Copies of three centuries of the historic Belfast News Letter will become accessible to the public online for the first time from today.
The paper is the world's oldest English language daily newspaper still in circulation.
The digitisation is thanks to a UK Government project to highlight Northern Ireland’s cultural heritage.
It is hoped the release will strengthen understanding of Northern Ireland’s newspaper heritage around the world and deliver on commitments made in the Safeguarding the Union command paper.
First published in September 1737, this year marks the 288th anniversary of the paper.
The Northern Ireland Office has worked in partnership with the British Library and Findmypast to expand the online collection of the historic publication on the British Newspaper Archive dating to the late 18th, early 19th and 20th centuries.
The British Library provided originals of the News Letter in microfilm and newspaper format, which were digitised by the online platform Findmypast.
The archive is available online through the British Newspaper Archive and on Findmypast, and can be viewed freely at the British Library sites in London and Yorkshire, as well as at any library or by any private individual around the world with a subscription.
Marking the launch, secretary of state for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn visited the British Library in London to view the new additions to the online archive.
Benn said: "It was wonderful to be able to view the newly digitised editions of the Belfast News Letter at the British Library in London using the online archive.
"Bringing Northern Ireland’s newspaper heritage to a global audience will encourage research, exploration and appreciation of Northern Ireland’s rich political and cultural history.
"This UK Government project has opened up a unique resource to readers and researchers in nations around the world with historic links to Northern Ireland, including the USA."
Rebecca Lawrence, chief executive of the British Library, said: "We are thrilled to make all known surviving copies of the News Letter accessible for the first time through the British Newspaper Archive, in partnership with Findmypast and the UK government. As the world’s oldest English language general daily newspaper still in circulation, the historic Belfast title offers insight into centuries of life, politics, and culture in Northern Ireland and beyond.
"The British Library is custodian of one of the world’s largest news archives, with over 60 million newspaper issues dating back to the 1600s, alongside growing collections of broadcast and digital news. Digitising all known surviving copies of the News Letter and making them available online preserves a vital piece of heritage and opens up the archive to researchers around the world."
