The R. F. Outcault Reader - vol. 8 no. 4

 Truth Magazine

            

The most beautiful magazine that I have ever seen is TRUTH during its heyday at the turn of the 20th century.

I learned about it because R. F. Outcault published his first Yellow Kid cartoons in TRUTH beginning 2 June 1894 and continuing for several years. He also published several other cartoons in TRUTH which didn't include the Yellow Kid. Be sure and read the "History of the Yellow Kid" section in this web site to see his first Yellow Kid cartoons in TRUTH and learn how he moved to the New York World to continue his work.

What I hadn't expected when I found my first issue of TRUTH, was how beautiful it was. The lithography was absolutely stunning! The only problem with the magazine is that it is exceptionally rare. Printed for New York City residents, it never had a large circulation. This fact, when coupled with its age, its large size, the destruction of issues to frame covers and/or centerspreads, and the loss of issues to the hobby whenever sets are donated to libraries and museums, makes it very difficult to assemble a collection today.

Fortunately, my good friend and fellow collector, Richard S. West, has been collecting TRUTH and other 19th century humor magazines for years, and provided me with the critical information I needed regarding the Yellow Kid's appearance in TRUTH.

Because of his expertise in this area, I invited him to write the following article on the history of TRUTH magazine, which helped set the stage for the development of newspaper comics and the popularity of the Yellow Kid. I might add, that like so many of us, his collecting interests led to a professional involvement with old magazines. Today he is the owner of, in my opinion, the finest old magazine business in the country.

If you have copies of TRUTH or any magazines published before 1945 for sale, please contact him at Periodyssey, 116 Pleasant Street, Easthampton, MA 01060; phone: (413) 527-1900; fax: (423) 527-1930; e-mail: periodyssey@the-spa.com.

 

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Richard D. Olson, Ph.D., 40 Infinity Drive, Poplarville, MS 39470-9006
(769) 717-4077
redoak2002@gmail.com


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