The Ladies' Mercury
Encyclopedia
The Ladies' Mercury was the first periodical published that was specifically designed just for women. It contained an advice column
in the periodical. It was first published in London on February 27, 1693.
published The Athenian Mercury
, the first major periodical in England or Scotland designed to appeal to both men and women. Dunton's Athenian Mercury dealt with all kinds of topics like science, religion, love, marriage and sex. The Athenian Mercury was a public forum where questions were submitted by both men and women. Because of the popularity among women of topics like love and marriage, the editor decided to devote the first Tuesday of each month to these topics only. This policy was announced by the editors on June 3, 1691. That concept was designed to answer "reasonable questions sent to us by the fair sex" and the editors would reply to questions poised to the periodical.
The Ladies Mercury, printed in London, was a subsequent spin-off
from the monthly lady's topics of the Athenian Mercury. It printed an advice column starting February 27, 1693. The Ladies Mercury was a weekly publication promising to respond to "all the most nice and curious questions concerning love, marriage, behaviour, dress and humour of the female sex, whether virgins, wives, or widows."
The Ladies Mercury filled a single sheet printed on both sides. It was only published for four weeks, starting with February 27 and ending March 17, 1693. In effect a women's magazine
, the Mercury was not called a "magazine"; the first use of that word is considered to be the general interest publication The Gentleman's Magazine
which began in 1731.
, and The Female Spectator by Eliza Haywood
, was a short-lived monthly publication in answer to The Spectator
.
Advice column
An advice column is a column in a magazine or newspaper written by an advice columnist . The image presented was originally of an older woman providing comforting advice and maternal wisdom, hence the name "aunt"...
in the periodical. It was first published in London on February 27, 1693.
History
London author John DuntonJohn Dunton
John Dunton was an English bookseller and author. In 1691, he founded an Athenian Society to publish The Athenian Mercury, the first major popular periodical and first miscellaneous periodical in England.-Early life:...
published The Athenian Mercury
The Athenian Mercury
] The Athenian Mercury, or The Athenian Gazette or The Question Project or The Casuistical Mercury, was a periodical written by The Athenian Society and published in London twice weekly between 17 March 1690 [i.e. 1691 new Calendar] and 14 June 1697...
, the first major periodical in England or Scotland designed to appeal to both men and women. Dunton's Athenian Mercury dealt with all kinds of topics like science, religion, love, marriage and sex. The Athenian Mercury was a public forum where questions were submitted by both men and women. Because of the popularity among women of topics like love and marriage, the editor decided to devote the first Tuesday of each month to these topics only. This policy was announced by the editors on June 3, 1691. That concept was designed to answer "reasonable questions sent to us by the fair sex" and the editors would reply to questions poised to the periodical.
The Ladies Mercury, printed in London, was a subsequent spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
from the monthly lady's topics of the Athenian Mercury. It printed an advice column starting February 27, 1693. The Ladies Mercury was a weekly publication promising to respond to "all the most nice and curious questions concerning love, marriage, behaviour, dress and humour of the female sex, whether virgins, wives, or widows."
The Ladies Mercury filled a single sheet printed on both sides. It was only published for four weeks, starting with February 27 and ending March 17, 1693. In effect a women's magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
, the Mercury was not called a "magazine"; the first use of that word is considered to be the general interest publication The Gentleman's Magazine
The Gentleman's Magazine
The Gentleman's Magazine was founded in London, England, by Edward Cave in January 1731. It ran uninterrupted for almost 200 years, until 1922. It was the first to use the term "magazine" for a periodical...
which began in 1731.
Spin-offs
Other publications designed specifically for women only followed soon after, without much more success: the Female Tatler was a spin-off from the TatlerTatler
Tatler has been the name of several British journals and magazines, each of which has viewed itself as the successor of the original literary and society journal founded by Richard Steele in 1709. The current incarnation, founded in 1901, is a glossy magazine published by Condé Nast Publications...
, and The Female Spectator by Eliza Haywood
Eliza Haywood
Eliza Haywood , born Elizabeth Fowler, was an English writer, actress and publisher. Since the 1980s, Eliza Haywood’s literary works have been gaining in recognition and interest...
, was a short-lived monthly publication in answer to The Spectator
The Spectator (1711)
The Spectator was a daily publication of 1711–12, founded by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele in England after they met at Charterhouse School. Eustace Budgell, a cousin of Addison's, also contributed to the publication. Each 'paper', or 'number', was approximately 2,500 words long, and the...
.
Sources
- Anzovin, Steven et al, Famous First Facts (International Edition), H. W. Wilson Company, 2000, ISBN 0-8242-0958-3
- Keeble, Richard, Print Journalism, Taylor & Francis, 2005, ISBN 0-4153588-2-5
- Morrish, John, Magazine Editing: How to Develop and Manage a Successful Publication, Routledge, 2003, ISBN 0-4153038-1-8
- Turner, David M., Fashioning adultery: gender, sex, and civility in England, 1660-1740, Cambridge University Press, 2002, ISBN 0-5217924-4-4