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SHIPPING AVAILABLE > A 1904 issue of AINSLEE'S MAGAZINE, A MAGAZINE OF CLEVER FICTION, dated JANUARY 1904, priced at 15 CENTS, published by AINSLEE MAGAZINE CO., NEW YORK. This publication is a prime example of early 20th-century periodicals, featuring over 100 pages filled with illustrated advertisements, literary content, and engaging editorial material.
The REAR COVER showcases four notable advertisements from the era. LIEBIG COMPANY'S EXTRACT OF BEEF emphasizes its widespread use and signature quality. WASHBURNE'S PATENT IMPROVED FASTENER AND KEY CHAIN highlights its innovative design for securing keys. The advertisement for TABASCO SAUCE, YOUR XMAS DINNER, promotes its use as the perfect seasoning, produced by MCILHENNY'S TABASCO of NEW IBERIA, LA. Lastly, DENTACURA TOOTHPASTE advertises its effectiveness in dental hygiene, endorsed by leading dentists and manufactured in NEWARK, NJ.
Inside, the magazine offers a variety of fiction and non-fiction pieces, accompanied by numerous period advertisements. Highlights include promotional pages for products such as THE EDISON PHONOGRAPH and THE HAYNES-APPERSON AUTOMOBILE. The content also features serialized stories and poems by prominent authors of the time, along with fascinating insights into the cultural and consumer trends of 1904.
CONDITION REPORT ~ Offered as found, showing wear typical of age and handling, including edge fraying and surface creasing ~ The publication remains intact with readable content and rich historical imagery, providing a vivid glimpse into the literary and commercial landscape of the early 20th century.
HISTORY RELATIVE to AINSLEE'S MAGAZINE OF CLEVER FICTION
Ainslee's Magazine was a popular American literary periodical published from 1897 to 1926. Initially launched under the title The Yellow Kid Magazine, it focused on entertainment and stories before being renamed Ainslee's Magazine in 1898. The publication catered to a middle-class readership and became known for blending fiction, serialized novels, poetry, journalism, and illustrated advertisements. Its tagline, A Magazine of Clever Fiction, reflected its dedication to high-quality literary content that was both engaging and accessible.
The magazine became a significant platform for many notable writers of the time, including O. Henry, Jack London, Stephen Crane, Willa Cather, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. These contributions elevated its reputation, and it was widely regarded as a leading venue for short stories, serialized works, and essays that captured the cultural, social, and political shifts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Ainslee's was also distinguished by its visual appeal. The covers often featured striking and colorful artwork by well-known illustrators such as Edward Penfield, who helped define its aesthetic identity. Inside, the magazine was filled with period advertisements rendered in Art Nouveau and early Art Deco styles, promoting products like phonographs, automobiles, corsets, and beauty products. These advertisements targeted an urban, middle-class audience, blending practical appeals with aspirational marketing.
By the 1920s, the magazine market became increasingly competitive, with larger and more specialized publications gaining popularity. Ainslee's struggled to maintain its niche and ceased publication in 1926, marking the end of its nearly three-decade run. Today, Ainslee's Magazine is remembered for its contributions to American literature, its role in promoting now-iconic writers, and its vivid reflection of early 20th-century life through its stories, illustrations, and advertisements. Issues of Ainslee's remain highly collectible and provide valuable insights into the cultural and literary history of the period.
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