Punch (magazine)

Punch was a British weekly magazine of humor and satire published from 1841 to 1992 and from 1996 to 2002.

History

Editorial meeting of Punch magazine in the late 19th century.

Punch was founded in July 17 1841 by Henry Mayhew and engraver Ebenezer Landells. At its founding it was jointly edited by Mayhew and Mark Lemon. Initially it was subtitled The London Charivari, this being a reference to a satirical humor magazine published in France under the title Le Charivari. Reflecting their satiric and humorous intent, the two editors took for their name and masthead the anarchic glove puppet, Mr. Punch; the name also referred to a joke made early on about one of the magazine's first editors, Lemon, that "punch is nothing without lemon." Mayhew ceased to be joint editor in 1842 and became 'suggestor in chief' until he severed his connection in 1845. Punch was responsible for the modern use of the word 'cartoon' to refer to a comic drawing. The illustrator Archibald Henning designed the cover of the magazine's first issues. The cover design varied in the early years, though Richard Doyle designed what became the magazine's masthead in 1849.

During the late 19th century Punch became notorious for regularly publishing anti-Irish jokes.

Circulation peaked during the 1940s when it reached 175,000, but slowly declined over the years, until the magazine was forced to close in 1992 after 150 years of publication.

1996 resurrection

In early 1996, the Egyptian businessman Mohamed Fayed bought the rights to the name, and it was re-launched later that year. It was reported that the magazine was intended to be a spoiler aimed at Private Eye, which had published many items critical of Fayed and showing him in a bad light. The magazine never became profitable in its new incarnation, and at the end of May 2002, it was announced that Punch would once more cease publication. Press reports at the time quoted a total loss to its owner of some £16 million (about $28 million U.S.) over the six years of publication, with only 6,000 subscribers at the end.

In 2004, much of the archive, including the famous Punch table, was sold to the British Library.

Trivia

• Punch gave several phrases to the English language, including the "Curate's egg" and The Crystal Palace
• Several British humor classics were first serialized in Punch, such as the Diary of a Nobody and 1066 and All That.
• The magazine's archive and other memorabilia associated with the magazine was acquired by the British Library in March 2004.
• Punch Cigar Co. was named after the character Mr. Punch in order to increase British patronage.
• Cartoons from Punch magazine are commonly used in GCSE History examinations to reflect the conservative views of the middle class.
• Cartoons from Punch magazine are commonly used in Scottish Standard Grade and Higher History examinations to illustrate British attitudes to foreign and domestic issues
• Until 23 September 2006 Harrods had a Punch themed cafe.
• Punch is also the brand of a coffee sold in Fortnum and Mason of Piccadilly, London.

External links

• Punch cartoon library, including a history of the magazine
• List of issues available on-line from Project Gutenberg
• Works by "Mr. Punch". Project Gutenberg
• Mr Punch at the British Library, an article from the British Library website
• John Leech Sketch archives from Punch, a fan's website with more than 600 of Leech's sketches
• Punch magazine to fold, a May 2002 BBC article

Credits

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