Britain, Ireland and North America. They were often advertisements, but could also be used for news information or proclamation
s. It was also a very common format for printing the text of ballad
s (see Broadside (music)
).
One classic example of a broadside used for proclamations is the Dunlap broadside, which was the first publication of the US Declaration of Independence
, printed on the night of July 4, 1776 by John Dunlap
of Philadelphia in an estimated 200 copies. An example of a broadside used for news information is the first published account of George Washington
crossing the Delaware
, printed on December 30, 1776 by John Dunlap.
Modern poetry broadsides:
The historic type of broadsides were ephemera
Ephemera
Ephemera are transitory written and printed matter not intended to be retained or preserved. The word derives from the Greek, meaning things lasting no more than a day. Some collectible ephemera are advertising trade cards, airsickness bags, bookmarks, catalogues, greeting cards, letters,...
, i.e. temporary documents created for a specific purpose and intended to be thrown away. They were one of the most common forms of printed material between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, particularly in Britain, Ireland and North America. They were often advertisements, but could also be used for news information or proclamation
Proclamation
A proclamation is an official declaration.-England and Wales:In English law, a proclamation is a formal announcement , made under the great seal, of some matter which the King in Council or Queen in Council desires to make known to his or her subjects: e.g., the declaration of war, or state of...
s. It was also a very common format for printing the text of ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
s (see Broadside (music)
Broadside (music)
A broadside is a single sheet of cheap paper printed on one side, often with a ballad, rhyme, news and sometimes with woodcut illustrations...
).
One classic example of a broadside used for proclamations is the Dunlap broadside, which was the first publication of the US Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
, printed on the night of July 4, 1776 by John Dunlap
John Dunlap
John Dunlap was the printer of the first copies of the Declaration of Independence and one of the most successful American printers of his era.-Biography:...
of Philadelphia in an estimated 200 copies. An example of a broadside used for news information is the first published account of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
crossing the Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, printed on December 30, 1776 by John Dunlap.
External links
Historical broadsides:- Library of Congress -- Three Centuries of Broadsides and other Printed Ephemera
- University of Georgia - Historical broadsides from 1849-1989
- Wake Forest University - Confederate Broadside Poetry Collection
Modern poetry broadsides: