Godey's Lady's Book

I became familiar with this magazine last year while researching American female authors around the turn of the 20th century. Godey's Lady's Book was a popular monthly magazine that covered women's interests and included clothing patterns, gossip, engravings, and short stories/poetry (often written by women). There were, however, no political or controversial pieces. Published by Louis A. Godey in Philadelphia, the magazine ran from 1830 to 1878. Godey began copyrighting each issue to dissuade piracy in 1845, this being the first instance of magazine copyright in America. Noted Godey contributors are: Edgar Allen Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Washington irving, and (a favorite author of mine) Frances Hodgson Burnett. (Burnett's first short story "Hearts and Diamonds" was published in an 1868 issue of Godey's.)


Recently, I browsed eBay for Godey's and came upon an issue from 1889 for only $20. Naturally, I bought it. Here are some pictures:


"A magazine devoted to the interests of the family... $2 a year."





Hand-colored engravings of popular millinery.





Three-story house plan.





A fold-out tea cozy pattern.





Prizes offered to readers who attract more subscribers: an organ (?), a sewing machine, dress material, and a time-piece.





The pages are brittle but the colors are surprisingly brilliant for a magazine over 120 years old!


If you're interested in reading some of the material from Godey's, I've found a few websites on Google that have entire issues, like this one. Also, if you're a member of a library (especially a university), you may be able to view actual copies or electronic versions.