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Original 19th-Century magazine articles from sources like "The Penny Magazine" and "Harper's New Monthly Magazine".

The Penny Magazine

The Penny Magazine of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (1832-1845) represents a nineteenth-century union of two closely related streams of popular literature in England, namely, literature created to help the inferior ranks of society along the road to self-betterment and that which carried with it the additional function of indoctrinating them with certain economic, political, and religious views of their betters.This study begins with the development of such reading matter during the Renaissance and culminates in an intensive examination of the manner in which the philosophy responsible for its existence was manifested in the Penny Magazine, a miscellany of moral, scientific and general information, published under the superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. The group, organized in 1826 and guided for two decades by Henry Brougham, had among its members some of the most prominent philanthropists, scholars, and politicians of the day, all motivated by the belief that dissemination of information through reading would improve the thinking and manners of the masses. Because of the Society's noisy role in the nineteenth-century march of mind, the Penny Magazine entered the field of popular literature with more fanfare than did its leading competitors, Chambers's Edinburgh Journal and the Saturday Magazine, the latter sponsored by the Church-controlled Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. All three miscellanies, however, shared the task of establishing the kind of publication that brought cheap, decent periodicals within the purchasing range of the lower classes.

Harper's New Monthly Magazine

In 1850 Harper's launched Harper's New Monthly Magazine. This magazine has been continuously published since that time. Beginning with 7500 copies, the magazine reached a circulation of 50,000 within six months. Harper's Magazine made its debut in June 1850, the brainchild of the prominent New York book-publishing firm Harper & Brothers. Harper's Magazine, the oldest general-interest monthly in America, explores the issues that drive our national conversation, through long-form narrative journalism and essays, and such celebrated features as the iconic Harper's Index. With its emphasis on fine writing and original thought Harper's provides readers with a unique perspective on politics, society, the environment, and culture.

The offerings below are from the 19th-century magazines and cover a wide variety of subjects.

The Burning of Bishops Ridley and Latimer, at Oxford, October 16, 1555

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 1

Articles include: Tea, American Almanac for 1832, Character of an Honest and Contented Burgess, Popular Errors, How to Endure Poverty, Fluctuations in the Price of Corn, Van Diemen's Land (Australia) Emigrant Struggles, The Printing Press in Turkey -- as well as poems and weekly news items interspersed occasionally.

Woodcut illustrations: tea plant, tea-gathering in China

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of April 28, 1832

8 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$15

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 2

Articles include: Coffee, Population of France, Austalian Immigrant's Struggles, Superstition of Greek Saliors in the Black Sea, Ancient Use of Torture, Improvements in Medicine and Surgery -- as well as poems and weekly news items interspersed occasionally.

Woodcut illustrations: coffee plant, kangaroos

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of May 5, 1832

8 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$15

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 3

Articles include: Sugar, Longevity and Statistics in England and Wales, Instruction to the Deaf and Dumb, Rooks, Holiday Walks, The Library -- as well as poems and weekly news items interspersed occasionally.

Woodcut illustrations: sugar cultivation, Rookery on Newcastle Exchange Spire

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of April 21, 1832

8 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$15

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 4

Articles include: The Colisseum in Rome, Sale of The Spectator, Age of the Horse, Tobacco, Petrarch, Advantages of a Taste for the Beauties of Nature, District Society of Brighton, Lycidas -- as well as poems and weekly news items interspersed occasionally.

Woodcut illustrations: Coliseum (2), Tobacco plant, Petrarch, Lycidas

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of July 14, 1832

8 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$15

only the first page is shown above, 4 pages total (from 2 different weeks)

REF 5

Articles include: Tar-Making in Bothnia, China (Peaches, Orange, Pear, Ginseng, and Rhubarb), Cultivation of Popular Taste -- as well as poems and weekly news items interspersed occasionally.

Woodcut illustrations: Tar-Making, Windmill at Chesterton, Warwickshire

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of February 6, 1836 and December 3, 1836 (2 pages from each week)

4 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$10

only the first page is shown above, 2 pages total

REF 6

Articles include: Sugar Farm in Jamaica

Woodcut illustrations: A Jamaica Sugar Farm

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches, crease lower left corner

from The Penny Magazine of Sept. 3, 1836

2 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$10

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 7

Articles include: Westminster Bridge, Manufacture of Earthenware and Porcelain, Stratford-on-Avon, Shakespear, Meanings of Words, -- as well as poems and weekly news items interspersed occasionally.

Woodcut illustrations: Westminster Bridge, New Zealander drinking from a Calabash, Parish Church at Stratford-on-Avon, Shakespeare (3), Dr. Johnson

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of Sept. 1, 1832

8 pages total, plus paper cover (pages are bound with glue to cover)

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$20

only the first page is shown above, 2 pages total

REF 8

Article: Coffer-dam (incomplete article)

Woodcut illustration: Coffer-dam for carrying on the repair of Blackfriars' Bridge

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of July 16, 1836

2 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$10

only the first page is shown above, 2 pages total

REF 9

Article: Norwegian Fiords (incomplete article)

Woodcut illustration: Salmon Fishery on Lake Scotland

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of Oct. 8, 1836

2 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

only the first page is shown above, 4 pages total

REF 10

Articles The Vintage, A Remarkable Character (partial article about Mountain Philosopher Daniel Gumb)

Woodcut illustration: Wine-Making at Pola

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches, crease lower left corner

from The Penny Magazine of May 7, 1836

2 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

only the first page is shown above, 4 pages total

REF 11

Articles: Household Spinning-wheels and the First Spinning Machine, Extaordinary Deliverance, Knights of Malta (partial)

Woodcut illustrations: The Jersey Wheel, A Hindoo Woman Spinning Cotton Yarn, Hargreave's Spinning Jenny

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches, crease lower left corner

from The Penny Magazine of July 9, 1836

4 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$10

only the first page is shown above, 2 pages total

REF 12

Article: The Prisons of Scotland (incomplete article)

Woodcut illustration: Canongate Gaol, Edinburgh

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches. edge tears and wear

from The Penny Magazine of Dec. 10, 1836

2 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

only the first page is shown above, 6 pages total

REF 13

Articles Crosby Hall, Arctic Land Expedition -- as well as poems and weekly news items interspersed occasionally.

Woodcut illustrations: Interior of Crosby Hall, Chart showing the proposed track in search of Captain Ross

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from the Monthy Supplement of The Penny Magazine -- November 30 to December 31, 1832

6 pages total, plus paper cover (pages are bound with glue to cover)

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$20

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 14

Articles The Natural Bridge of Virginia, Mahogany Tree, What is Education?, Genius and Industry, How to Understand Geography

Woodcut illustrations: The Natural Bridge of Virginia, Mahogany Tree, Trucking Mahogany, The Rev. John Wesley

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches, crease lower left corner

from The Penny Magazine of June 16, 1832

8 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$15

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 15

Articles: Barry's Pictures, Discovery of the North-west Passage, British Naval History/Spanish Armada, Circassia and the Circassians

Woodcut illustrations: The Elysium, The Spanish Armada

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches, crease lower left corner

from The Penny Magazine of April 28, 1838

8 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$15

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 16

Articles: Somerset-House, Emigration to the North American Colonies, British Animals, The Library, The Seasons of the Antipodes, Disappointments of the Authors of Important Inventions, The Woodsman's Memorial, Protection of Trade, A Man Overboard

Woodcut illustrations: Old Somerset-House, the Mole, Date-Palm and Fruit

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches, crease lower left corner

from The Penny Magazine of April 14, 1832

8 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$15

only the first page is shown above, 16 pages total from 2 different weeks

REF 17

Articles: Sketches of the Peninsula, The Quicksilver Mines at Idria, in Austria, A Looking-Glass for London, The Shakers in America, Trade of the British North American Colonies, The Harmuir, The Fur Trade of Canada, Canadian Voyageurs, Domestic Chemistry

Woodcut illustrations: The supposed scene of Macbeth's Interview with the Witches, Canadian Voyageurs, Annual Distribution of Presents to the Indians, Valley of Setubal, The Strand--Churches of St. Mary-le-Strand and St. Clement Danes, with Front of Somerset House

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of November 18, 1837 and February 10, 1838

16 pages total, 2 weeks taped as binding

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$25

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 18

Articles: The Abbey of St. Alban's, Machinery and Manufactures, Zoological Society, Gleanings in Natural History, The United States, The Calbrias, India -- as well as poems and weekly news items interspersed occasionally.

Woodcut illustrations: The Abbey at St. Alban's, Franciscus Bacon, The Puma, Statue of William Pitt, Red Deer

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from the Monthy Supplement of The Penny Magazine -- May 31 to June 30, 1832

8 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$20

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 19

Articles: The Labourers of Europe, Economical Mice of Iceland, The Guana [Iguana], The Bread-Fruit-- as well as poems and weekly news items interspersed occasionally

Woodcut illustrations: Spanish Mulateers, Iceland Mice, Iguana, Bread-fruit Tree, Bread-fruit Flower and Leaf, Bust of Swift

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of Sept. 15, 1832

8 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$20

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 20

Articles: Venomous Serpents, Fingal's Cave, Scottish Husbandsmen of the Last Century -- as well as poems and weekly news items interspersed occasionally

Woodcut illustrations: Cobra, Distant view of Staffa, Entrance to Fingal's Cave, Marshal Tureene, French Cavalier

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of Sept. 15, 1832

8 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$20

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 21

Articles: The Mango Tree, Music for the Many, The East India Company, The Cat Painter, Books in the Middle Ages, Swiftness of the Ostrich -- as well as poems and weekly news items interspersed occasionally

Woodcut illustrations: The Mango Tree, Front of the East India House, Leadenhall Street, Ostrich carrying a Negro

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches, very age toned paper. pages are bound with glue to a folder paper

from The Penny Magazine of March 1, 1834

8 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$10

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 22

Articles: Montyon and the Pubic Reward of Merit, Fish Poisoning in the West Indies, Napoleon's Wardrobe, New Broomielaw Bridge, Glasgow, Lumbering in North America, Sagacity of the Great Northern Bears, Canute and his Courtiers

Woodcut illustrations: Montyon and Ben Franklin, Broomislaw Bridge, Glasgow, Canute reproving his Flatterers

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of Sept. 30, 1837

8 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$15

only the first page is shown above, 12 pages total

REF 23

Articles: Junction of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Panama Canal, The Mechanical Arts in Persia, Progresses of Queen Elizabeth

Woodcut illustrations: Panama, Puerto Bello

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of Oct. 28, 1843

12 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$20

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 24

Articles: The South Sea Bubble, The Talegalla

Woodcut illustrations: Megapodius Tumulus, mound-raising Megapode

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of Aug. 6, 1842

8 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$10

The Penny Magazine articles from 1820s-1890s

only the first page is shown above, 10 pages total

REF 25

Articles: The Vale of Wyoming, A Day at 'Day and Martin's', -- occasional poems or weekly news items may also be present

Woodcut illustrations: The Vale of Wyoming, Day and Martin's Blacking Factory Warehouse, Shoe-black, Filling, Sealing, Labelling, Packing Paste-blacking

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of Dec. 17, 1842 and December 1842 supplement

10 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$10

only the first page is shown above, 44 pages total

REF 26

Articles: Cedar of Lebanon, Gloves and Glovers, Salterns, The Ash Tree, Plains, The Hawthorn, Plants used in dyeing blue, The Birch, Railway goods-traffic, Improved Friendly Societies, The Maple, The Oak, The Chestnut, The Willow, Herne's Oak, Oak Tree, The Acacia or Locust-tree, The Plane Tree, Diamond Carriers, The Elm, The Scotch Fir -- occasional poems or weekly news items may also be present

Woodcut illustrations:Cedar of Lebanon, The Ash Tree, Plains, The Hawthorn, The Birch, The Maple, The Oak, The Chestnut, The Willow, Herne's Oak, Oak Tree, The Acacia or Locust-tree, The Plane Tree, Diamond Carriers, The Elm, The Scotch Fir

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of Jan. 12, 1842, March 12, 1842, May 14, 1842, July 2, 1842, Oct. 1, 1842, Oct. 22, 1842, Nov. 19, 1842, Dec. 10, 1842, March 11, 1843

44 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$35

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 27

Article: A Day at a Rope and Sail-cloth Factory

Woodcut illustrations: Strand-registering machine, Analysis of a Rope, Spinning, Laying of Making a Rope, Flat-rope Making, Yarn-dressing and Beaming Machine

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of November 1842 Supplement

8 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$15

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 28

Article: A Day at a Soap and Candle Factory

Woodcut illustrations: Soap-boiling Coppers, Filling Soap Frames, Cutting Soap, Morgan's Mould-Machine, Machine for Cutting the Wicks for Dip-candles, Dipping Machine

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of January 1842 Supplement

8 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$15

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 29

Article: A Day at the Royal Porcelain-Works, Worcester

Woodcut illustrations: Potter's Wheel, Grinding the Flint, Clay, etc., Fixing Handles, Moulds for Porcelain, Putting manufactured articles into 'Seggars', Placing the 'Seggars' in the biscuit-kiln

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of February 1843 Supplement

8 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$15

only the first page is shown above, 8 pages total

REF 30

Article: A Day at a Leeds Flax-Mill

Woodcut illustrations: Interior of Marshall's Flax Mill, Flax-heckling, Drawing the heckled flax, or 'Lines', Doubling the drawings, Tow-carding

Sheet size: approx. 7.25 x 11.25 inches

from The Penny Magazine of December 1843 Supplement

8 pages total

Typical age-toning, edge/corner wear, trimming, foxing are possible.

$15