Loco Foco (Sep. 1835)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On 8/9/07, Benjamin Zimmer <bgzimmer at babel.ling.upenn.edu> wrote:
> Using the 19th Century US Newspapers database, I was able to find
> advertisements for Loco Foco matches beginning in Sep 1835:
>
> -----
> 1835 _United States' Telegraph_ (Washington, DC) 25 Sep. 1019/3
> (advt.) Loco Foco matches. A new article for lighting segars, &c.
> -----

Better yet, from America's Historical Newspapers:

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1835 _Salem (Mass.) Gazette_ 23 Jan. 3/2 Loco Foco, or self-igniting
Segars. This is the name of an article prepared in New York. They
possess the peculiar property of igniting themselves -- if they would
smoke themselves, also they would increase human health and
cleanliness, materially. -- Boston Post.
-----

--Ben Zimmer

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