MAGAZINES, periodical publications, usually monthly, and generally limited to fiction and articles of current inter est, largely illustrated, the word meaning a "store room" of interesting literature. This form of publication had its origin as far back as 1663, when the French his torian, Mezeray, attempted to establish a weekly journal of literary comment, but failed. Two years later, in 1665, the first successful magazine was established, in the "Journal des Savants," in which were reviewed new books and other mat ters of literary interest. In the English language Daniel Defoe, the author of "Robinson Crusoe," may properly be con sidered the father of the magazine, in that he instituted the practice of pub lishing periodical journals. The oldest of this class of works, however, is the "Gentleman's Magazine," founded in 1731, in London, by Edward Cave. In America the first magazine was published in Philadelphia, on Feb. 13, 1741, by An drew Bradford, and edited by John Webbe. The idea, however, originated with Benjamin Franklin, who incautious ly divulged his project of publishing such a periodical to Webbe. Franklin did, in fact, issue the first number of his "Gen eral Magazine" three days after the ap pearance of Bradford's publication, on February 16, 1741, but through Webbe's dishonorable act lost the honor of hav ing issued the first American magazine.
Webbe's publication died after its second issue, while Franklin's survived through six numbers.
Before the Revolution sixteen maga zines were published in the Colonies, and forty more appeared before the close of the century, most of them failing shortly after their appearance. Of the modern magazines in this country the first was "Harper's," founded in New York in 1850. The "Atlantic Monthly" was tablished in Boston in 1857, and was sub sequently edited by such prominent lit erary men as Lowell, Fields, Howells, Aldrich, and Scudder. "Scribner's" was founded in 1870, but was later merged in.
to the "Century Magazine." The appear ance of "Munsey's Magazine," in 1889, in troduced a new type of magazines in this country; that containing stirring fiction with a wide popular appeal, with pro fuse illustrations, sold at low prices, usually ten cents. The "Ladies' Home Journal," also a popular publication, is the representative type of still another class, which adds to its fiction other mat ters of everyday interest. It has had many imitators, some of which now ap proach it close as a rival in its large cir culation, reaching close to two million readers.