[Zope] PloneCollectorNG get earliest issue/get latest issue

[Bryan Simmons]

I'm trying to allow users to search for all issues within a date range.
They get two text boxes to fill in the start and end dates.
In my validation of the dates, I'm needing to make sure they don't 
specify a date range that comes before the date of the first created issue.
I want to be able to catch that error and respond to them with the
right feedback
so they don't make that mistake again.
How do I find out what the earliest date is in the cataloge?

I'm thinking I would pull all issues and find the one with the
earliest 'created' date.
But I'm thinking there has to be a faster way.
-- 

Regards,

Bryan Simmons
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
 Always code as if the guy who ends up maintaining your code will 
 be a violent psychopath who knows where you live.
   -- Rick Osborne
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-