BANGKOK - Archivist Ron Morris has made a shocking discovery of an original copy of the free Daily XPress. Photos of the rare find, posted on his popular website www.2Bangkok.com today, provide the first undeniable proof that the paper still exists.

“It is indeed an incredible discovery,” said media monitor Dominic Faulder. “Not one member of my staff had encountered that shambolic rag for months.”  

In December, on Thaivisa.com, a thread was created to debate whether the tabloid had ever existed at all, with hundreds of users agreeing that they had never actually held a copy in their hands, seen it on the Skytrain or in any of the city’s 32 Starbucks.

Several attempts by the thread’s moderator to solicit a copy from Nation subscribers – who allegedly received the Daily XPress inserted into their paper – were unsuccessful. “Does anyone subscribe to The Nation? Please send us a copy if you do,” the moderator requested in the forum. Several more attempts over the next few weeks under the headline “Anyone? Anyone?” went unanswered before the moderator finally gave up, concluding “I guess not.” Reacting to Morris’ discovery, poster OldWheezer325 wrote on the thread today: “I still believe it is all just a big hoax. Who is to say this 2Bangkok guy isn’t in on it too?”  Another poster, DirtyHarry, wrote: “I am not sure what is the bigger surprise – that it still exists or that it ever existed at all.”

Morris, however, said the edition is a real copy and not a forgery. Dated May 14, 2008, it is believed to be one of only a few left in existence. “The rest have been thrown away, used to clean up after dogs or burned for heat by vagrants,” he speculated.

Morris said he discovered the May 14 edition by accident.

“Somebody had used it to wrap a present I received. I was just about to rip the paper and I thought, ‘No, this can’t be. Is this the Daily XPress? Holy shit!’ I was so excited. It’s gonna be like the Honus Wagner [baseball card] of newspapers.”