Papers Past

Alexander Graham Bell

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:55:47 +0000

It's 150 years this week since Alexander Graham Bell made the very first call by telephone - he said "Watson, come here. I want to see you".

When Papers Past first began trading in the early 1980's a vast percentage of our orders were received by phone, so much so that I could recognise my customers just by their voice. Over the years the pattern of ordering has changed and now the vast percentage of orders are received online. Yesterday was unusual because we had two phone calls that resulted in orders, it's always nice to have a chat and find out who the newspaper is for and for what occasion.

However to commemorate 150 years of the telephone we are keeping our phone lines open from 9am-9pm seven days a week so give us a Bell on 07733888902 9am-9pm U.K. time and discuss your order with a Newspaper Gift Expert (your call will come straight through to myself or Gill or to my answerphone if we are on the road) - no AI here!

Ian Willsher Papers Past Tel: 07733888902 9am-9pm U.K. time.

Same Day Despatch

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:43:22 +0000

Don't worry if you have left it to the last minute as we can often offer Same Day Despatch of your order.

Just contact Ian or Gill at paperspast@hotmail.com with your requirement and if the newspaper is available we will prioritize your request and do everything possible to get it in the post same day. With some newspapers taking up to two hours to retrieve from the archive it's best to contact us first thing, also do consider requesting delivery by Royal Mail Special Delivery to ensure next day delivery.

We will keep in touch during the day with the progress of your order and send the Royal Mail Tracking Number.

Papers Past 45th Anniversary

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:31:54 +0000

45 years in the business and still going strong!

I am pleased and proud to announce that Papers Past will celebrate their 45th year in business on 1st March 2026.

It was back in 1981 that I saw an advertisement in "Exchange and Mart" for Old Newspapers. I travelled up to North Wales and met Ed. Jones who was selling big volumes of "Times" Newspapers and I loved the sight and smell of the papers so bought some. Over the years whole large collections of newspapers were offered to me by Libraries and Government Departments.

They were selling them off as they had bought reels of microfilm of the newspapers so no longer needed to hold the originals. Tons and tons were brought back and held in store waiting for our wonderful customers to request a Special Date Newspaper for a Birthday or Anniversary.

It has been my job to find those dates and post them out and what a fascinating job it has been. I still sit and read the old news reports and adverts and hope to continue solving customers gift buying problems by sending out many more newspapers in the future.

Ian.

1946 Newspapers

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:15:12 +0000

Happy 80th Birthday to everyone who was born in 1946!

It's only January and we are already seeing that 1946 is by far the most popular year ordered.

Gill and I have worked hard on getting the 1946 Archive Newspapers organised, catalogued and ready for immediate despatch.

Mostly there are original editions of The Times or Financial Times which are fascinating (we were both guilty of stopping work and reading the articles and advertisements when we were sorting through them). However there are a few Daily Mail and Daily Express for some dates. Just email me at paperspast@hotmail.com and I will check exactly what titles are available.

The second most requested year is 1956, its my 70th in July so 1956 was a great year to be born in!

Ian.

Happy Christmas

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 12:37:36 +0000

Happy Christmas from Ian and Gill at Papers Past.

We are busy posting out orders and will continue to post until 23rd December (by Royal Mail Special Delivery) for customers who require a last minute gift. If we have it in stock we will do everything possible to get the Special Date Newspaper posted. Even over the Holidays we will be happy to receive orders so that they can go off in the first available post after the Holidays.

Email us direct at paperspast@hotmail.com and we will get back to you 9am-9pm 7 days a week.

Ian and Gill

Simplified postage options

Fri, 09 May 2025 07:54:00 +0100

Papers Past are pleased to announce that same or next day despatch is available free of charge and the postage options have been simplified.

Some customers have experienced postal delays recently so to overcome this we are now sending UK post either Royal Mail 1st Class or Royal Mail Special Delivery and all Overseas deliveries Royal Mail Priority Tracked Airmail.

The delivery, packaging and handling costs, in addition, to the advertised price of £39.95 standard pack will be by

1st Class Post £5 + 20% vat = £6 + £39.95 = £45.95

Royal Mail Special Delivery £10 + 20% vat = £12 + £39.95 = £51.95

Royal Mail Priority Tracked Airmail £15 + 20% vat = £18 + £39.95 = £57.95

Our VAT number is 488504063

Cataloguing of Newspapers continues

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 10:15:09 +0000

The cataloguing and listing of each and every newspaper in the archive continues at pace.

It's a matter of going through every newspaper in every volume and entering it in to our system. It is turning out to be a very useful exercise as, for some years, we have got many more editions than was expected.

The stocks of 1945 Newspapers are looking great and not just The Times. For some dates there are titles such as The Daily Mirror, Daily Express, News Chronicle, Daily Herald and The Daily Sketch.

I love the old editions of The Daily Sketch as it was the newspaper we had at home when I was a kid in the 1960's. My favourite part of the newspaper after the Sports Reports was the Peanuts Cartoon Strip on the back page featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy and his other friends.

If you are looking to obtain a 1945 Newspaper for someones 80th Birthday next year then contact me at paperspast@hotmail.com or 07733888902 (UK time 9am-9pm 7 days a week) to discuss and I will check out what titles are available.

Ian.

Happy St. Swithins Day

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:00:49 +0100

It's the 15th July so happy St. Swithins Day!

I just got wet in the rain going down to the 1934 Newspaper Archive, here's hoping that it doesn't rain for the next 40 days.

Ian.

1944/1945 Daily Sketch

Fri, 03 May 2024 13:08:52 +0100

Extra, Extra. Read all about it!

Papers Past have just taken delivery of a large quantity of July 1944 through to May 1945 Daily Sketch Newspapers.

Newspaper Archive Manager, Ian Willsher, says that he loves the Daily Sketch as they used to get one everyday at home back in the 1950's and 60's (he only wishes that they saved them from back then). Contact him on 07733888902 (UK time 9am-9pm) to discuss ordering one.

Good Friday 1944, 1954 and 1964

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:28:15 +0000

Our most requested years this week have been 1944, 1954 and 1964 and we are coming up to a point in the year when one particular day from those years is not available.

Back in those years no newspapers were printed or published on Good Friday so 14 April 1944, 16 April 1954 and 27 March 1964. These dates are unavailable but do consider going for a nearby edition which will still give an amazing insight in to life at that time. The recipient will totally understand the reason why you weren't able to get their exact date and they will certainly enjoy reading the news and events from around the time of their birth. A good alternative would be to go for the day before. The free Birthday Book will still be enclosed for the correct Day and Month so no problem there.

Ian, the newspaper archive manager, will give you more advice if you contact him at paperspast@hotmail.com or call him direct UK time 9am-9pm on 07733888902.

Happy New Year

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 10:33:19 +0000

Happy New Year from everyone at Papers Past.

Great News! Our popular £10 discount offer is being extended in to the New Year.

Our 1944 Newspapers, for some dates, now have a choice of either The Times or The Daily Express so do check with Ian exactly what is available for these genuine, original 80 year old newspapers.

Prices held after Royal Mail hikes the cost of stamps

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 11:47:22 +0000

Despite the recent increase in postage rates by Royal Mail we are keeping our UK Post Free Offer.

Thank you to customers who have emailled to say that they like the new printed outer boxes and the new Fairtrade Indian Bags.

Sales are beginning to pick up in the run up to Christmas so we are keeping up with our seven day working down in the Newspaper Archives to ensure orders get posted off asap.

July 1943 Newspaper Gift

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 11:17:28 +0100

There are a lot of 80 year old Ladies and Gentlemen out there who will shortly be receiving a Birthday Times Newspaper as 1943 is the most requested year at the moment! Every day last week, including Sunday, I went right down in to the 1943 Newspaper Archive and retrieved special date editions for some very special 80 year olds.

The next most requested year was 1963 with 1953 not far behind.

Our £10 discount offer, the new printed boxes and new gift bags, judging by the feedback, are proving very popular.

Ian.

Another new packaging improvement

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 09:10:14 +0100

As well as our new boxes we have had a delivery of different Fairtrade Indian Bags.

They are absolutely fascinating, originally old Indian School Exam Papers (Maths and English) and cleverly folded and stuck by the workers at the NGO that we support.

They are printed in English and are exactly sized for our Birthday Books and make a really unusual free addition to the package.

We hope you like them.

Ian and Gill.

Free Upgrade to printed postal carton

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 12:55:18 +0100

We have just taken delivery of some super new printed postal cartons/boxes.

This project has been years in the making and finally, thanks to Defenda Pack, we have got just what we were looking for. The boxes were quite a bit more expensive than budgeted but we went for it.

All orders now received via the Papers Past website or Nostalgic Newspapers website will be sent out in the new box printed with old newspaper adverts, snippets of articles and even a crossword! We hope you like them.

Ian and Gill.

Sporting Birthdays 23rd March

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 10:07:36 +0000

The 23rd March is a day of birthdays for some of this country's sporting icons.

Sir Mo Farah (40)

Sir Chris Hoy (47)

Sir Jason Kenny (35)

Contact Papers Past if you would like a family member or friends birthday mentioned in one of our Birthday Blogs, especially if they were born on my birthday 22nd July.

Ian.

1953 is our most popular year

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 14:01:11 +0000

1953 is our most popular year for orders at the moment!

There must be a lot of happy 70 year olds out there as we have sold more 1953 Birthday Newspapers this week than any other year. I am making a regular visit down in to the 1953 Newspaper Archive and retrieving the original editions. The next most popular year is 1943 for 80ths then 1963.

Despite an upcoming postage price rise I will be keeping our prices on hold so do get in touch whether its for a 1953 Times or any other year.

Ian.

Victorian Newspapers at Wholesale Prices

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 14:03:50 +0000

After more than forty years running Papers Past I am starting to plan my retirement and will be selling off some volumes of mid Victorian editions of The Times.

They will be sold on a first come-first served basis and will be real collectors items and guaranteed genuine antiques. The outers of the volumes may have some wear and knocks as expected with age but the newspapers inside will be full and complete and in good condition.

Each volume contains either two or three months of The Times Newspaper (Monday to Saturday) starting at £235 for a two month volume containing approximately 52 editions including free UK delivery or £335 for a three month volume containing approx. 78 editions including free UK delivery.

These are wholesale prices available to retail customers and represent great value.

To order or discuss further or to request photos simply call me on 07733888902 or email me at paperspast@hotmail.com

Ian Willsher, Owner and Archive Manager Papers Past.

Daily Mail Newspapers in new series of The Crown

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 10:16:47 +0000

Papers Past has supplied the Daily Mail Newspapers shown in the new series of The Crown.

I saw some in episode one and will be looking out for more as the series progresses.

8th September 2022

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 15:18:30 +0100

Ian and the team at Papers Past join the nation in mourning the passing of Her Majesty The Queen.

New Home for the Newspapers

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 07:30:10 +0100

Great News!

The Papers Past Newspaper Archive has been on the move over the past couple of months and we are now coming to the end of this mammouth task. Nearly three quarters of the volumes have been palletised, loaded on to the lorry and safely delivered to their new home. Paulie, our driver from Burcombe Haulage, and his pallet truck has been a massive help in repositioning the newspapers in to accurate year stacks which will make retrieval of special date editions quicker and much more efficient.

The other piece of good news is that we are, for the time being, holding the discounted price which makes the Papers Past deal very much better value that all the other websites! To order simply email "paperspast@hotmail.com" the Day, Month and Year of the Times Newspaper required and Ian will get back to you.

Christmas 2021

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 09:37:54 +0000

Seasons greetings from down in the Papers Past Newspaper Archive.

It's been a busy few months but there is still time to order a loved ones Date of Birth Newspaper as they make amazing Christmas Gifts. We are despatching right up to the 23rd December so do let me know the day, Month and Year of The Times Newspaper required and I will retrieve one from the archive, nicely gift pack it and post it off.

Ian.

The gift for the person who has got everything

Tue, 25 May 2021 09:58:10 +0100

Just what do you give the person who has got everything?

How about their Date of Birth Original "Times" Newspaper.

Simply contact Papers Past with the Day, Month and Year required and they will retrieve an orignal, genuine, full and complete edition of "The Times" Newspaper from their archive, nicely gift pack it and post it off along with a free "BirthdayBook".

Give Ian, the Newspaper Archive Manager, a call on 07733888902 or email him at paperspast@hotmail.com to discuss or to order.

Email me direct

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 10:56:48 +0000

Our brilliant Hosting Company are making some changes to the Servers so, for today, please Order or Enquire direct to me down in the Newspaper Archive at paperspast@hotmail.com

I will then reply by return and get your order moving.

Ian Willsher Papers Past

Determined to Carry On

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 09:32:45 +0000

A belated "Happy New Year" from Ian down in the chilly Newspaper Archives at Papers Past and a massive thank you to our loyal customers who continue to support us with repeat orders and generous reviews. Be assured that Papers Past remain determined to carry on and despatch orders same or next day and answer enquiries promptly.

Ian has registered as a NHS Volunteer Responder Steward Volunteer and hopes to help out in a small way with the important vaccination programme whenever time allows.

March 2021 will be the 40th Anniversary of Papers Past. Ian can remember his first morning at work back in 1981 when he had twenty orders to complete, quite a task then and now! Ian says that he wants to carry on working for "just another ten years" (but he has been saying that every year for the past ten years).

New addition to the Papers Past Family

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 09:41:41 +0000

I am so very, very pleased to announce an addition to the Papers Past family.

Sam and Lucy's third child, Rosie Alice, was born on the 7th November and yes we did save her Birthday Edition of The Times!

Meanwhile I am continuing to operate the Newspaper Archive in a Covid safe way and orders are being despatched same or next day.

Ian Willsher Papers Past

The Discount Continues

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 08:46:32 +0000

Greetings from down in the Papers Past Newspaper Archive.

I am pleased to say that, until the end of 2020, the £10 discount will continue.

This reduces the price down to £44.95 in the Deluxe Pack Presentation Folder with free UK delivery and a free Birthday Book so a really great deal or £29.95 Standard Pack.

Thank you for all of your good wishes and support.

Ian Willsher

ps Look out for an edition of the Channel 5 programme Hoarders soon to be aired where I gave some practical advice to a hoarder of newspapers.

1970 Sunday People Newspapers

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 09:19:34 +0100

Recently Papers Past have added to their stocks of newspapers.

Last month we bought in some very good condition volumes of The Times Newspaper from the 1940's and 1950's. Originally they were saved for reference by the BBC!

Yesterday we received a volume of 1970 Sunday People Newspapers, I have had a look at them and they are truely fascinating and give a wonderful insight in to life in 1970. Sunday newspapers are quite rare so do let me know (paperspast@hotmail.com) if you are interested in one, we are not surcharging these ones unlike some other websites.

Update

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 08:45:57 +0000

Here is a brief update.

I will be volunteering for the NHS in the community during the Coronavirus crisis but will be continuing to safely despatch orders in between assignments. Please allow a little extra time for delivery but be assured that I will do everything possible to get your Special Date Newspaper posted off.

Despite the recent postage increase I can confirm that our Special Offer price will be held for the time being.

I appreciate your custom and support and look forward to celebrating 40 years in this business in March 2021.

Ian Willsher Archive Manager Papers Past.

Business as usual

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 13:27:16 +0000

Here is an update from Papers Past, Truro.

It's Business as Usual here, orders are being despatched on a daily basis and some great gifts are being posted off.

We are continuing to care for Mum in Penzance and also a local family with extra needs.

Keep safe and healthy everyone.

Ian.

Same Day Despatch by RMSD

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 10:23:45 +0000

We all lead very busy lives and if, like me, you sometimes leave things to the very last minute do not worry as Papers Past can often offer free same day despatch of your order. Some of the popular dated newspapers are kept close to hand here at the Truro Newspaper Archive so, as long as there is enough time left before the posting cut off time, we will work on your order as a matter of urgency and get it packed and posted off same day. If you upgrade to Royal Mail Special Delivery then it will be delivered to most areas of the UK next day by 1pm so really quick.

Maybe email me at paperspast@hotmail.com or call me on 07733888902 for an immediate response and advice on your newspaper purchase (if I am driving the phone will go to answerphone so please leave a message and I will get back to you when I park up).

Ian Willsher Archive Sales Manager Papers Past.

Easter Newspapers

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 10:25:40 +0000

It was common not to print or publish British Newspapers on Good Friday so the following dates are not available

18th April 1930, 22nd March 1940, 7th April 1950, 15th April 1960, 27th March 1970 and 4th April 1980.

This has lead to pressure on the Easter Saturday editions but do enquire as we have stocks on a first come, first served basis.

An alternative would be to consider going for the Thursday Newspaper as it will contain the news for the Easter Period and

give a great insight in to life back then.

Email Ian Willsher, Archive Manager for advice at paperspast@hotmail.com

Most requested newspaper

Fri, 07 Feb 2020 10:04:59 +0000

Papers Past have got an archive of over 200 tons of original newspapers and manage to forfill most customer requests for Date of Birth and Anniversary Newspapers but there is one date that is requested more than others and that is 3rd January 2009.

On the face of it the 3 January 2009 seems just an ordinary date, we started off with really good stocks of it but nearly ten years ago I started receiving orders for it. One customer from Canada actually ordered three and I even offered them a discount!

It turns out that it was the date that Bitcoin came in to being and the Times headline "Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks" was embedded in the new Bitcoin block chain making it a newspaper much sought after!

It is therefore not surprising that collectors want to get their hands on this newspaper, most weeks I get enquiries for it but sadly we just don't have any more available.

I have seen one advertised for one million dollars! If only I knew that when I sold the three.

I get offers of runs of newspapers from time to time and live in hope of turning up 3 January 2009 again, watch this space.

No Increase in Price

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 11:20:47 +0000

Happy New Year from everyone at Papers Past!

Already we are selling editions from 1930, 1940, 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1990 which are proving wonderful 90th, 80th, 70th, 60th, 50th, 40th and 30th Birthdays (who would have thought that someone born in 1950 would be 70 this year).

Stocks are good so we are holding, for the time being, the super reduced £29.95 price including free UK delivery and a Free Birthday Book (see the Special Offers page for full info).

Chris at our Website Hosting Company has informed us that some of our enquiries/orders are not always getting through, he is working to solve the problem but if you don't hear from us within an hour or two please contact us again at paperspast@hotmail.com or call Ian direct on 07733888902.

Sam is running the business

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 09:56:20 +0100

"Extra, Extra Read All About It"

"Sam Willsher takes over the running of Papers Past"

No, its not fake news but for the week 7th to 14th October 2019 Sam will be running Papers Past while Ian and Gill are on holiday in Sicily. All we ask is that you "cut him some slack" if he doesn't answer your enquiry by return or send out your order same day despatch, but he will try his very best. There is a very good chance that Ian will sneek his laptop in to his hand baggage so he will be keeping a check on things while eating pizza so nothing to worry about. Usual service will be resumed shortly after the 14th October 2019.

1969 Moon Landing

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 17:12:22 +0100

The "Special Date Collection" at Papers Past has acquired two very exciting "Apollo 11 Moon Landing" editions of The Times Newspaper.

The first one is 21 July 1969 which is the actual newspaper which reports man first landing on the moon. This rare and historic edition is packed full of photos and news reports of the landing and has the headline Man lands on the moon with perfect touchdown. It is priced at £150 including a Certificate of Authenticity and free UK delivery.

The other Newspaper is also an original edition of The Times Newspaper from 21 July 1969 but a slightly later edition with the famous headline "Man takes first steps on the moon" and "Armstrong says: One giant leap for mankind". Including the Certificate and delivery this one (and there are only two left) is on sale at £250.

What were you doing on the day man landed on the moon?

I was just turning thirteen and I stayed up all night and in to the early hours of the morning watching television. However I must have fallen asleep as it was all over by the time I had woken up!

To order one or both of these iconic newspapers email paperspast@hotmail.com or call me direct on 07733888902.

Ian Willsher Chief Archivist Papers Past.

Moving with The Times

Tue, 28 May 2019 09:24:54 +0100

It's not unreasonable for customers to want their order quickly and Papers Past recognises this.

With this in mind our Archive Manager, Ian Willsher has put in to action a plan to reorganize the stocks of newspapers so that orders can be despatched same or next day. Over a short period of time many tons of volumes of newspapers will moved to the Truro Warehouse. Stocks will be palletized and each pallet will contain one years worth of original newspapers sorted by quarter. This will result in all of the January to March Newspapers being grouped together, April-June, July-September and October- December etc. When this has been carried out it will mean that a special dated newspaper can be retrieved from the massive archive very much quicker.

The most popular years have already been moved and reorganized so 1929, 1939, 1949, 1959, 1969 and 1979 newspapers are in place. A customer, last week, ordered a 1949 at 3pm and by 5pm it had been retrieved from the archive, nicely gift packed and posted off for guaranteed delivery the very next day!

Papers Past may only be a small family business in Cornwall but, by great organisation, they achieve the same service standards as the large multi national businesses.

To try out the new "quicker despatch" give Ian a call on 07733888902 9am-9pm or email him at paperspast@hotmail.com

Get Yesteryear Newspapers Today

Wed, 01 May 2019 09:53:55 +0100

Yesteryear Newspapers from the Papers Past Archive solve all sorts of Birthday and Anniversary gift problems. The website talks mainly about genuine editions of The Times Newspaper but over the years other titles are sometimes available.

From the early 1970's until 2007 there are Daily Mails and from the early 2000's up to date there are Daily Telegraphs. Between 1938 and 1957 we have got some great editions of The Picture Post Magazine, printed every Saturday which, like the newspapers, make fascinating gifts. Finally up to the late 1970's there are Financial Times Newspapers that give an insight in to stocks and shares as well as news from that time.

The bulk of the stocks are The Times Newspaper but do let us know if you would be interested in one of the above alternative titles.

Free Birthday Book with every Newspaper

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 16:00:11 +0000

We have decided to extend the "Free Birthday Book with every Newspaper" Offer!

The Birthday Books have been a very popular addition to our product range and it has been decided today to continue offering a Free Birthday Book with every Newspaper Order. The 30 page Hard Backed Book features the Day and Month of the Birthday and gives many facts about the special day such as Famous People born on that day and month and News Events that happened on that day and month going back over the years. If you are buying the Newspaper for a Wedding Anniversary then you can substitute any other Day and Month for the Birthday Book, just let us know.

Please see the Special Offers page for more info about the Birthday Books.

No Increase in Price

Thu, 07 Mar 2019 11:12:06 +0000

Papers Past are pleased to announce that, for the time being, there will be no increase in price and that the current offer of £10 Discount so down to £29.95, free UK delivery and a free Birthday Book will be extended. Please see the Special Offers page for full info or call Ian the Archive Owner direct on 07733888902 UK time 9am to 9pm.

Ten Pounds Off - Now 29.95 with Free UK Delivery

Thu, 01 Feb 2018 10:40:45 +0000

Read this blog and save a massive £10 off of the advertised selling price!

Let one of Cornwall's smallest businesses solve one of your BIGGEST gift buying problems and save you a MASSIVE £10 off of the advertised price.

Just give Ian at Papers Past the date of the newspaper you require and he will go in to the Newspaper Archive and retrieve an original edition of The Times Newspaper for that date, gift pack it and post it off asap. It will become the star gift at the party, much admired and everyone will be asking you where you got it from. Everyone will be reminiscing about the "Good Old Days" and the recipient will love it.

How to order and get the £10 Discount

1) Go to the Gift Ideas page at the website and have a look at the packaging options so in The Standard Pack £39.95 - £10 Discount = £29.95 including Free UK Delivery or The Deluxe Pack £54.95 - £10 Discount = £44.95 including Free UK Delivery.

2) Email paperspast@hotmail.com the Date of The Times Newspaper required, the Packaging Option chosen and the Delivery Name and Address and they will get Worldpay to send you a Secure Payment Link at the Reduced Price.

or Telephone Ian on 07733888902 9am-9pm 7 days a week and give him the above information.

It's as simple as that, Gift Problem Solved and a £10 Discount!

1947 Newspaper for 70th Gift

Wed, 03 May 2017 09:46:37 +0100

1947 Newspapers have been the most requested this week at Papers Past. The 1947 Newspaper Archive has been relocated to the front of the building for easy access as Ian, our archivist, goes there every day to retrieve these seventy year old gems. Papers Past has a variety of genuine 1947 papers including The Times and The Financial Times, they are proving amazing "Milestone Gifts" for both men and women. To obtain a special date edition from 1947 or from other years simply call Ian on 07733888902 or email him at paperspast@hotmail.com.

M.P. presents P.M. with Birthday Newspaper

Fri, 30 Sep 2016 12:57:09 +0100

Truro & Falmouth M.P. Sarah Newton has presented Prime Minister Theresa May with her date of birth Times Newspaper. Owner of the Papers Past Newspaper Archive, Ian Willsher, met with Sarah Newton on 22nd July this year (his 60th Birthday) and gave her an original edition of The Times for 1st October 1956 which happens to be the Prime Minister's date of birth.

Watch this space as, just for good measure, Ian also gave Sarah a gift packed Sunday Times for 9th October 1966 for presentation which happens to be David Cameron's date of birth.

To obtain a special date newspaper either for yourself or to gift to a friend or relative simply call Ian on (01872) 261220.

Newspapers Birthday Memorials

Thu, 11 Feb 2016 03:56:46 +0000

Whether its to check a Birthday Memorial or Family Announcement in a Times Newspaper do contact Papers Past as they are always interested in your story and they don't charge for

Commemorative Birthday Newspapers

Thu, 28 Jan 2016 17:11:34 +0000

Back in March 1981 I responded to an advert for "Old Newspapers For Sale" in the periodical Exchange and Mart and later that month I was invited to view the collection. I can remember going to see a guy called Ed in a chicken shed in

The Most Affordable Birthday Newspapers

Wed, 27 Jan 2016 17:22:16 +0000

Behind a very small black door in a non descript street in a West Country town a revolution is taking place within the niche gift market place.

Birthday Newspapers 6th July 1945

Mon, 25 Jan 2016 18:57:22 +0000

We just love newspapers here at Papers Past and every day we love to talk to lots of people about lots of dates of newspapers but there is one date which just keeps coming up in conversations.

Old Newspapers for Sale & To Buy From The UK

Mon, 09 Nov 2015 03:43:16 +0000

You've searched high - you've no doubt searched low but finally you looked to Google and typed in the magic phrase old newspapers for sale. Finally at last you've found us Papers Past: one of the biggest newspaper archives in the United Kingdom.

We offer a huge archive of old newspapers for the public to buy, newspapers that are now hard to come by and are often collectable items in their own right because of the significance of the day they were printed and published or sometimes because of the connotation of the articles within. Perhaps it's the elation of the Victory in Europe Day or the terrors as reported about the Twin Town tower atrocities in New York.

Whatever the reasons are that you wish to purchase an old newspaper from our shop here in Truro, UK rest assured that we will find it somewhere amongst our substantially sized newspaper archive.

Old newspapers to buy UK

If you've been looking so hard to find old newspapers to buy it might be worth us telling you a little about ourselves and our company.

Based in Truro in the South West of England, Papers Past was established by Ian Willsher in 1981 and his son Sam Willsher who decided to join his father after his time in university. Between them both, they sit upon a massive corpus of old newspapers weighing in at a whopping two hundred tons!

Having been setup in the old newspaper 'hoarding' business for some number of years now the family run duo called Papers Past routinely find themselves amongst their newspaper archives looking up obscure dates for a customer or two. Talking of customers the kind of customer we attract is wide and varied but includes some of the examples from the following list:

People searching for unique birthdate newspapers

Collectors and hobbyists of newpapers

Family members searching for a special gift - our archive makes for a truly great present

Those that are looking for a birthday gift newspaper such as The Times

Old newspapers for sale in the UK

So if you've been looking for a fantastic place to buy old newspapers for sale in the UK then please don't hesitate to contact us and we can find and search for the newspaper you need for whatever the occasion or as a fantastic gift.

We can be contacted 9am to 5pm please call us on 01872 261220 or use the email address 'quick search' box above to email our archivist Ian Willsher to find the paper you're looking for.

Bygone News

Wed, 12 Aug 2015 14:24:59 +0100

Bygone news just about sums up what I do and how I do it. The bygones in question are old newspapers but not just any old random editions so let me tell you more.

It used to be said that a police officer can work out what job you do by looking at your hands, well, at work my hands are often ingrained with newsprint, I have flecks of old newspaper on my clothes and cobwebs in my hair. It doesn't take much to work out that I am a newspaper archivist and most days I can be found deep in a storage facility full of volumes of archive newspapers. Customers request a particular dated newspaper from years ago, either for a birthday present or anniversary gift, and it is my job to locate and extract that edition.

A customer, Mark, has just telephoned to say that his father is seventy the day after tomorrow and can I supply a bygone Times newspaper from the actual date of birth in 1945. So the search is on for the genuine, full and complete edition of The Times newspaper for the perfect gift.

1945 is a popular year for orders at the moment as it represents a milestone birthday for a seventy year old. The newspapers were originally saved by Libraries for reference and ultimately sold off to me in the eighties when microfilm became the preferred method of storing information. I acquired various collections of these wonderful social documents which came in big bound volumes. My archive now exceeds 200 tons of newspapers from bygone times and is still growing as I bid for stocks whenever I see quality collections of newspapers for sale.

Anyway, back to Mark's order for the 18th July 1945. The 1945 volumes of the Times are kept in my Truro newspaper archive, towards the front on the left hand side. Generally the 1945 bygone newspapers are arranged in four stacks of volumes so I will look for the third quarter of July to September 1945 and there it is - Wednesday 18th July 1945 The Times.

The edition is in great condition despite being seventy years old and is carefully extracted from the volume, checked over, packed and booked out from the archive. All that is left to do is issue its Certificate of Authenticity as what sets Papers Past apart from some other newspaper businesses is that we only sell original newspapers and not reprints. I will guarantee that Mark's father will receive a newspaper as old as he is and he can have it carbon dated if he wants to! Then its down to the Post Office and the package starts its overnight journey to Liverpool 12.

Just what do you buy the person who has got everything? Be like Mark and buy a bygone newspaper from Papers Past.

1905-1910 Original Volumes for sale

Tue, 30 Jun 2015 09:42:17 +0100

I have found a number of pristine volumes of The Times Newspaper from the years 1905 to 1910, mostly they contain one month of newspapers so about twenty six genuine editions. They are currently surplus to requirements so do telephone me on 01872 261220 if you are keen to purchase your own piece of British Edwardian Heritage.