Alexander's Weekly Messenger (Philadelphia, PA)

Alexander's Weekly Messenger was founded by Charles W. Alexander (1796-1866), who was associated with William Evans Burton of Burton's Gentleman's Magazine. Alexander ceased publication of the Salmagundi, and News of the Day with the issue of December 28, 1836, and launched his new venture on Janaury 4, 1837. Alexander's Weekly Messenger's own run ceased in November 1848, when it became the Family Messenger and National Gleaner, under the control of Samuel D. Patterson.

Full Title: The American Weekly Messenger (January 4, 1837 - December 27, 1838); Alexander's Weekly Messenger (January 3, 1838 - early 1842); Alexander's Express Messenger (early 1842 - December 30, 1846); Alexander's Express Messenger (January 6, 1847 - November 7, 1848)

Issued: Weekly, vols. I-XII (January 4, 1837 - November 7, 1848)

Editor(s): Charles W. Alexander; Edgar Allan Poe (apparently associated in some editorial capacity along with his duties at Burton's Gentleman's Magazine)

Publisher(s): Charles W. Alexander (1837-1848)

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Large newspaper format, 4 pages printed as a single, folded sheet.

Copies of Alexander's Weekly Messenger are scarce, particularly for the early issues containing Poe material. Most of the Poe-related issues may be found in the American Antiquarian Society, or the Koester Collection at the HRCL, University of Texas at Austin. Susan Jaffe Tane owns a set of issues from July 10, 1839-May 6, 1840, with all of the issues containing material attributed to Poe except the issue of January 1, 1840.