''The Kaleidoscope; or, Literary and Scientific Mirror'' was an
English weekly published between 1818 and 1831 by the
Liverpool publisher
Egerton Smith
Egerton Smith (19 June 1774 – 18 November 1841)Picton, James Allanson. (1875)''Memorials of Liverpool: Historical and Topographical, including a History of the Dock Estate'' London: Longmans, Green. p. 130 was a Liverpool publisher, founder of t ...
(1774–1841), who had established the ''
Liverpool Mercury'' in 1811.
The magazine's name was taken from
David Brewster
Sir David Brewster KH PRSE FRS FSA Scot FSSA MICE (11 December 178110 February 1868) was a British scientist, inventor, author, and academic administrator. In science he is principally remembered for his experimental work in physical optics ...
's
recent invention.
The first number appeared on 28 July 1818 in
folio form; two years later the publication became an eight-page
quarto. The price was kept at threepence-halfpenny throughout the magazine's history.
An anonymous writer for the ''
British Quarterly Review
The ''British Quarterly Review'' was a periodical published between 1845 and 1886. It was founded by Robert Vaughan, out of dissatisfaction with the editorial line of the '' Eclectic Review'' under Edward Miall.
Editors
*Robert Vaughan for its f ...
'' suggested that the ''Kaleidoscope'' was Britain's first cheap weekly miscellany: "It consisted of slight original and selected articles in literature, science and art, and aimed at that happy combination of instruction and amusement which has since been more elaborately developed in still cheaper serials." Contributors included
William and
Mary Howitt, and the magazine also inserted the American
Washington Irving's ''Sketch Book''.
The last number bore the date 6 September 1831. The magazine was being discontinued, Egerton Smith informed his readers, since
the new railways had disrupted road distribution by stage-coach.
References
Bibliography
*
*
*
External links
*Republished as part of
ProQuest'
British Periodicals Collection I(subscription only)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaleidoscope
Weekly magazines published in the United Kingdom
Magazines established in 1818
Magazines disestablished in 1831
Mass media in Liverpool
Defunct visual arts magazines published in the United Kingdom
Defunct magazines published in England