Folio. 28.5 x 47 cm, 4 pp, Arabic text, paper slightly browned, Issue No. 1, Saturday 5th of August, 1876.

Synopsis

A rare first issue of this leading Arabic newspaper founded by two Lebanese brothers, Salim and Bisharah Taqla. It became a daily in 1881, although its presses were destroyed in the revolt led by Col. Aḥmad ʿUrabi in the early 1880s. Publishing resumed in September 1882. In the late 1890s, several years after the death of his brother left Bisharah the sole owner, he moved Al-Ahram operations to Cairo. The paper became famous for its independence and objectivity—in spite of British censorship and control—and for its coverage of international news and non political news about Egypt and Egyptians. However, after censorship tightened as Egyptian independence neared, the paper’s influence waned.