Newspapers and journals online

This page contains links to online editions of historical newspapers and periodicals that are of use to the British India family historian. Many of the books are from the Google Books website.

See also

• Newspapers & magazines reading list
• Directories
• Military periodicals online
• Subscription websites-online newspapers, journals and directories
• Newspapers

Alexander's East India and Colonial Magazine

Originally Alexander's East India Magazine or East India Magazine : and Colonial and Commercial Journal c 1830. Then called Alexander’s East India and Colonial Magazine, and subsequently East India Magazine and Colonial and Commercial Journal.

Nov-Dec 1834 *

Volume IX Jan-June 1835

Vol X July-Dec 1835

* Contents at the back of the book. Google Books

The following volumes were originally available on the Digital Library of India website, now available as mirror editions on Archive.org.

• Alexander's East India Magazine, and Colonial And Commercial Journal Volume 7, January-June 1834. Archive.org version.
• The East India And Colonial Magazine Vol 11, Vol 12 1836. Archive.org version. Note: Poor quality text/filming.
• Alexander's East India and Colonial Magazine Volume 13, January-June 1837. Archive.org version.
• East India And Colonial Magazine Vol. 14 (1837). Archive.org version.

Allen's Indian Mail

The FIBIS database contains transcriptions of birth, marriage and death notices from Allen's Indian Mail.

Allen's Indian Mail was published until 6 May 1891, when it was incorporated into The Homeward Mail from India, China and the East, see below.

Where there are two volumes in a year, the index is generally at the front of the first volume, although there is no index for 1860, 1862, 1868 (missing volume) or 1872. The volume for January 1872 contains an index, but it is actually in respect of the year 1871.

Vol 1, 1843	Vol 1, 1844 from page 257	Vol 3, 1845	Vol 4, 1846	Vol 5, 1847
Vol 6, 1848	Vol 7, 1849	Vol 8, 1850	Vol 9, 1851	Vol 10, 1852
Vol 11, 1853	Vol 12, 1854	Vol 13, 1855	Vol 14, 1856	Vol 15, 1857
. Vol 16, 19 Aug to 20 Dec 1858	Vol 17, Jan-June 1859 Vol 17, July-Dec 1859	Vol 18, Jan-June 1860 Vol 18, July-Dec 1860	Vol 19, Jan-June 1861 Vol 19, July –Dec 1861	Vol 20, Jan-June 1862 Vol 20, July-Dec 1862
Vol 21, Jan-June 1863 Vol 21, July -Dec 1863	Vol 22, Jan-June 1864 Vol 22, July-Dec 1864	Vol 23, Jan –June 1865 Vol 23, July-Dec 1865	Vol 24 , Jan-June 1866 Vol 24, July-Dec 1866	Vol 25, Jan-June 1867 Vol 25, July-Dec 1867
. Vol 26, July –Dec 1868	Vol 27, Jan-June 1869 Vol 27, July –Dec 1869	Vol 28, Jan-June 1870 Vol 28, July-Dec 1870	Vol 29 Jan-June 1871 Vol 29 July-Dec 1871 1871 Index Vol 29 1871 Archive.org	Vol 30 Jan-June 1872# Vol 30 July-Dec 1872
Vol 31 Jan-June 1873 Vol 31 July-Dec 1873	Vol 32 Jan-June 1874 Vol 32 July-Dec 1874	Vol 33 Jan-June 1875 Vol 33 July-Dec 1875	Vol 34 Jan-June 1876 Vol 34 July-Dec 1876	Vol 35 Jan-June 1877 Vol 35 July-Dec 1877
Vol 36 Jan-June 1878 Vol 36 July-Dec 1878	Vol 37 Jan-June 1879 Vol 37 July-Dec 1879			Vol 43 1885 Archive.org

#Incorrectly contains "Index" for Volume 29, 1871 and is catalogued by Google Books as 1871, but is actually the volume for 1872.

Bayerische Staatsbibliothek/Bavarian State Library has volumes available to 1891, which are being digitised one year at time, when they are no longer subject to copyright. The digital files also then become available on Google Books, as above. Search for the latter with the search format books.google "Allen's Indian Mail" "1880 1/6" or "1880 7/12"

Also see Indian News and Chronicle of Eastern Affairs below.

Asiatic Annual Register

Vol 1, 1799	1799 (2nd ed)	Vol 2, 1800	Vol 3, 1801	Vol 4, 1802
Vol 5, 1803	Vol 6, 1804	Vol 7, 1805	Vol 8, 1806	1806 (pt 2)
Vol 9, 1807	Vol 10, 1808	Vol 11, 1809	Vol 12, 1810-11

Asiatic Journal

See the separate list of editions of the Asiatic Journal.

Asiatic Review

Published in England. The title varied over time: 1886-1890 Asiatic Quarterly Review; 1891-1912 Imperial and Asiatic Quarterly Review, and Oriental and Colonial Record. Beginning April 1895, the Proceedings of the East India Association are also included; 1913 Asiatic Quarterly Review; 1914-1952 Asiatic Review.

Volume III January -April 1887, Contents	New Series Volume III January-April 1892, Contents	New Series Volume V January-April 1893, Contents
New Series: Volume VII January and April 1894, Contents	Third Series: Volume I January-April 1896 Contents	Third Series Volume IX January-April 1900, Contents
Third Series: Volume XV January-April 1903, Contents	Third Series: Volume XVI July-Oct 1903, Contents	Third Series: Volume XIX Jan-April 1905, Contents
Third Series: Volume XXVI July-October 1908, Contents

Archive.org

Many editions between 1886 and 1947 are available on Archive.org, mirror editions from Digital Library of India, which are not included in the above table.

Bangalore Spectator

Bangalore Spectator was a ‘Tri-weekly journal of News, Politics and Literature,’ appearing every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. It is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites, (introduced 16 July 2020), with initial date range 6 January 1877 to 31 December 1883 (1877, 1880, 1882-1883); added Jan 8, 2021, when range was extended to 1877-1888, 1891-1895; with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date".

Bengal Catholic Herald

Available on Google Books, and Archive.org, mirror versions from the Digital Library of India.
The Bengal Catholic Expositor

Volume 1 1839

Volume 2 1840

Volume 3 1840

The Bengal Catholic Expositor was replaced by the Catholic Herald (published in Calcutta) which in turn was replaced by the Bengal Catholic Herald

Bengal Catholic Herald

Volume 1 1841	Volume 2 1842	Volume 3 1842	Volume 4 1843	Volume 5 1843
Volume 6 1844	Volume 7 1844	Volume 8 1845	Volume 9 1845	Volume 10 1846
Volume 11 1846				Volume 15 1848
Volume 16 1850	Volume 17 1850	Volume 18 1850		Volumes 20, 21 1851
Volume 21 See Volume 20	Volume 22 1852	Volume 23 1852	Volume 24 1853	Volume 25 1853 July-December

Further editions to 1864, and editions of earlier publications from 1839 are available on the subscription website "19th Century UK Periodicals".

Bengal Hurkaru

Bengal Hurkaru began as a weekly paper, moving to daily publication on April 29, 1819. Bengal Hurkaru: Issues from 1805, 1819, 1828-29, 1834 World Digital Library, a project of the U.S. Library of Congress.

Bengal, Past and Present, Journal of the Calcutta Historical Society

See separate page Bengal, Past and Present, Journal of the Calcutta Historical Society

Bombay Gazette

• Bombay Gazette editions on Archive.org, probably images from the collection of Asiatic Society of Mumbai, Granth Sanjeevani (see next section), however the source is not specifically stated. The date range (at 18 April 2022) is 1814 to 1914, with over 15,500 editions available.
• Bombay Gazette is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites, added 14 April 2020. The date range when added was August 15, 1792 to December 31, 1868 being 1792, 1813-1814, 1816-1840, 1850-1851, 1854, 1858, 1861-1868 with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the Findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date".

Bombay Newspapers

Digitised Bombay newspapers including an almost complete run of The Bombay Chronicle (1913 - 1958) are available on the pay website Asiatic Society of Mumbai, Granth Sanjeevani which requires either a personal or institutional subscription. Also included are some editions of The Pioneer, Allahabad. Editions of some of the Bombay newspapers are also available on the Internet Archive as follows, (but not however editions of The Pioneer).

• Some editions of The Bombay Chronicle from 1913 have been uploaded to the Internet Archive as the The Bombay Chronicle Archive.org, collection. Probably originate from Asiatic Society of Mumbai, Granth Sanjeevani, and similarly for The Bombay Gazette, see above, but the source is not specifically stated.
• The Bombay Guardian. The 1889 description was "A Christian Weekly Newspaper Circulating throughout India"

The Bombay Guardian Editions from 7 March 1851 to 28 December 1889 (broken range). Archive.org, collection from Asiatic Society of Mumbai, Granth Sanjeevani. Includes "Domestic Occurrences" (Births, Marriages and Deaths) and "Shipping Intelligence", "Civil Appointments etc"

• Also see Indian Statesman, below, which was published in Bombay.

Bombay Quarterly Review

Vol 1 1855

Vol 2 1855

Vol 3 1856

Vol 4 1856

Vol 5 1857

Vol 6 1857

Vol 7 1858

Calcutta Annual Register

1821

Calcutta Christian Observer

Printed at Baptist Mission Press, Circular Road, Calcutta. Volumes 1-5 include listings of births, marriages, deaths, however the later volumes seem to be limited to missionaries etc. Available to view or download on Google Books.

Vol 1, June-Dec 1832	Vol 2, Jan-Dec 1833	Vol 3, Jan-Dec 1834	Vol 4, Jan- Dec 1835	Vol 5, Jan-Dec 1836
Vol 6, Jan-Dec 1837	Vol 7, Jan-Dec 1838	Vol 8, Jan –Dec 1839	Vol 1, New Series, Jan-Dec 1840

Calcutta Gazette

The Calcutta Gazette became one of the official newspapers of the Government of India and its provincial governments, where official information was ‘gazetted’. It was first published 4 March 1784 as a newspaper titled The Calcutta Gazette and Oriental Advertiser; from September 1791 to May 1815 titled The Calcutta Gazette; June 1815 to March 1832 titled The Government Gazette; from April 1832 resumed the title The Calcutta Gazette. Initially the Government was not connected with the management or editorial policy of the newspaper, but used the newspaper as a medium for official notices etc. From April 1832, the publication ceased to be a newspaper, and became an official Government publication.

• The Calcutta Gazette is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites (Introduced 13 July 2019). Initially it was published weekly. The date range at introduction is 4 March 1784 to 3 August 1815 with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date". On findmypast, the “County” is classified as West Bengal, India.
• Available at the the Internet Archive (Archive.org), from 1838, but most volumes are from the 1870s onwards. The editions, which are mainly mirror versions originating from the Digital Library of India, and DSpace at West Bengal State Central Library, are searchable. Some additional volumes may perhaps be available on the website DSpace at West Bengal State Central Library under the subject category "Gazetteers" as pdf files.

Calcutta Gazette Archive.org versions (mainly) chronological order.

Calcutta Gazette as a subset of the Collection "Gazettes of India" Archive.org. As a subset of a Collection, there is the advantage of a Text Search available for the subset as a whole. Note there are other Collections on Archive.org which also contain the Calcutta Gazette, such as the Public Library of India Collection.

For published volumes of extracts from the Calcutta Gazette 1784-1832 see Calcutta - Historical books online.

For editions published during the First World War, see separate list.

Calcutta Magazine and Monthly Register

Published by Samuel Smith & Co, Calcutta. Note that page numbers in some of volumes seem not to be consecutive, perhaps due to the way they have been bound or filmed.

Vol 1-3, 1830	Vol 4-6, 1830	Vol 7-9, 1830	Vol 10-12, '1830
Vol 13-16, 1831	Vol 17-20, 1831	Vol 21-24, 1831	n/a
Vol 25-28, 1832	Vol 29-32, 1832	Vol 33-36, 1832	n/a

Calcutta Monthly Journal

Published by Samuel Smith & Co, 1 Hare Street, Calcutta

The British Library hold an incomplete series from November 1794 to 1841.

• The Calcutta Monthly Journal editions from 1798 to 1837. National Library of India Digital Collection. Link to a pdf.
• The Calcutta Monthly Journal editions from 1801 to 1842. Archive.org. Most digital files appear to have very poor quality text.

Third Series Vol 2, Jan-June 1836	July-Dec 1836
Third Series Vol 3, Jan-June 1837
Third Series Vol 4, Jan-June 1838	July-Dec 1838
Third Series Vol 5, Jan-June 1839

Google Books.

Calcutta Review

See the separate list of editions of the Calcutta Review.

Civil and Military Gazette [Lahore]

The Mofussilite newspaper was founded in 1845 and first published in Calcutta, then Meerut and Agra, until it was merged in 1877 with the Civil & Military Gazette.

Civil & Military Gazette was a daily English-language newspaper founded in 1872. Published in Lahore, Simla and Karachi, it represented a merger between the Lahore Chronicle and the Indian Public Opinion and Panjab Times.

Civil & Military Gazette (Pakistan) is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites, added Oct 9, 2020, with more on Oct 18, 2020. The date range when added was January 1, 1884 to December 31, 1912 with available years 1884, 1891-1894, 1906, 1910-1912; 1876-1883 and 1885 added Nov 20, 2020; 1881-1883, 1885, 1887, 1895-1898, 1900-1905 and 1907-1909 added Nov 22, 2020; 1889-1890 added Dec 5, 2020; 1886 added Feb 17, 2021; more 1899 added Feb 24, 2021; 1888 and more 1899 added Mar 13, 2021; 1845, 1847-1876, 1913-1938, 1946-1951, 1954-1962 added March 28-April 4, 2022 (with 1845-1963 planned), with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the Findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date".

Colonial and Asiatic Review

Published in London from 1852-53. Was previously known as Simmond's Colonial Magazine and Foreign Miscellany (1844-49) and The Colonial Magazine and East India Review (1849-52). Editions can be viewed by page on the National Library of Australia's periodical site.

Google Books and Hathi Trust have:

Vol I, Jan-Apr 1844	Vol II, May-Aug 1844	Vol III, Sept-Dec 1844	Vol IV, Jan-Apr 1845	Vol V, May-Aug 1845	Vol VI, Sept-Dec 1845
Vol VII, Jan-Apr 1846	Vol VIII, Apr-Aug 1846	Vol IX, Sept-Dec 1846	Vol X, Jan-Apr 1847	Vol XI May 1847
			Vol XVI, Jan-June 1849	Vol XVII, July-Dec 1849
Vol I, Jul-Dec 1852	Vol II, Jan-June 1853

Colonial Magazine and Commercial Maritime Journal

Published in London between 1840-42, then under the title Fisher's Colonial Magazine and Commercial Maritime Journal from 1842-43. Editions can be viewed by page on the National Library of Australia's periodical site.

Google Books and Archive.org have:

Vol I, Jan-Apr 1840	Vol II, May-Aug 1840	Vol III, Sept-Dec 1840
Vol IV, Jan-Apr 1841	Vol V, May-Aug 1841	Vol VI, Sept-Dec 1841
Vol VII, Jan-Apr 1842
Vol II, Jan-Apr 1843	Vol III, May-Aug 1843	Vol IV, Sept –Dec 1843
Vol I New Series 1844

Colonies and India

Published in London as The Colonies, possibly from 1872, and from 1877 as The Colonies and India. (Brief details.) Available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites, added 1 May 2020 with more additions 28 May 2020. The date range is currently 8 January 1875 to 30 May 1898, with intended issues from 1872, with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the Findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date".

Englishman's Overland Mail

The Englishman's Overland Mail printed in Calcutta, "Published for Transmission to England" was first published on the 9 January 1864. The title changed in 1891 to The Englishman. Publication ceased 1928.. Englishman's Weekly Journal and Englishman's Saturday Evening Journal also came from the same publisher, and it seems likely these titles were sold in Calcutta for local readers on the same dates as Englishman's Overland Mail, but may have had additional or different content.

Englishman's Overland Mail is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites, added 31 March 2020. The date range when added was January 9, 1864 to January 26, 1928 being 1864-1905, 1907-1922, 1926-1928; with 1906 added May 25, 2021; with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the Findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date".

Friend of India and Statesman

Added 6 February 2020, Friend of India and Statesman, a weekly journal published at Serampore is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites. The date range when added was 1 January 1852 to 30 December 1876 (1852-1863, 1865-1876 (with future expansion to 1835-1883)) with details on a BNA page. Further added 21 Feb. 2020: 1864, 1877-1883. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the Findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date". Also see Pay websites, below.

Also available in the past on a subscription website, see Subscription websites-online newspapers, journals and directories - 19th Century UK Periodicals, but current availability unknown.

Gazette of India

• The Gazette of India was the official newspaper of the Government of India, where official information was ‘gazetted’.

See Gazette of India online.

Gazettes of India Collection on the Internet Archive (Archive.org)

• Gazettes of India Collection on the Internet Archive (Archive.org) Select publication and required years. Publications available prior to 1947 include Calcutta Gazette, Gazette of India, The Fort St. George Gazette (cataloged as Fort St. George), Travancore Government Gazette (catalogued as Travancore), Mysore Gazette, United Provinces Gazette. By selecting side filters in respect of publications and dates, it is possible to search the text of the selected editions.

Hicky's Bengal Gazette or The Original Calcutta General Advertiser

• 1781 Many weekly editions from 1781. Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg

Home News for India, China and the Colonies

Initially published from 7 Jan. 1847 to 26 Dec. 1865 as Home News: A Summary of European Intelligence for India, China and the Colonies. The title then changed to The Home News for India, China and the Colonies : A summary of European intelligence which was published until 30 Dec. 1898. "Despite being published in London, the Home News promised to convey ‘practical knowledge of the information most acceptable to the Indian public – especially as it regards the Civil and Military services.’"

Home News for India... is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites, (introduced 25 March 2020), with initial date range 7 Jan. 1847 to 26 Dec. 1865, and extended to 1866-1870 and 1889- 25 Dec. 1896 (added 23 April 2020) with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date".

Homeward Mail from India, China and the East

The Homeward Mail from India, China, and the East was first published, in London, on 1 January 1857, initially every two weeks, and weekly from 1876. The British Library holds copies to 9 May 1914. (Subsequently merged into The Indiaman : A weekly journal devoted to the affairs of India, with BL holding 15 May 1914 to 2 Aug. 1917). From 11 May 1891 Homeward Mail incorporated Allen's Indian Mail.

Homeward Mail is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites. The date range is 1 January 1857 to 27 December 1913 with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date".

India

First published as, and catalogued at the British Library as India : a journal for the discussion of Indian affairs Vol 1, no 1 (Feb 1890)-v. 55, no 1202 (14 Jan. 1921). British Committee of the Indian National Congress. UIN: BLL01013929409 . Also titled India: A Record and Review of Indian Affairs. Published in London.

• India 1890-1920, broken range. Issues from 21 November 1919 have title India: The Organ of the Indian National Congress. English language monthly then weekly newspaper published in London. Proprietors, The "India" Newspaper Company, Limited, alternately called the India News Agency. digital.soas.ac.uk.
• India is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites, introduced 1 December 2021, when it was stated to be a new release. The date range is February 1, 1890 to January 14, 1921 with details on a BNA page. Note however, the BNA page says this database was first made available Jul 24, 2020, with additions Dec 1, 2021. This page also states that the newspaper was published in Calcutta, however it appears elsewhere on the website to have been (correctly) classified as published in London. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the Findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date".

Indian Daily News

Indian Daily News, printed in Calcutta, full title The Overland Summary of The Indian Daily News, Bengal Hurkaru and India Gazette. It is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites, (introduced 24 July 2020), with initial date range 6 July 1875 to 30 June 1880; added Jan 7, 2021 when the range was extended to 1875-1885, 1894-1897, 1899-1901, 1903-1906; 1898 added Mar 30, 2021; 1902 added Jul 17, 2021; with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date".

Indian News and Chronicle of Eastern Affairs

The British Library has holdings for 11 June 1840-27 July 1858. It was then incorporated into Allen's Indian Mail.

1848	1849	1850	1851	1852
1854^	1855	1856	1857	1858

^ From the Bavarian State Library website

Indian Statesman

The available editions for the Indian Statesman for 1876 show that it was published six days a week (not Sundays) in Bombay, although it appears the ownership was in Calcutta. Refer Friend of India above. It absorbed The Englishman in 1927.

Indian Statesman is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites, added 9 October 2020. The date range when added was January 1, 1876 to August 18, 1876; added Jan 8, 2021, the date range was extended to 1873-1874, 1876, 1884-1885; added Jan 10, 2021, 1872 editions; added Mar 16, 2021, 1875 editions; with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the Findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date".

Lloyd’s List

Lloyd’s List, a newspaper of shipping intelligence was published in London twice weekly from 1735. By mid-1837, the paper was being published daily (excluding Sundays). Lloyd’s List joined up with the Shipping and Mercantile Gazette in 1884.

Lloyd’s List is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals"/British Newspapers, with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites. The date range is 1801-1884, 1887-1890, 1892-1894, 1896-1901, 1903-1910, 1912-1913 (1913 added Oct 13, 2021); 1914 added Nov 10, 2021; with a (full?) range to 1914 planned, with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the Findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date".

London and China Express

The London and China Express ‘A Summary of European, British, Colonial and American News for the Far East,’ was published in London and aimed at those outside the Indian Empire. A 1900 edition states "… for China, Japan, Philippines, Cochin China, Siam, Borneo, Java, Straits Settlements and Ceylon".

The title varied over time, being The China Express 1858–59, The London and China Express 1859–1921, The China Express and Telegraph 1922–31. Initially it was published twice a month, then by 1900 weekly.

The London and China Express is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals"/"British newspapers", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites, added May 18, 2021. The date range when added was November 25, 1858 to July 2, 1931 with editions 1858-1861, 1863-1905, 1907-1919, 1923-1931; 1916-1917, 1921 added Nov 17, 2021; 1922 added Feb 23, 2022; with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the Findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date". On both Findmypast and BNA it is classified as a London newspaper.

London & China Herald

The London & China Herald was published in London "on departure of the mails for China and Japan". It featured ‘Quotations for British Manufacturers to China and Japan,’ as well as looking at an array of ‘Commercial Intelligence,’ reporting the latest on the tea, silk, cotton and money markets. The London & China Herald also contained details of those ‘Vessels Loading for China and Japan’, a shipping index etc.

The London & China Herald is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals"/"British newspapers", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites, added Nov 9, 2021. The date range when added was October 10, 1867 to June 17, 1870 with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the Findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date". On both Findmypast and BNA it is classified as a London newspaper.

London and China Telegraph

The London and China Telegraph. Published in London. Covers China, Hong Kong, Japan, Straits Settlements (Singapore, Penang), Batavia and perhaps a wider area. One weekly issue (13 Jan. 1860) included notices for two deaths in India, and one in Alexandria, perhaps an indication for the rest of the series. There are two series of digitisations, both on Google Books, one from the Bavarian State Library, the other from Cornell University, the latter labelled A. Links for both series are provided, in case the content or digitisation quality varies. From February 2022, this title is also available on the pay websites Findmypast and British Newspaper Archive.

1860	1861	1863	1864	1865
1866	1867 1867 A	1868 1868 A	1869 1869 A	1870 A
1871 1871 A	1872 1872 A	1873 1873 A	1874: Jan-June 1874: July-Dec 1874 to Dec. A	1875 to Dec. 1875 to Oct. A

In addition, there is a collection of individual issues of London and China Telegraph on Archive.org which includes editions for 1877.

Added Feb 8-9, 2022, The London and China Telegraph is also available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals"/"British newspapers", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites. The date range when added was November 30, 1858 to December 24, 1921 with editions 1858-1891, 1901-1921 (with a range 1858-1921 planned), with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the Findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date". On both Findmypast and BNA it is classified as a London newspaper.

Madras Courier

• Multiple editions of the Madras Courier are available on the Tamil Digital Library, category Periodicals. Publications for the years 1793 (Vol.9), 1795 (Vol.11), 1797 (Vol.13), 1803 (Vol.19), 1805-1814, (Vol.21-30) have been noted, as set out in this website page which however does not list the editions in strict chronological order. (Otherwise, in case the previous link becomes invalid, previously the procedure was from the Search, first click on E (for English) (however currently 2021/05/04 most of the website still remains in Tamil) at the top of the webpage, click on Periodicals, then use the search term Madras Courier. You should be presented with a list of thumbnail book covers. Hover your mouse to see the titles. Alternatively use the Advanced Search, 'Select Category' choose Periodicals and use the search term Madras Courier as the title. A box with Tamil text may appear, click on it and select English. A list of search results will be presented, currently 407 (as at 2020/04/03). If you leave the number of items per search result page as 10, you are then able to click on the tab 'Select Volume' to view the editions included - (if you select more results per page, you are still only presented with a list of 10 editions)).

Searching by keywords does not appear to be successful. For a name search try a Google search: Name of interest site:tamildigitallibrary.in. Note however the underlying text may be poor quality, with small font size, so OCR searching may also be of poor quality. The online Tamil Virtual Library viewer has the facility to use your full computer screen. As an example, marriage, birth and death notices were noted on the 2nd page of Volume XXV (25) Number 1249 September 13 1809.

Note the book reader seems more difficult to use than previously (as at 2021/05/04) and it was difficult to increase the text size sufficiently, even using the full screen option. It may be easier to download, however most of the website remains in Tamil, even when the English option is selected.

• Madras Courier January 12 1819 Archive.org. It is recommended that the newspaper be read using the single page option. Some of the pages are torn and incomplete.
• Nearly 4,000 entries transcribed from the Madras Courier have been uploaded to the FIBIS database website, see FIBIS database Madrid Courier 1792-1819 (broken range, 16 datasets).
• Added 30 January 2020, Madras Courier is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites. The date range is May 12, 1790 to December 29, 1818, with issues 1790-1795, 1798, 1800-1813, 1815-1816, 1818, with details on a BNA page. 1817 further added 21 February 2020. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date". Also see Pay websites, below.

[Madras] Government Gazette

Published in Madras, Government Gazette is catalogued by Findmypast/BNA as Government Gazette (India). Details of this publication , first published 15 October 1801.

It is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals"/British Newspapers, (classified 'County' Tamil Nadu) with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites, (introduced Feb 10, 2021) with initial date range October 15, 1801 to December 31, 1832 with issues 1801-1802, 1804-1832, with details on a BNA page. For BNA the 'Region' is classified Southern, India and the "County' Tamil Nadu. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date".

Madras Weekly Mail

The Madras Weekly Mail was the weekly offshoot of India’s first evening paper The Madras Mail. The Madras Mail became simply the The Mail in 1928, before eventually ceasing publication in 1981.
It is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites, (introduced Dec. 22, 2020), with initial date range January 8, 1876 to December 31, 1908, with 1876–1914 planned, with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date".

Naval & Military Gazette and East India and Colonial Chronicle

• Naval and Military Gazette and East India and Colonial Chronicle. The earlier title of the publication following.

1839: Jan.-Dec. Note, title page says 1838, but content is for 1839; 1844: Jan.-July Very poor quality. Archive.org; 6 issues (weekly), 15 Jan-19 Feb 1853 wellcomelibrary.org

• Naval & Military Gazette and Weekly Chronicle of the United Service is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites. The date range is Saturday 09 February 1833 to Wednesday 17 February 1886, with issues 1833-1846, 1860-1886, with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date".

Oriental Magazine, and Calcutta Review

Volume 1, Jan-June 1823

Volume 2, July-December 1823

Oriental Herald and Colonial Review

Jan-April 1824	May-Aug 1824	Sept-Dec 1824	n/a
Jan-March 1825	Apr-June 1825	July-Sept 1825	Oct-Dec 1825
Jan-March 1826	Apr-June 1826	July-Sept 1826	Oct-Dec 1826
Jan-March 1827	Apr-June 1827	July-Sept 1827	Oct-Dec 1827
Jan-March 1828	Apr-June 1828	July-Sept 1828	Oct-Dec 1828
Jan-March 1829	Apr-June1829	July-Sept 1829	Oct-Dec 1829

Parbury's Oriental Herald and Colonial Intelligencer

Published by Parbury & Co. London (Later, from 1839, became Madden & Co).

Vol 2, July-Dec 1838

Vol 3, Jan-June 1839

Vol 4, July-Dec 1839

Pioneer Mail and Indian Weekly News

Printed weekly at Allahabad. Each weekly edition is separately numbered.

• No. 27, Volume 47. Friday July 2, 1920 to Friday December 31, 1920 Google Books
  • Contains a BMD section each week, for example July 9, 1920, page 45

Also available elsewhere, on subscription or pay websites, see Subscription websites-online newspapers, journals and directories - South Asian Newspapers, 1864-1922 and Bombay Newspapers, above.

Quarterly Oriental Magazine, Review and Register

Published by Thacker & Co, Calcutta.

Mar/Jun 1824
Jan/Jun 1825	Jul/Dec 1825
Jan/Jun 1826	Jul/Dec 1826
Jan/Jun 1827	Jul/Dec 1827

Report on native papers

These were official reports of the content of native or vernacular newspapers, so provide an overview of the most discussed issues of the day. The following are available on South Asia Open Archives (SAOA) part of the library-contributed Open Access collections on JSTOR.org

• Report on native papers published in the Bombay presidency and Berar, for the week ending... 1874-1880.
• Report on native papers for the week ending ... Calcutta, Bengal 1876-1916.
• Selections from the Vernacular Newspapers Published in the Panjab, North-Western Provinces, Oudh, Central Provinces and Berar 1881-1901.
• Selections from the native newspapers published in the United Provinces of Agra & Oudh 1903-1912.

The Times of India

• The Times of India is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites, (added 21 January 2020). The date range is 18 May 1861 to 31 December 1888, with available years 1861-1865, 1867-1888, with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date". Also see Pay websites, below.
• A more extensive collection of The Times of India is available on the database Proquest Historical Newspapers, Times of India option. See Websites Accessible by participating Library Cardholders, below, and for further details refer Subscription websites-online newspapers, journals and directories.

Thacker's Overland News for India and the Colonies

Thacker's Overland News for India and the Colonies was published weekly in London from the 1850s onward, for British people living in India.

Thacker's Overland News … is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites, (introduced 18 August 2021) with initial date range 3 Jan. 1860 to 26 Dec. 1863; 1858 added 30 Aug. 2021; with 1857-63 planned, with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the Findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date".

Voice of India

The Voice of India was established in 1883 in Bombay and contained news from across the country of India, featuring a collection of snippets from other Indian newspapers, as well as offering a ‘Native Opinion’ section. The Voice of India was later incorporated with the Indian Spectator. The title changed over time 1883–1902 The Voice of India; 1902–04 The Voice of India, Indian Spectator & Champion; 1904–13 The Indian Spectator, Voice of India & Champion.
It is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites, (introduced 31 Dec. 2020), with initial date range January 1, 1885 to December 27, 1913 (1885-1889, 1902-1913); 1901 added Feb 9, 2021; with 1883-1913 planned, with details on a BNA page. It is possible to browse individual editions on BNA, in addition to searching. To browse the Findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date".

Pay websites

• Findmypast - British Newspapers and Irish Newspapers are available to individuals with a Pro subscription (previously called World subscription, or the top subscription) but not via library and community subscriptions. (Previously British newspapers were also available with the British subscription, but this no longer applies for new subscriptions.) The newspapers are from the collection of the British Library and are the same newspapers as are included in the British Newspaper Archive see next item. The date ranges for the newspapers are directly available on the BNA. To browse the findmypast editions, use the filters under "Narrow your search results" (left hand side of the webpage) "By Newspaper" and "By Date". The Search may be better on the BNA, (BNA says it is "more sophisticated") and some people are known to search on the BNA, and then access the images on findmypast.

Newspapers in the category British Newspapers include (see individual items above)

Bangalore Spectator

Bombay Gazette

Calcutta Gazette

Civil & Military Gazette (Pakistan)

Colonies and India

Englishman's Overland Mail

Friend of India and Statesman

Home News for India, China and the Colonies

Homeward Mail from India, China and the East

India

Indian Daily News

Indian Statesman

Lloyd's List

London and China Express

London & China Herald

London and China Telegraph

Madras Courier

[Madras] Government Gazette. Catalogued as Government Gazette (India) by Findmypast/BNA

Madras Weekly Mail

Naval & Military Gazette and Weekly Chronicle of the United Service

The Times of India

Thacker's Overland News for India and the Colonies

Voice of India

The India newspapers above may be located by filtering "By County": Karnataka, India; Lahore, Pakistan; Maharashtra, India; Tamil Nadu, India; West Bengal, India. However note Indian Statesman, although published in Bombay , has been classified as part of West Bengal.

• British Newspaper Archive, a Findmypast company, is a pay site, with newspapers from the collection of the British Library. The majority of the newspapers were published 1830-1950 and now includes some Irish, Canadian, Jamaican etc newspapers, which are listed under individual newspaper titles, or under Regions. However the website does include some published pre 1800 and some post 1950, with details on this list of publications. See Findmypast above, for the India related newspapers. BNA classifies those published in India and Pakistan into four Regions which can be selected for Searching: "Eastern, India" (Calcutta Gazette, Englishman's Overland Mail, Friend of India and Statesman, Indian Daily News); "Southern, India" (Bangalore Spectator, Madras Courier, [Madras] Government Gazette (India), Madras Weekly Mail); "Western, India" (Bombay Gazette, Times of India, Voice of India ); "Punjab, Pakistan" (Civil & Military Gazette). However note Indian Statesman, although published in Bombay , has been classified as part of "Eastern, India".

This website may also be accessed (free) from the British Library Reading Rooms.

• NewspaperArchive is an American pay website which includes British newspapers and other publications. British newspapers may include information about people and events in India. A researcher found the newspaper Week's News contained B,M,D announcements for India. The following volumes with a (probable) India connection were noted, all published in Britain:
  • Allen’s Indian Mail to 1870, but excluding January to April 9th 1868. See Allen's Indian Mail, above for copies available elsewhere online.
  • Asiatick Miscellany 1785-1786
  • British And Colonial Weekly Register 1824
  • British Foreign And Colonial Journal 1823-1824
  • British And Indian Observer 1889-1890
  • British Indian Advocate 1841-1842
  • Calcutta Chronicle 1788
  • Colonies And India 1877-1898
  • India Gazette 1790

FamilySearch has, in the past, provided free access to NewspaperArchive at FamilySearch Centres but currently (2022/02) it is not available at FS Centres.

• Newspapers.com is an Ancestry owned pay website with the majority of the newspapers published in the USA. There are a small number of newspapers from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Colonies and India 1890–1898, published in London, appeared to be the only publication relating to India.
• Irish Newspaper Archives is a pay site also available as a subscription website through subscribing libraries. Currently (2020/01) it contains approximately 70 titles, mainly from the 1900s, but with some earlier publications dating back to the 1700s. This website may also be accessed (free) from the British Library Reading Rooms.
• The Times Digital Archive, refer next section is also available to those with a current Times subscription

Other countries and regions

• See the Fibiwiki pages Ceylon; China; Hong Kong; Singapore; West Indies.
• Also see London and China Express and London and China Telegraph above.

Websites Accessible by participating Library Cardholders

There are seven sites which contain online newspapers, journals, directories etc, published in India. These websites, and additional websites, may also contain newspapers etc published in Britain which contain references to people and events in India.

Apart from minor exceptions, the access is restricted to Library Card holders of participating libraries, including the following National Libraries (noting there is generally a residential requirement): Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Australia (click on Explore the eResources portal), State Library of NSW, and many University Libraries. Most of the websites may also be accessed (free) from the British Library Reading Rooms.

The sites are

• Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO)
• Eighteenth Century Journals, Newspapers and Periodicals c 1685-1815
• 19th Century UK Periodicals
• The Making of the Modern World

The Goldsmiths’-Kress Library of Economic Literature 1450-1850

• Proquest Historical Newspapers, Times of India option
• South Asian Newspapers, 1864-1922
• 17th and 18th Century Burney Collection Newspapers

Other British publications

• The Times Digital Archive 1785-1985
• 19th Century British Library Newspapers
• Illustrated London News Historical Archive 1842-2003
• House of Commons Parliamentary Papers 1801-2008
• Irish Newspaper Archives

For details about the publications published in India included in these seven sites, and more details about the sites containing British publications, refer Subscription websites-online newspapers, journals and directories