The Australian — Number One, Wednesday July 15, 1964. This is the very first edition of The Australian, founded by Rupert Murdoch as Australia’s first national daily newspaper (only the third national newspaper in the country’s history).

Price fourpence, 24 pages, broadsheet format, printed in Canberra. Front page headline: “Strain in Cabinet — Liberal-CP row flares over Senate,” alongside coverage of Canberra skiers rescued after a three-day vigil on Mt. Franklin. Includes period advertising (GMH/Holden “The Vital Edge” full-page ad for their new Technical Centre).

Condition: browning/toning consistent with 60-year-old newsprint, edge wear and small tears along the top and fold lines, a couple of small splits at the spine/fold. Fully readable.

This is a legitimately collectible historical item — the debut issue of a still-running major national newspaper.