Over the years, there have been many things written about the history of banner advertising and the "first" banner ad. Here are some of our favorites:

• The Internet History Podcast: An Oral History of the Web's First Banner Ads, Oct 2014
• Fast Company: The Trailblazing, Candy-Colored History of the Online Banner Ad, Oct 2014
• Advertising Age: Suprise! The Banner Ad Turns 20 and Keeps on Going, Oct 2014
• Mashable: This Is the World's First Banner Ad, Aug, 2013
• Business Insider: BEHOLD: The First Banner Ad Ever - From 1994, Feb 2013
• The Guardian: The First Banner Ad: Why Did it Work So Well?, Dec 2013
• Wired Magazine: Oct. 27, 1994: Web Gives Birth to Banner Ads, Oct 2010
• Adweek: Here's a Timeline Showing the 20 Years After the Banner Ad, Oct 2014
• Dan Barker: The First Ever Banner Ad (& How it Performs Today), Oct 2013
• Advertising Age: Happy Birthday, Digital Advertising!, Oct 2009
  (This one has a particularly robust comments section with words from many of the people involved)