London: Court Circular, 1860. Two volumes of bound issues of this newsheet. Folio. 3/4 brown leather with buckram boards. Vol. 1 contains issues 21-52. (March 17th 1860 - October 20th 1860) Vol. 2 contains issues 79-104 (April 27th 1861 - October 19th 1981). There are also a number of "supplements" to the gazette. A total of 56 issues. In Vol. 1 Each is separately paginated, generally 16 pages long. Some pages have been bound incorrectly, but all seem to be present. Vol. 2 is numbered 417-836 pp. Initially entitled the "Volunteer Service Gazette and Militia Dispatch" From August 25th 1860, the name was shortened to "Volunteer Service Gazette."
370 by 260mm (14½ by 10¼ inches). Volunteer Services & Forces Newspapers were aimed at the volunteer services and regular army and navy, and flourished in the nineteenth century. In 1859 a new corps of volunteers was formed to supplement both the militia and the regular army in case of invasion. These rifle brigades attracted members from those able to afford to purchase their own uniform and rifle, which could amount to £8 -12. Newspaper proprietors responded to this wave of patriotism by creating newspapers to disseminate news of the military and the volunteer forces. Issues of the Volunteer Service Gazette carried reports on the various volunteer units, including descriptions of their uniforms and the progress of their drill and weapons training.

These papers also included news of the movements and engagements of the regular army and navy. The posting of officers and the movement of troops are treated in great detail. These papers will tell you where a regiment was on a given date, at home or abroad. There were also an increasing number of advertisements for rifles, apparel and equipment as time went on.