On January 3, 1661, the city of Kraków witnessed a groundbreaking moment in Polish media history with the publication of the first issue of Merkuriusz Polski, the oldest Polish periodic newspaper. Its ambitious title, “Merkuriusz Polski dzieje wszystkiego świata w sobie zamykający dla informacji pospolitej” (“The Polish Mercury enclosing the history of the whole world for public information”), reflected the newspaper’s mission to deliver news and insights from around the globe to its readers.
The name “Merkuriusz” draws inspiration from Mercury, the Roman god of communication and commerce, a nod to the European tradition of naming periodicals after the deity associated with the swift exchange of information. Similar publications of the era, such as Scotland’s Mercurius Caledonius or England’s Mercurius Britannicus, shared the practice.
The creation of Merkuriusz was spearheaded by Queen Marie Louise Gonzaga, wife of King John II Casimir, demonstrating the royal commitment to fostering an informed society. Edited by Hieronim Pinocci, a Polish-Italian writer, and Kraków-based printer Jan Aleksander Gorczyn, the publication offered insights into royal affairs, wars, treaties, and political plans.
Published weekly or biweekly, the newspaper ran in small batches of 100–200 copies, priced at 10 groszy per issue. Initially produced in Kraków, the editorial team relocated to Warsaw after the 38th issue. While it featured standard editions under the title Merkuriusz Polski Ordynaryjny, special issues, branded as Extraordynaryjny, included supplementary content like official documents or letters.
Despite its ambitious scope, Merkuriusz Polski ceased publication the same year it began, with its final 41st issue released on July 22, 1661. The newspaper also had an international counterpart, Continuazione del Mercurio Polacco, catering to foreign audiences, albeit with different content.
Centuries later, Merkuriusz Polski was revived briefly as a political weekly in Warsaw between 1933 and 1939 by Władysław Zambrzycki, and in 1978, it was reissued as a book by Wydawnictwa Artystyczne i Filmowe.
Although short-lived, Merkuriusz Polski remains a symbol of Poland’s rich journalistic heritage and the enduring pursuit of knowledge, as encapsulated in its opening editorial: “The sole nourishment of the human mind is to know and learn as much as possible: by this it is fed, delighted, and contented.”