A CANADIAN visitor from Alberton, Prince Edward Island, has obtained a near-mint original copy of a 1795 Bermuda Gazette through the online auction company E-Bay.

The historic Bermudian newspaper was one of several that were being auctioned off along with a number of other classic Bermudian items.

"Well, we were watching for Bermuda items on E-Bay, because my son works here," said Laurie Bell, who brought the newspaper with him when he visited the island this week.

"And I saw this item and, the guy who was selling it put five of them on, five copies. He also had copies of The Royal Gazette from 1828 and 1829."

Most of the copies were selling at a range from $500 to $700. However, Mr. Bell managed to buy his at a significantly lower price around the $150 range.

The Bermuda Gazette, founded by Joseph Stockdale, was the island's first newspaper. It was published between 1784 and 1831.

Among the news it covered during its 47-year run was the incorporation of Hamilton as a town in 1793, the British decision to buy Ireland Island in 1809 for use as a Royal Navy base and the establishment of the Bermuda Post Office in 1813.