The Circulation of Newspapers

Illustration by William Boucher, 1879

Here is a rare and useful clipping of circulation figures (accuracy not guaranteed) for British periodicals published September 26, 1889, including comic journals. I don’t recall which newspaper the list was published in. The second clipping on Harmsworth’s periodicals is from the Pall Mall Gazette published May 24, 1892. For American circulation figures see my previous post American Comic Journal Circulation HERE.

American Comic Journal Circulation

Circulation Ratings of American Comic Journals (Updated)

Rowell's American Newspaper Directory 1869:

1. Comic News, NY; monthly; illustrated; comic; eight pages; size 23 x 33; subscription 10 cents per copy; established 1869.

2. Comic Monthly, NY; monthly; illustrated; comic; sixteen pages; size of page 33 x 46; subscription $1.25; established 1859; Jesse Haney & Co., editors and publishers; circulation (average) 16,500, office 119 Nasssau Street.

3. Phunny Phellow, NY; monthly; illustrated; comic; sixteen pages; size of page 11 x 15; subscription $1; established 1860; office 55 Fulton Street.

4. Jolly Joker, NY; monthly; comic; sixteen pages; size of page 33x 44; subscription $1; office 214 Centre Street.

5. Spottvogel, Indianapolis; Sundays; German; comic; eight pages; size of page 20 x 26; subscription $2; established 1865.

6. Le Charivari Canadien, Quebec; Fridays; French; comic; two pages; subscription $2; established 1868; A. Guerard editor and publisher.

Rowell's American Newspaper Directory 1870:

1. Chip Basket, NY; monthly; comic; sixteen pages; size of page 24 x 36; subscription 50 cents; established 1869; J. M. Silver, editors and publishers; office 119 Nasssau Street.

2. Nick-Nax, NY; monthly; comic; thirty-two pages; size of pages 8 x 11; subscription $1.25; established 1856; office 27 New Chambers Street.

3. Frank Leslie's Budget of Fun, NY; monthly; comic; sixteen pages; size of page 33 x 46; Frank Leslie, publisher; do not insert advertisements; office 537 Pearl Street.

4. Spottvogel, Indianapolis; Sundays; German; comic; eight pages; size of page 26 x 38; subscription $2; established 1865, claims 2,500 ciculation.

5. Yankee Notions, NY; monthly; comic; thirty-two pages; size of page 33 x 46; subscription 15 cents per copy; C. Matthews, editor and publisher; do not insert advertisements; office 27 New Chambers Street.

6. Punchinello, NY; Saturdays; comic; sixteen pages; size of page 9 x 13; subscription $4; established 1870; Punchinello Publishing Co., editor and publisher; office 83 Nassau Street.

7. The Yankee Peddler, a comic and sensational monthly, circulation 1000.

Rowell's American Newspaper Directory 1872:

1. The Elephant, Cincinnati, Ohio; illustrated; comic; monthly; 60 cents per year; H. L. Brown publisher.

2. Nick-Nax, NY; monthly; comic; thirty-two pages; size of pages 8 x 11; subscription $1.25; established 1856; circulation about 5,000; office 27 New Chambers Street.

3. Comic Monthly, NY; monthly; illustrated; comic; sixteen pages; size of page 33 x 46; subscription $1.25; established 1859; Jesse Haney & Co., editors and publishers; circulation (average) 16,500, office 121 Nasssau Street.

4. Frank Leslie's Comic Almanac, NY; 15 cents; 537 Pearl Street.

5. Yankee Notions, NY; monthly; comic; thirty-two pages; size of page 33 x 46; subscription 15 cents per copy; C. Matthews, editor and publisher; do not insert advertisements; office 27 New Chambers Street.

6. Wild Oats, NY; bi-weekly; comic; illustrated; sixteen pages; size 33 x 46; subscription $2; established 1870; Winchell & Small, editors and publishers; claims 35,000 circulation; office 113 Fulton Street.

7. Puck, St. Louis; German; comic; illustrated; sixteen pages; size of page 10 x 12; Subscription $5; established 1871; Puck Publishing Co., editors and publishers; claims 4,000 to 5,000 circulation.

Pettingell's Newspaper Directory, 1877:

1. Eulenspiegel, Chicago; Sundays; German; comic illustrated; Moritz Langeloth, publiisher; circulation, 9500. The "Eulenspiegel" is the favorite Sunday journal among the Germans of the entire Northwestern states. It was established in 1872, and has reached a circulation of 9,500 copies. Moritz Langeloth and Mrs. Marie Langeloth, editors. Moritz Langeloth, publisher. (In 1876 Eulenspeigel publishing address was 55 W. Randolph.)

2. Merry Masker, NY, monthly; comic; Collins & Small publishers. (Might be a misspelling; possibly Merry Maker.)

3. Wild Oats, NY; Wednesdays; comic; illustrated; J. B. Collins & Co., publishers.

4. Brooklyn Anzeiger, NY; Saturdays; independent; F. Keller & Soshinsky, publishers; circulation 6,225. A first-rate German paper with excellent comic illustrations, 661 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY.

5. Y Pwnch Cymreig, Pennsylvania; semi-monthly; Welsh; comic. Y Pwnch Cymreig, the only Welsh humorous journal published in Eastern Pennsylvania. Is largely circulated in every Welsh settlement in the United States, and has a corps of the best humorous writers of the Welsh language. Pwnch office, Hyde Park, Pennsylvania.

6. Frank Leslie's Budget of Fun, NY; monthly; comic; Frank Leslie publisher.

7. Kikeriki, Cincinnati; Saturdays; German; comic; Charles F. Lang, publisher; circulation 1,100. (In Germany, the parent paper, Kikeriki, rivaled Kladderadatsch in popularity and circulation at 25,000 copies.)

8. Comic Monthly, NY; monthly; humorous; illustrated; Joseph Haney & Co., publishers.

9. Spottvogel, Indianapolis; Sundays; German; literary and comic; Gutenberg Co., publishers; circulation 4,620.

10. Grip, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Saturdays; comic; independent; Bengough Bros., publishers; circulation 2,000.

11. Puck, NY; Wednesdays; German; comic; illustrated; Keppler & Schwarzman, publishers.

12. Comic Chronicle, Potsdam; monthly; miscellany; A. L. Myers, publisher; circulation 1,000.

Geo. P. Rowell & Co.'s American Newspaper Directory, 1879. The KEY is provided at bottom.

1. Comic Monthly; illustrated; sixteen pages; size 33 by 46; subscription $1; established 1859; Jesse Haney & Co., editors and publishers; circulation X 1; office 119 Nassau Street.

2. Spottvogel; Sundays; German; comic; eight pages; size 26 by 40; subscription $2; established 1866; Gutenberg Co., publishers; Circulation H 1.

3. Grip; Saturdays; comic; four pages and cartoon; size 12 by 18; subscription $2; established 1870; Bengough Bros, editors and publishers; circulation J 1.

4. Wild Oats; Wednesdays; comic; illustrated; sixteen pages; size 33 by 46; subscription $4; established 1870; J. B. Collin & Co., editors and publishers; circulation G. 1; office 14 Park Place.

5. Kikeriki; Fridays; German; comic; four pages; size 19 by 25; subscription $2.50; established 1872; Charles F. Lang; editor and publisher; circulation H 1.

6. Thistleton's Illustrated Jolly Giant; Saturdays; comic; illustrated; sixteen pages; size of page 9 by 12; subscription $4.20; established 1873; George Thistleton; editor and publisher; circulation X.

7. Puck; Wednesdays; German; comic; illustrated; sixteen pages; size of page 10 by 14; subscription $5; established 1876; Keppler & Schwarzmann, editors and publishers; circulation G; office 13 North William Street.

8. Puck; Wednesdays; comic; illustrated; sixteen pages; size of page 10 by 14; subscription $5; established 1877; Puck Publishing Co., editors and publishers; circulation X; office 13 North William Street.

9. Duch Casu; Thursdays; Bohemian; illustrated; comic; eight pages; size 20 by 28; subscription $2.50; established 1877; circulation K; issued from the office of the Svornest.

10. Diblik; Sundays; Bohemian; illustrated; comic; eight pages; size 23 by 33; subscription $2.50; established 1877; does not insert advertisements; office 235 East Fourth street.

11. Jester; Fridays; comic; four pages; size 13 by 18; established 1878; Fred J. Hamilton & Co., editors and publishers.

*Illustration courtesy Joe Rainone.