Category:Friendship's Offering

Title: Friendship’s Offering

Editor: Thomas Pringle, W.H. Harrison, T. K. Hervey, Leitch Ritchie

Publisher: Smith, Elder and Co.

Friendship’s Offering is a literary journal published from 1824 until 1844. The editors prided themselves on publishing high quality literary works and pieces of art. It had a high distribution rate, competing with other popular periodicals such as The Cornhill. Friendship's Offering is a collection of peoms, short stories, and art work. Much of its fame today comes from the artwork, including the illustrations and engravings by John Sartain. ^[1] At the beginning of each issue of Friendship’s Offering the current editor would leave a note about the importance of the reputation of the quality of the magazine. This provides a fun framework for the changing taste in literature during the early to mid Victorian age. In the final publication of Friendship’s Offering the editor, Leitch Ritchie, wrote “As for the mingling of comic matter with the sentimental which has been a staple of the publications, it seems to be a call for the changing taste of the time”^[2], showing the competition of periodicals to gain readership during this time. Another interesting example of how this magazine held a high standard in literary value and supplies a view into Victorian culture is the different names it used. In 1826 it was called Friendship’s Offering A Literary Album. In the middle years it was called Frienship’s Offering Winter’s Wreath. And for the last two years, 1843 and 1844, it was called Friendship’s Offering of Mirth and Sentiment. Frienship’s Offering contains work from authors like Coleridge and the early works of Tennyson.^[3]Thomas Pringle was the periodical’s first editor followed by Henry Davis Ingles who used the pen name, Derwent Conway. Ingles wrote books about his travels to different countries and died in 1838. .^[4]William Henry Harrison was the next editor, followed by Leitch Ritchie who was a novelist. He increased the size of the publication and tried to bring greater attention to the engravings. ^[5]During Ritchie’s time as editor there was an increase in women writers and an effort to compete in the market place.1844 was the last issue published.

Notes

1. ↑ Old Book Art. Ed. John. www.oldbookart.com
2. ↑ Ritchie, Leitch. "Editors Note." Frienship's Offering of Mirth and Sentiment. 1840. 1-4. Print.
3. ↑ British Annuals and Gift Books. Ed. Hootman, Harry E. et.al. http://www.britannuals.com
4. ↑ British Annuals and Gift Books. Ed. Hootman, Harry E. et.al. http://www.britannuals.com
5. ↑ British Annuals and Gift Books. Ed. Hootman, Harry E. et.al. http://www.britannuals.com

Submitted by: Daley, Tracy: section 1, Winter 2014