The History of the Gentleman’s Magazine, 1731 to 1815

Abstract

The first, January, number of a new monthly periodical, The Gentleman’s Magazine, or, Trader’s Monthly Intelligencer was published in early February 1731. It was advertised in the London press and was to be sold by booksellers in London and the country, or sent direct to any address.1 No periodical before this had called itself a ‘magazine’, so Edward Cave explained its purpose. It was an ‘Abridgement’ that gave: Monthly a View of all the pieces of Wit, Humour, or Intelligence, daily offer’d to the Publick in the News-papers, (which are of late so multiply’d as to render it impossible, unless a man makes it a business, to consult them all) and in the next place we shall join therewith some other matters of Use or Amusement that will be communicated to us.