Scribner's Magazine
Scribner's Magazine was an American monthly periodical published from January 1887 to May 1939 by the firm Charles Scribner's Sons, focusing on high-quality literature, illustrations, and cultural commentary.[1][2][3] The magazine emerged after the company's earlier venture, Scribner's Monthly (1870–1881), which had been reorganized as The Century Magazine, allowing Scribner's to relaunch with a commitment to elite content at an accessible 25-cent price point to rival contemporaries like Harper's and The Atlantic.[3][1] It distinguished itself through serialized fiction, signed art criticism in departments like "The Field of Art," and pioneering use of color illustrations starting in the late 19th century.[3][4] Notable for nurturing American literary talent, it featured early works and serials by authors including Edith Wharton, Henry James, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Ernest Hemingway, alongside British contributors like Rudyard Kipling and Robert Louis Stevenson, contributing to its reputation during the "golden age" of magazines from 1910 to 1922.[5][1] In 1916, it absorbed Lippincott's Magazine, expanding its scope before economic pressures, including the Great Depression, led to its discontinuation in 1939.[2][6]Origins and Establishment
Founding and Initial Launch
Scribner's Magazine was established in January 1887 by Charles Scribner's Sons, the New York-based publishing firm founded in 1846 by Charles Scribner I.[7] This launch followed the 1881 dissolution of the firm's partnership in Scribner's Monthly, an illustrated literary periodical started in November 1870, which the editorial team—led by Roswell Smith—reorganized as The Century Magazine after acquiring Scribner's stake.[3] Charles Scribner II, who assumed leadership of the firm in 1879 following family losses, initiated the new venture to reclaim the Scribner name in periodical publishing and sustain the house's commitment to high-caliber literature amid competition from titles like Harper's Monthly and The Century.[8] The inaugural issue, Volume 1, Number 1, was edited by Edward L. Burlingame, son of diplomat Anson Burlingame, who shaped its focus on original American fiction, essays, travelogues, and illustrated features targeting an educated, affluent audience.[3] Priced at 25 cents per copy—lower than the 35-cent standard of rival elite magazines—the publication emphasized superior production values, including engravings and high-quality paper, to differentiate itself in the post-Civil War expansion of mass-circulation periodicals.[1] Early content included works by established authors, signaling Scribner's intent to rival predecessors in prestige without the populist bent of Scribner's Monthly.[2] Initial circulation figures were modest but grew steadily, reflecting the firm's strategy of leveraging its book-publishing reputation rather than aggressive marketing; by the late 1880s, the magazine had solidified its niche among discerning readers seeking refined, non-sensationalist fare.[3] This founding marked a deliberate pivot toward exclusivity and artistic merit, unencumbered by the editorial independence that had led to the Monthly's departure from Scribner control.[7]Innovations in Format and Production
Scribner's Magazine debuted in January 1887 with pioneering advancements in production that emphasized visual quality, becoming the first American periodical to incorporate color illustrations. This innovation, achieved through early color printing techniques such as chromolithography for covers and select interior plates, elevated the magazine's aesthetic appeal and distinguished it from competitors reliant on black-and-white reproductions. The debut issue featured a color cover depicting a scene from Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped, signaling a commitment to integrating high-fidelity art reproduction with literary content.[9] In its formative years, the magazine transitioned from traditional wood engravings to more versatile halftone engravings and chromolithographs by the early 1890s, enabling the accurate replication of paintings, drawings, and photographs that previously challenged periodical printing. These methods, printed and bound by Trow's Printing and Bookbinding Company, allowed Scribner's to showcase works by prominent illustrators without significant loss of detail, fostering innovative experiments in visual storytelling praised by critics for their technical excellence. By January 1912, the publication routinely employed four-color process printing, further refining its capacity to deliver vibrant, multi-hued illustrations monthly.[3][10] Format-wise, Scribner's maintained a standard quarto size initially but adopted a significantly larger dimensions in January 1932 to enhance readability and accommodate expansive layouts amid evolving reader preferences and production capabilities. Priced at 25 cents per issue from inception—a rate competitive with elite contemporaries—the magazine balanced premium production costs with accessibility, printing initial runs that supported circulations exceeding 100,000 copies by the early 20th century. These elements collectively positioned Scribner's as a leader in blending literary prestige with reproducible artistry.[7][1]