The Spectator (1711)

The Spectator was a daily publication published by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele in London, England, from 1711 to 1712. Each "paper", or "number", was approximately 2,500 words long, and often featured an essay or letters on politics or the arts. They were read by many thousands of people, both in England and abroad, including many of the American Founding Fathers.

The original run consisted of 555 numbers, beginning on 1 March 1711. These were collected into seven volumes. The paper was revived without the involvement of Steele in 1714, appearing three times a week for six months, and these papers when collected formed the eighth volume. Eustace Budgell, a cousin of Addison's, and the poet John Hughes also contributed to the publication.