The Fraser River Gold Rush and the Victoria Newspaper Boom
An Exhibition for the Second W. Kaye Lamb Lecture January 27, 2005
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The Victoria Gazette: June 25, 1858 to July 30, 1860
Pictorial News Letter of California: for the Steamer John L. Stephens
San Francisco: Hutchings & Rosenfield; Charles F. Robbins, Printer, 1858
"Issued exactly one month after the first steamer left San Francisco headed for the Fraser (Bancroft p. 359), this appears to be the first separate publication relating to the Fraser River Gold Rush, and the first map published to illustrate the area for potential gold-seekers."
Invoice of the British Colonist
Victoria: Amor De Cosmos, Harries & Co.
December 11, 1858 - 1866
The British Colonist was the only newspaper more successful than the Victoria Gazette; it eventually eclipsed the Gazette entirely. Attempting to censor the Colonist, which under Amor De Cosmos was highly critical of the colonial government, Governor Douglas imposed a bond of £800 to be paid by the paper. On April 4, 1859, in the largest meeting ever yet held in Victoria, the public volunteered to pay the bond out of its own pocket - so popular was the Colonist!
Invoice of the Colonist [Daily British Colonist and Victoria Chronicle]
Victoria: D. W. Higgins and Thomas H. Long
1866 -
The success of the British Colonist can be partly attributed to its constant upgrading of print technology as is evidenced by the note "Steam Book, Job and Label Printing."
Invoice of the Daily Chronicle
Victoria: David W. Higgins, James E. McMillan and Thomas H. Long
1862-1866
In 1866, Amor De Cosmos sold his stake in the British Colonist to D. W. Higgins, founder of the Victoria Daily Chronicle. This invoice is prior to that sale judging by the masthead.
Invoice of the Daily Colonist and Chronicle [Daily British Colonist and Victoria Chronicle]
Victoria: D. W. Higgins and Thomas H. Long
1866 -
In 1866, D. W. Higgins, founder of the Victoria Daily Chronicle, purchased Amor De Cosmos' British Colonist, and the merger created the Daily British Colonist and Victoria Chronicle. The Colonist name, which can be seen on this invoice, was retained in the masthead probably to vex Governor Douglas.
