Appendix: A Sample Description
The following sample description of The Broadway 1, no. 6
(February 1868), presents some of the situations and concerns that are likely
to arise in dealing with periodicals, while underscoring the many similarities
that exist between periodicals and books.
This account of The Broadway is not intended as a full
description, but as an illustration of many of the matters previously
discussed, including the problem of having to work with a limited number of
copies.[36] In this case, all copies examined
are bound volumes resulting from semi-active aggregation, so the sample
also shows how one might proceed when the number in wrappers has not
been located.
The sample description emphasizes the importance of placing the
individual number in context. This takes place primarily in the introductory
notes, which present an overview of the periodical's first volume with special
reference to the position of Number 6 in the volume's history and to the
special features of this number. The prose commentary supplied in the sample
could be shortened or even replaced with a brief listing of crucial elements if
space were limited. In any case, the introductory note for this number would
contain considerably less information about the general history of the
periodical if several numbers were being described, and in those
circumstances some elements of the description proper, such as the
publisher's case and related materials described in the "Miscellaneous"
section, would be presented elsewhere and not repeated in individual
descriptions. Also, if the contents of The Broadway were indexed in
Wellesley or elsewhere, it might not be
necessary to provide full titles and author's signatures in the description's
contents section.
The organization of the sample description reflects the particular features
of this number of The Broadway. For example, the wrapper is
presented in the section on binding because the information it records is
already mentioned in the introductory notes and in the title-page
transcription. Since the number includes a relatively small number of
illustrations, they are indicated both in the contents proper and in a separate,
more detailed subsection.
The section on typography illustrates the tendency of periodicals to shift
type sizes both for reasons of space (which probably accounts for the
presentation of "Mrs. Holmes Grey" in double columns) and to use
typography to distinguish among various sorts of headings and signatures.
But here and elsewhere many elements appear essentially as they might in a
description of a book, thus demonstrating that bibliographical description of
periodicals is both feasible and appropriate.
The Broadway, 1, no. 6 (February 1868)
introductory notes.[37]
Overview. The monthly magazine The Broadway began
publication in August 1867, under the editorship of Edmund Routledge, the
son of the magazine's publisher George Routledge (and a partner in his
father's firm). The
periodical's plan was to appeal to British and American audiences through its
contents and the inclusion of contributors from both countries. However, as
Clarence Gohdes has observed, its orientation remained primarily British;
The Broadway was "merely a London journal which devoted more
than the average amount of space to American topics and which included a
few contributions by such authors as the Cary sisters, Evert Duyckinck, and
R. H. Stoddard."
[38]
The Broadway's
editorial policy was modified in an announcement that appeared in Number
12 (August 1868), the last number of the magazine's first volume: "'The
Broadway' will cease to be specially an 'Anglo-American' or an
'Americo-Anglican' magazine. We are convinced that there is a still Broader
way in Literature and Art than that which spreads itself under the shadow of
St. Paul's in London, or stretches from the Battery to Harlem Bridge in New
York" (quoted in Gohdes, 61). While the
magazine's wrapper provides a British and a New York publisher's address
(and Gohdes also mentions that United States sales were conducted through
Routledge's New York office [61]), the Routledge archives
[39] do not indicate whether an American issue was
produced. The British numbers were priced at sixpence.
Number 6 is notable for its inclusion of William Rossetti's poem "Mrs.
Holmes Grey." Edmund Routledge was eager to enlist Rossetti as a
contributor, writing to him twice in October of 1867. Neither The
Broadway nor its editor made a good impression on Rossetti, who
complained in a letter to Swinburne: "That most grovelling of publications
the Broadway wrote to me some fortnight ago, asking me to
contribute. I declined, instancing their prospectus as of itself enough to warn
off any human writer" (October 29, 1867).[40] However, Routledge's assurance that "the
character of the Magazine is being altered, and that various mighty writers
ranging in calibre between Algernon Swinburne and Tom Taylor or Gerald
Massey, are being invited" (Selected Letters, 181 — 182) seems to
have persuaded Rossetti to send "Mrs. Holmes Grey" to Routledge in
November. Having secured the poem, Routledge then tried (without success)
to obtain an illustration
by Dante Rossetti to accompany it. Ultimately A. B. Houghton was chosen
to depict the scene at the coffin (plate 2 below).[41] Rossetti's diary entry for January 28, 1868,
reports that the February number was "out" on that date (Rossetti
Papers, 296).
Routledge's pursuit of contributions from the Rossetti brothers shows
him to have been a hardworking and ambitious editor. He may have been too
ambitious, for The Broadway's first volume began to show signs of
cost-cutting as early as Number 5, when the wrapper, formerly printed in red
and black ink, was printed in black only. Additional economically inspired
changes took place after the publication of Number 6. First, the numbers
became shorter: Numbers 1 — 6 contain 40 leaves (not including the title
page), but subsequent numbers contain only 30 (Nos. 7 — 11) or 32 leaves
[No. 12]). Next, the quantity of plates was reduced from two per number
(Nos. 1 — 9) to one plate in Numbers 10 and 11, and none in 12. These
cost-cutting measures coincide with reductions in the total copies printed.
While 90,000 copies of the first number are recorded in Routledge's
Publications Books, the entry for Number 6, dated January 31, 1868,
indicates that only 30,000 copies were printed, on
150 reams of double-demy paper.[42] The
print run continued to decrease to 18,000 copies of Number 11 and rose only
slightly to 20,000 for Number 12.[43]
Printing and publication history. Neither the copies examined nor
the Routledge archives give any evidence of more than one edition or issue
of Number 6, or of active aggregation of the volume. The wrapper of 1.1
(Newberry copy) contains the
phrase "Third Edition, making 90,000," but while Routledge's publication
books confirm that 90,000 copies were printed, they do not indicate how
many impressions were made of that or of any other number.
Semi-active aggregation is indicated by an advertisement for publisher's
case in Number 12 (August), at a price of 1s. 6d.; apparently the "Title Page,
Contents, Etc." which are listed on the title-page of Number 12 were
provided with that number.
All numbers examined are part of bound volumes. Of these, the
Newberry copy contains a single-leaf title-page (with advertisements on
verso) for each number; the title-page leaves are not included in the
pagination. The title-pages may have been part of a preliminary gathering, as
indicated by the page number 16 and the running title "The Broadway
Advertiser" which appear on the verso of the leaf in Number 6. The
Waterloo entry mentions "16 — 20 pp" of advertisements per
number, but does not indicate which numbers were examined.
Both the National Union Catalogue Pre-1956 Imprints (77:127)
and Supplement (702:508) record a possible volume issue published
in 1868 under the title Novels, tales and poetry. The entries refer to
this publication as a "reprint" of The Broadway volume 1, and the
number of pages matches the number of pages in the bound volumes I have
examined. I have not been able to examine these copies and cannot confirm
that they include Number 6.
title-page. [top of page: engraving, 30 x 81. Background: vertical pattern
of diamonds alternating with dots. Foreground: woman on left, wearing
helmet; woman on right, no helmet; each woman extends one arm towards
the other, clasping hands in center of design; each woman holds trident in
other hand. Women stand under and in front of a plain frieze supported by
columns. Behind the women's clasped hands is a circular design with foliage
within and a small scroll that is placed above the hands; text '. THE .' within
scroll. Beneath the circular design and in front of the women is a larger
scroll; ends of scroll are wound around the staffs of the two tridents; text
'BROADWAY' within scroll.] | LONDON AND NEW YORK | [rule 51 mm]
| FEBRUARY, 1868. | [rule 51 mm] | CONTENTS. | PAGE | 1. —
Brake-speare; or, the Fortunes of a Free Lance. By the Author | of "Guy
Livingstone," etc [dotted line] 401 | Chapter XXIV. — The Battle. |
” XXV. — Ralph and Lanyon witness a Trial for Sorcery.
| ” XXVI. — Ralph pays a Midnight Visit to Hawkwood. | ”
XXVII. — Sacrilege. | ” XXVIII. — Les Tards-Venus. | 2. —
Public Statues in London. By Francis Turner Palgrave, Late | Fellow of
Exeter College, Oxford [dotted line] 429 | 3. Emigrants in America. By
Robert Tomes [dotted line] 437 | 4. Provincial Dramatic Critics Criticised
[dotted line] 445 | 5. Mrs. Holmes Grey. By William M. Rossetti [dotted
line] 449 | 6. International Prejudices. By Henry Sedley, Editor of the "New |
York Round Table" [dotted line] 460 | 7. — Second Thoughts. By F. C.
Burnand [dotted line] 466 | Chapter XV. — Story of the Good-hearted
Fellow, continued. | ” XVI. — The Story of a Good Fellow,
continued. | 8. New York Theatres. Ry [misprint for 'By'] Molyneux St.
John. Part I. [dotted line] | 9. A Valentine [dotted line] 480 | [rule, 43 mm] |
Communications for the Editor of "The Broadway," on matters
concerning this | Magazine must be made BY LETTER ONLY, to the care
of the
Publishers. | All unaccepted MSS. are returned, if accompanied by stamps to
defray the expenses of postage. | The Editor cannot hold himself responsible
if any are accidentally lost.
Collation. 80: π1 26 — 30
8 [&$1 signed], 41 leaves, pp.
15
16 401 — 480; page numbers in upper outer corner, flush with text margin,
except centered on first page of articles (401, 429, 437, 445, 449, 460, 466,
473, 480).
The first leaf seems to have been part of a preliminary gathering of
advertisements. Since the final gathering of Number 5 is signed 25, the
signature of the gathering that contained π1 cannot be inferred.
contents.[44] 15 title; 16 three ads
"Housekeeper's Books" (5 titles), "Newton Wilson & Co's New Hand
Sewing Machines"; "Blair's Gout and Rheumatic Pills"; 401 text headed
'Brakespeare; [black letter] | OR, | THE FORTUNES OF A FREE LANCE. |
BY THE AUTHOR OF "GUY LIVINGSTONE," ETC., ETC. | [rule 32
mm] | CHAPTER XXIV. | THE BATTLE.' & text; on 406 'CHAPTER
XXV. | RALPH AND LANYON WITNESS A TRIAL FOR SORCERY.';
on 415 'CHAPTER XXVI. | RALPH PAYS A MIDNIGHT VISIT TO
HAWKWOOD.'; 417 text headed 'CHAPTER XXVII. | SACRILEGE.'; on
423 'CHAPTER XXVIII. | LES TARDSVENUS.'; 429 text headed 'Public
Statues in London. [black letter] | BY FRANCIS TURNER PALGRAVE, |
Late Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford. | PART I.'; 437 text headed
'Emigrants in America. [black letter] | BY ROBERT TOMES,' & illus; 445
text headed 'Provincial Dramatic Critics Criticised.' [black letter] (s 'B.' 448);
449 text headed 'Mrs. Holmes Grey. [black letter] | BY WILLIAM M.
ROSSETTI.';
460 text headed 'International Prejudices. [black letter] | BY HENRY
SEDLEY, | Editor of the "New York Round Table."'; 466 text headed
'Second Thoughts. [black letter] | BY F. C. BURNAND. | [rule, 10 mm] |
CHAPTER XV. | STORY OF THE GOOD-HEARTED FELLOW,
CONTINUED.'; on 468 illus & text; 470 'CHAPTER XVI. | THE STORY
OF A GOOD FELLOW CONTINUED.'; 473 text headed 'New York
Theatres. [black letter] | BY MOLYNEUX ST. JOHN. | PART I.' & illus;
480 'A Valentine.' [black letter] & 3 stanzas (s 'E.R.')
illustrations. On 437: engraving [87 x 118] of Castle Garden
building, foreground: trees at left and right and small group of figures in
center; background: sea. On 468: engraving [32 x 87] to depict
illegible writing (as mentioned in text). On 473: engraving [61 x 91]
of buildings on left and right of street, foreground: street; caption
'WALLACK'S THEATRE.'
plates. 1. Facing 419. [182 x 114; no plate mark] Two figures on
horseback, veiled female on left, male holding dagger on right; right
background: two men in armor, fighting. Letterpress caption: '6
Page 419. | THEN FROM UNDER THE DARK ROBE CAME A
BRIGHT FLASH; AND, WITH ONE SMOTHERED | SHRIEK, THE
GIRL SANK SIDEWAYS TO THE GROUND.' Signed: design
forming initials JAP (J. A. Pasquier?); 'E. Evans Sc'. Paper thickness:
.112.
2. Facing 449. [164 x 114; no plate mark] Two men standing beside and
looking into open coffin, woman's face visible within coffin. Letterpress
caption: '6 Page 452. | "They stood beside the coffin's foot and
head. | Both gazed in silence, with bowed faces — Grey | With bony chin
pressed into bony throat."' Not signed [but by A. B. Houghton
(Rossetti Papers 243, 284 — 285)]. Paper thickness:
.112.
paper. White wove unwatermarked.
typography. Main text: 40 lines (p. 433); text 160.3 (170.3) x
101 mm; 10 lines = 40.3 mm; face 2.3 (1.3x) mm. Note: pp. 449 — 459,
two columns per page, with variable spaces between paragraphs of verse; p.
456, text left column 161 (168.3), right 162 (169) x 50.3 mm each; total
page width 105.3; for both columns 10 lines = 28 mm; face 2 (1.3) mm.
Running titles: black letter face, 3.3 (2.3x), centered above text with
no rule beneath; text varies with section title; pp. 416 'Brakespeare; or,' and
417 'The Fortunes of a Free Lance.' No RT on first page of article. RT on 16
in normal face (2 mm), 'The Broadway Advertiser.' with rule beneath.
Pagination: Black letter face, 3.3 mm (p. 433). Direction line: volume
number 1.6 mm, signature 2 mm. Article titles: black letter face 7
(3x) mm. End-of-text bylines: face 2.3 mm. Rules: short rules
[10 mm] between chapters of fiction on 415, 423, 469. Double rules at end
of item on 428 [32 mm]; 448 [35
mm]; 480 [42.3 mm].
binding. Paper wrapper: thickness .184 mm; color: light yellowish pink.
Front: [the following within double rule border 204 x 128 (202 x
125) mm] [design: two women; woman on left wears helmet; woman on
right, no helmet, dress with stars on bodice, striped skirt; each woman
extends one arm towards the other, clasping hands in center of design; each
woman holds trident in other hand (left) or arm (right), and each woman
stands on a pedestal, upon which hangs a shield representing Britain (left)
and United States (right). Women stand in front of large circular frieze with a
small scroll at the top. In front of the women and beneath their hands is a
larger scroll; ends of scroll are wound around the staffs of the two tridents].
Text: [between points of tridents] PRICE SIXPENCE | [within small scroll
at top of circle] 1868 | [within another small scroll suspended above clasped
hands] THE [within larger scroll below hands] BROADWAY | LONDON |
AND | NEW YORK.| [within left
pedestal, above shield] No. 6. [within right pedestal, above shield]
FEBRUARY. | [in rectangle between pedestals] A | MONTHLY |
MAGAZINE | [within rectangle beneath pedestals] LONDON: THE
BROADWAY. LUDGATE. NEW YORK: 416, BROOME STREET. Note:
the lines "A MONTHLY MAGAZINE" are in outline face. Inside
front: 4 ads, "Benson's Watches," "Brown & Polson's Patent Corn
Flour," "Maravilla Cocoa," "Bryant and Mays Patent Safety Matches".
Inside back: 3 ads, "John Gosnell & Co.," "Maizena," "Keating's
Cough Lozenges". Back: 2 ads, "Railway Passengers Assurance
Company," "Crosse & Blackwell". Spine: not available.
miscellaneous. A publisher's case, frontispiece, volume title and volume
contents were available for volume 1 of The Broadway.
Publisher's case: medium green calico, stamped in gilt. Front:
within double rule border (213 x 114, 209.5 x 112 mm) another
diamond-shaped double rule compartment, within which: 'THE |
BROADWAY | ANNUAL' on background of fish, shells. Back:
blindstamped design same as front but no text or ornamentation within
diamond compartment. Spine: oval design, ornamented with trident (at top)
and fish (at bottom), and background of acorns and oak leaves, and
containing three scrolls, each containing one word in intaglio: 'THE |
BROADWAY | ANNUAL'.
Frontispiece: (on grey background, 164.3 x 107 mm, within
thick-thin gilt rule frame, 173 x 115.7 [170 x 113] mm), illustration of two
women, standing in front of a rose bower, sharing a copy of The
Broadway, with another copy at their feet (to left). Woman on the left
light-haired, with flower in hair, wearing pendant; woman on right
dark-haired with a crown of six stars, striped dress. Signed: (on bottom left)
'McE' (on bottom right) 'W. T. Homas, Sc.' Text (not letterpress; at bottom,
still within grey): 'Be rivals only in your love.'
Volume title: (on grey background, 165.3 X 108 mm, within
thick-thin gilt rule frame, 173 x 116, 170 x 113 mm) THE | BROADWAY |
ANNUAL | A MISCELLANY OF | ORIGINAL LITERATURE | IN |
POETRY AND PROSE. | [ornament, leaf pointing down, 4.5 x 3.7 mm] |
LONDON AND NEW YORK: | GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND
SONS.
Volume contents: a gathering of four leaves, signed 'b' on
i. Contents as follows: i untitled poem, stanzas I — III, first
line 'One face from where the Northern star'; ii device, "Harrild Printer
London"; iii through v 'CONTENTS.', vi 'LIST OF FULLPAGE
ILLUSTRATIONS.'; vii 'A LIST OF AUTHORS.' and 'LIST OF
ARTISTS.'; viii within single rule frame [180 x 105 mm] ad for 'NEW
SERIES. | [wavy rule 31.3 mm] | THE BROADWAY MAGAZINE, |
PRICE ONE SHILLING, MONTHLY. | [wavy rule 31.7 mm] | No. 1,
READY ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1868, | CONTAINS THE OPENING
CHAPTERS OF | NEW NOVELS | BY | HENRY KINGSLEY and ANNIE
THOMAS; | AS WELL AS | PAPERS AND POEMS | BY JAMES
HANNAY, | FREDERIC LOCKER, | WALT WHITMAN, | BARRY
CORNWALL, | THE REV. NEWMAN HALL; | AND OTHERS.'
copies examined. All volumes include frontispiece, volume title, and
volume contents.
ICN (Newberry) A 51.168. Bound volume, wrappers and title-pages
intact.
IEN (Northwestern) 051.B8635. Bound volume, publisher's case. No
head titles or wrappers. Missing pages vii and viii, 1 — 2, 49 —
50.
TxU (U of Texas, Austin) Woolf 7717. Bound volume. No title-pages or
wrappers.
TxHR (Rice) AP4.B9. Bound volume. No title-pages or wrappers.