[ London Times ]
This newspaper, most correctly known simply as The Times, began publication in 1785 and continues to this day.
The April 12, 1788 edition of The Times carried the following "lost dog" notice regarding a brindle Newfoundland, the first-ever reference I have seen to a Newf with brindle markings. Note the error in the advertisement: brindle is a coat pattern, not a color:
A Brindle coloured Bitch, of the Newfoundland Breed, followed a Gentleman to D. Humphrey's, Broad-Street, Carnaby-Market, on the 31st of March. The owner giving such other description of her marks, may have her again on paying the advertisements and keep.
