Abstract

A wealthy merchant and port city, Hamburg also emerged as one of the German press capitals in the eighteenth century. The Hamburger Relations-Courier was published from 1673 and became one of the most important political newspapers in northern Germany in the eighteenth century. In addition to the latest political news, the newspaper also printed classified ads. The selection of commercial advertisements reproduced here from the March 23, 1736 issue provides insight into the commercial life of this affluent Hanseatic city. Offered for sale are a share in the cargo of a merchant ship, lottery tickets, carriage horses, and a park. The lottery, a form of gambling, came to Germany from the Netherlands; the first lottery was held in Hamburg in 1614.

Classified Ads from the Hamburger Relations-Courier (March 23, 1736)

Source

Let it be known that on April 4, if it pleases God, from the three-masted Galliot ship, called: de Patriarch Jacob, which was recently brought here by skipper Cornelis Schönerberg from Bordeaux, a quarter-part is to be sold publicly to the highest bidder in the mariners’ guild hall; the auctioneer Georg Willhelm Bernegau will provide further information.

Since several of the first players of the well-known local lottery, at a stake of 2 marks, consisting of winnings of gold and silver household appliances, jewels, ducats, species Reichsthaler and other gold and silver coins, have not yet declared whether they, by virtue of the choice left to them, wish to exchange the receipts they hold for 6 others for the first class lottery. They are reminded to do so without delay, as due to the daily increase in new entries, it may not be possible in the short term to give them more numbers than those drawn at the beginning. The lottery is available free of charge from the director, Hinrich Christian Heuß, at the Resse, from the well-known collectors, Hensing, Burtels and Illfers at city hall, Marcus Piel at the stock exchange, and Clas Eembke at the trade fair hall, at each of which the drawing is done and receipts are issued. Tickets are also available in Lübeck from Mr. Pfeiffer. The drawing of the first class is expected to take place at the beginning of May this year.

Let it be known that a couple of black and a couple of black-brown carriage horses, the latter with donkey or cream heads, have arrived here at the Weisses Ross on Grosser Neuen-Marckt, and are to be sold for a fair price by a local citizen.

In the middle of the Brauer-Knecht-Graben there is a well-equipped pleasure garden, together with a newly built stone pleasure house, which can be visited immediately; further information can be obtained from master carpenter Losche, who lives there, as well as from the publishers of this newspaper.

The pages announcing the winners of the first class of the Hamburg St. Georg Lottery are available from the publishers of this newspaper; the lists of the third class of the Dutch General Lottery are also available for perusal.

Source of the original German text: Hamburger Relations-Courier, March 23, 1736, p. 8. Available online: https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/newspaper/item/RBBXV3HXLM3B6NYECBKKBPLALV4F5O66?issuepage=8

Translation: GHI staff