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Vanity Fair (magazine, historical)
Encyclopedia
Vanity Fair has been the title of at least five magazines, including an 1859–1863 American publication, an 1868–1914 British publication, an unrelated 1902–1904 New York magazine, and a 1913–1936 American publication edited by Condé Nast
, which was revived in 1983.
Vanity Fair was notably a fictitious place ruled by Beelzebub
, in the book Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
. Later use of the name was influenced by the well-known 1847–1848 novel of the same name by William Makepeace Thackeray
.
The first magazine bearing the name Vanity Fair appeared in New York
as a humorous weekly, from 1859 to 1863.
The magazine was financed by Frank J. Thompson, and was edited by Henry Louis Stephens, William Allen Stephens and Henry Louis Stephens
.
The magazine's stature is indicated by a list of its contributors, which included Thomas Bailey Aldrich
, William Dean Howells
, Fitz-James O'Brien and Charles Farrar Browne
.
weekly magazine published from 1868 to 1914.
Subtitled "A Weekly Show of Political, Social and Literary Wares", it was founded by Thomas Gibson Bowles
, who aimed to expose the contemporary vanities of Victorian
society. The first issue appeared in London
on November 7, 1868. It offered its readership articles on fashion, current events, the theatre, books, social events and the latest scandals, together with serial fiction
, word game
s and other trivia.
Bowles wrote much of the magazine himself under various pseudonyms such as "Jehu Junior", but contributors included Lewis Carroll
, Willie Wilde
, P. G. Wodehouse
, Jessie Pope
and Bertram Fletcher Robinson
(editor: June 1904 – October 1906).
A full-page, color lithograph of a contemporary celebrity or dignitary appeared in most issues, and it is for these caricature
s that Vanity Fair is best known today.
The final issue of the British Vanity Fair appeared on February 5, 1914.
Vanity Fair was a weekly magazine published by The Commonwealth Publishing Company of 110 West 42nd Street, New York City
. The Commonwealth Publishing Company was incorporated in February 1902, and went into bankruptcy in April 1904. 1904 New York Times article - PDF
1913–1936, when it was merged into Vogue. It was revived in 1983 by Condé Nast Publications
.
.
Condé Montrose Nast
Condé Montrose Nast was the founder of Condé Nast Publications, a leading American magazine publisher known for publications such as Vanity Fair, Vogue and The New Yorker.-Background:...
, which was revived in 1983.
Vanity Fair was notably a fictitious place ruled by Beelzebub
Beelzebub
Beelzebub -Religious meaning:Ba‘al Zəbûb is variously understood to mean "lord of flies", or "lord of the dwelling". Originally the name of a Philistine god, Beelzebub is also identified in the New Testament as Satan, the "prince of the demons". In Arabic the name is retained as Ba‘al dhubaab /...
, in the book Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
John Bunyan
John Bunyan was an English Christian writer and preacher, famous for writing The Pilgrim's Progress. Though he was a Reformed Baptist, in the Church of England he is remembered with a Lesser Festival on 30 August, and on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church on 29 August.-Life:In 1628,...
. Later use of the name was influenced by the well-known 1847–1848 novel of the same name by William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist of the 19th century. He was famous for his satirical works, particularly Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of English society.-Biography:...
.
American Vanity Fair (1859–1863)
The first magazine bearing the name Vanity Fair appeared in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
as a humorous weekly, from 1859 to 1863.
The magazine was financed by Frank J. Thompson, and was edited by Henry Louis Stephens, William Allen Stephens and Henry Louis Stephens
Henry Louis Stephens
Henry Louis Stephens was an American illustrator.He was born in Philadelphia. About 1859 he went to New York under an engagement with Frank Leslie, and after a year or so transferred his services to Harper & Brothers...
.
The magazine's stature is indicated by a list of its contributors, which included Thomas Bailey Aldrich
Thomas Bailey Aldrich
Thomas Bailey Aldrich was an American poet, novelist, travel writer and editor.-Early life and education:...
, William Dean Howells
William Dean Howells
William Dean Howells was an American realist author and literary critic. Nicknamed "The Dean of American Letters", he was particularly known for his tenure as editor of the Atlantic Monthly as well as his own writings, including the Christmas story "Christmas Every Day" and the novel The Rise of...
, Fitz-James O'Brien and Charles Farrar Browne
Charles Farrar Browne
Charles Farrar Browne was a United States humor writer, better known under his nom de plume, Artemus Ward. At birth, his surname was "Brown." He added the "e" after he became famous.-Biography:...
.
British Vanity Fair (1868–1914)
The second Vanity Fair was a BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
weekly magazine published from 1868 to 1914.
Subtitled "A Weekly Show of Political, Social and Literary Wares", it was founded by Thomas Gibson Bowles
Thomas Gibson Bowles
Thomas Gibson Bowles , generally known as Tommy Bowles, was the founder of the magazines The Lady and the English Vanity Fair, a sailor and the maternal grandfather of the Mitford sisters.-Parents:...
, who aimed to expose the contemporary vanities of Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
society. The first issue appeared in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on November 7, 1868. It offered its readership articles on fashion, current events, the theatre, books, social events and the latest scandals, together with serial fiction
Serial (literature)
In literature, a serial is a publishing format by which a single large work, most often a work of narrative fiction, is presented in contiguous installments—also known as numbers, parts, or fascicles—either issued as separate publications or appearing in sequential issues of a single periodical...
, word game
Word game
Word games and puzzles are spoken or board games often designed to test ability with language or to explore its properties.Word games are generally engaged as a source of entertainment, but have been found to serve an educational purpose as well...
s and other trivia.
Bowles wrote much of the magazine himself under various pseudonyms such as "Jehu Junior", but contributors included Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson , better known by the pseudonym Lewis Carroll , was an English author, mathematician, logician, Anglican deacon and photographer. His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass, as well as the poems "The Hunting of the...
, Willie Wilde
Willie Wilde
William 'Willie' Charles Kingsbury Wilde was an Irish journalist and poet of the Victorian era and the older brother of Oscar Wilde.-Background:...
, P. G. Wodehouse
P. G. Wodehouse
Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, KBE was an English humorist, whose body of work includes novels, short stories, plays, poems, song lyrics, and numerous pieces of journalism. He enjoyed enormous popular success during a career that lasted more than seventy years and his many writings continue to be...
, Jessie Pope
Jessie Pope
Jessie Pope was an English poet, writer and journalist, who remains best known for her patriotic motivational poems published during World War I...
and Bertram Fletcher Robinson
Bertram Fletcher Robinson
Bertram Fletcher Robinson was an English sportsman, journalist, author and Liberal Unionist Party campaigner. Between 1893 and 1907, he wrote nearly 300 published items including a series of short stories that feature a detective called Addington Peace. However, Robinson is perhaps best remembered...
(editor: June 1904 – October 1906).
A full-page, color lithograph of a contemporary celebrity or dignitary appeared in most issues, and it is for these caricature
Caricature
A caricature is a portrait that exaggerates or distorts the essence of a person or thing to create an easily identifiable visual likeness. In literature, a caricature is a description of a person using exaggeration of some characteristics and oversimplification of others.Caricatures can be...
s that Vanity Fair is best known today.
The final issue of the British Vanity Fair appeared on February 5, 1914.
Vanity Fair U.S. magazine 1902–1904
Vanity Fair was a weekly magazine published by The Commonwealth Publishing Company of 110 West 42nd Street, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The Commonwealth Publishing Company was incorporated in February 1902, and went into bankruptcy in April 1904. 1904 New York Times article - PDF
American Vanity Fair 1913–1936
An American Vanity Fair was edited by Condé Montrose NastCondé Montrose Nast
Condé Montrose Nast was the founder of Condé Nast Publications, a leading American magazine publisher known for publications such as Vanity Fair, Vogue and The New Yorker.-Background:...
1913–1936, when it was merged into Vogue. It was revived in 1983 by Condé Nast Publications
Condé Nast Publications
Condé Nast, a division of Advance Publications, is a magazine publisher. In the U.S., it produces 18 consumer magazines, including Architectural Digest, Bon Appétit, GQ, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and Vogue, as well as four business-to-business publications, 27 websites, and more than 50 apps...
.
American Vanity Fair 1983–present
The current Vanity Fair is an American monthly magazine of pop culture, fashion, and politics published by Condé Nast PublicationsCondé Nast Publications
Condé Nast, a division of Advance Publications, is a magazine publisher. In the U.S., it produces 18 consumer magazines, including Architectural Digest, Bon Appétit, GQ, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and Vogue, as well as four business-to-business publications, 27 websites, and more than 50 apps...
.