On July 17, 1841 journalist and playwright
Henry Mayhew and wood-engraver, illustrator
Ebenezer Landells launched
Punch, or The London Charivari, a British weekly humor and satire magazine. In 1843 the magazine helped to coin the term "
cartoon" in its modern sense as a humorous illustration. The magazine succeeded for about 100 years, after which it gradually declined, and closed in 1992. It was revived in 1996, but closed again in 2002.
The prospectus indicates the printing would be done by R. Bryant. By the end of 1841 Bradbury & Evans bought the magazine and took over its printing.
"It is hard to escape the legacy of
Punch Magazine. From 1841 to 2002, the magazine cast a satirical eye on life in Britain. It charted the interests, concerns and frustrations of the country and today it stands as an invaluable resource for social historians. Over its one-hundred and sixty-one years, it carried articles from the likes of
William Thackeray (1811–1863),
P. G. Wodehouse (1881–1975) and
A. A. Milne (1882–1956). It featured illustrators like
H. M. Bateman (1887–1970),
Ronald Searle (1920–2011) and
Gerald Scarfe (b. 1936). It had a unique way of charting the events of the nineteenth-and twentieth-centuries. Sometimes it even shaped them.
"In its formative years Punch combined humour, illustration and political debate with a fresh and radical audacity. During its heyday in the late 1800s, it reflected the conservative views of the growing middle-classes and copies of it could be found in the libraries of diplomats, cabinet ministers and even royalty. In the Western world, Punch played a significant role in the development of satire. In the world of illustration, it practically revolutionised it.
"Launched on 17th July 1841, the magazine was inspired by the popular Parisian papers of the day. The original idea came from an engraver called
Ebenezer Landells (1808–1860). Landells was a huge fan of the satirical weekly
Le Charivari and loved the magazine's use of wood engravings. He hoped that by producing a similar magazine he would have plenty of scope for producing his own work. While the idea was not new, there was enough money and talent in Fleet Street for it to at least seem worthwhile...." (https://illustrationchronicles.com/How-Punch-Magazine-Changed-Everything, accessed 3-21).
Pages 2 and 3 of the single folded sheet 4 page prospectus for Punch magazine. R. Bryant, the printer of the initial issues,
Jeremy Norman Collection of Images - Creative Commons
