Share of 500 francs issued in Paris in 1896.

"Le Petit Journal" was created by Moïse Millaud in 1863 and was one of the first French newspaper.

Popular newspaper sold at 1 sou (5 centimes, coin illustrated on the share), it changed the lives of Parisians. The press being subject to censorship, at the slightest criticism or political allusion, the fines fell. At the slightest recurrence, it was the ban. Le Petit Journal was thus the first to relay news items, giving itself the sensational editorial line.

Le Petit Journal also experienced its growth thanks to the rotary presses (one of which is illustrated) developed by Hippolite Marinoni (1823-1904) allowing mass circulation. With a circulation of 400,000 copies in 1870, it exceeded all French political dailies. The company was dissolved in 1958.

Illustration by Henri Meyer (Reyem) (1844-1899) with the Marinoni printing machines.

Head office : Paris, 61 rue Lafayette.