On September 10, 1877
The Missouri Republican printed a brief history of its publication since its founding in St. Louis on July 12, 1808. The newspaper, founded by
Joseph Charless, was originally called the
Missouri Gazette. The single sheet issued on September 10, 1877, on which 8 pages were printed, and folded to 12 x 9 inches, was intended to represent the size of the original newspaper pages from 1808 when the circulation of the newspaper, printed on a wooden handpress similar to Ramage's but of indeterminate make, was only 500 copies. The commemorative issue also reproduced the text of the third issue of the newspaper, reproduced a picture of its original handpress, and proudly displayed the current presses it was then using to produce the 300,000 copies needed for its circulation in 1877.