Advertisements for other magazines

That early 19th-century American children’s magazines advertised competitors may surprise early 21st-century readers, but the rules were different then. The Youth’s Companion advertised two competitors in the same issue in 1865. The numbers at the bottom of each advertisement seems to have something to do with how long the ad would run: the advertisement for Robert Merry’s Museum had run in the issue before; but this version of the advertisement for Our Young Folks was new in the Companion. The ad for Our Young Folks is an example of truth in advertising: it was indeed “full of nice pictures”—among the illustrations were some by Winslow Homer. However, while Merry’s Museum claimed to be “The Oldest … Juvenile Magazine published,” it was actually advertising in the oldest American children’s periodical: The Youth’s Companion Youth’s Companion started in 1827; the Museum began in 1841. Seven years after these advertisements ran, Merry’s Museum was absorbed by its advertiser.

http://www.merrycoz.org/yc/ADS.xhtml
Our Young Folks (from The Youth’s Companion, January 12, 1865; p. 7)

BOYS AND GIRLS

Should all subscribe for the New Illustrated Magazine,

OUR YOUNG FOLKS.

MAYNE REID, MRS. STOWE, TROWBRIDGE, GAIL HAMILTON, LUCY LARCOM, EDMUND KIRKE, OLIVER OPTIC, DIO LEWIS, GRACE GREENWOOD, “CARLETON,” “AUNT FANNY,” and many other popular writers for the young, will write for it.

IT IS FULL OF NICE PICTURES.

The price is only $2 a year, and much less to Clubs. Any boy or girl can form a club. The first number sent as a specimen for ten cents. Address

TICKNOR & FIELDS, Boston, Mass.

Send for a circular.

2—1wv

Robert Merry’s Museum (from The Youth’s Companion, January 12, 1865; p. 8)

THE OLDEST, CHEAPEST AND BEST

MERRY’S MUSEUM

The Oldest and most Favorite Juvenile Magazine published.—Vol. 50 commences January, 1864. Full of Stories, Pictures, Puzzles, Letters from the Young Folks, History, Biography, Natural Science, Prizes, Hieroglyphics, etc., etc.

A fine Steel Engraving of UNCLE WILLIAM given to all new subscribers in the January number.

TERMS, $1,50 a year, in advance; 12 cents single number.—Send for it.

J. N. STEARNS, PUBLISHER,

111 Fulton Street, New York.

51—4wp

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