American Comic Journal Circulation

Circulation Ratings of American Comic Journals (Updated)

Rowell's American Newspaper Directory 1869:

1. Comic News, NY; monthly; illustrated; comic; eight pages; size 23 x 33; subscription 10 cents per copy; established 1869.

2. Comic Monthly, NY; monthly; illustrated; comic; sixteen pages; size of page 33 x 46; subscription $1.25; established 1859; Jesse Haney & Co., editors and publishers; circulation (average) 16,500, office 119 Nasssau Street.

3. Phunny Phellow, NY; monthly; illustrated; comic; sixteen pages; size of page 11 x 15; subscription $1; established 1860; office 55 Fulton Street.

4. Jolly Joker, NY; monthly; comic; sixteen pages; size of page 33x 44; subscription $1; office 214 Centre Street.

5. Spottvogel, Indianapolis; Sundays; German; comic; eight pages; size of page 20 x 26; subscription $2; established 1865.

6. Le Charivari Canadien, Quebec; Fridays; French; comic; two pages; subscription $2; established 1868; A. Guerard editor and publisher.

Rowell's American Newspaper Directory 1870:

1. Chip Basket, NY; monthly; comic; sixteen pages; size of page 24 x 36; subscription 50 cents; established 1869; J. M. Silver, editors and publishers; office 119 Nasssau Street.

2. Nick-Nax, NY; monthly; comic; thirty-two pages; size of pages 8 x 11; subscription $1.25; established 1856; office 27 New Chambers Street.

3. Frank Leslie's Budget of Fun, NY; monthly; comic; sixteen pages; size of page 33 x 46; Frank Leslie, publisher; do not insert advertisements; office 537 Pearl Street.

4. Spottvogel, Indianapolis; Sundays; German; comic; eight pages; size of page 26 x 38; subscription $2; established 1865, claims 2,500 ciculation.

5. Yankee Notions, NY; monthly; comic; thirty-two pages; size of page 33 x 46; subscription 15 cents per copy; C. Matthews, editor and publisher; do not insert advertisements; office 27 New Chambers Street.

6. Punchinello, NY; Saturdays; comic; sixteen pages; size of page 9 x 13; subscription $4; established 1870; Punchinello Publishing Co., editor and publisher; office 83 Nassau Street.

7. The Yankee Peddler, a comic and sensational monthly, circulation 1000.

Rowell's American Newspaper Directory 1872:

1. The Elephant, Cincinnati, Ohio; illustrated; comic; monthly; 60 cents per year; H. L. Brown publisher.

2. Nick-Nax, NY; monthly; comic; thirty-two pages; size of pages 8 x 11; subscription $1.25; established 1856; circulation about 5,000; office 27 New Chambers Street.

3. Comic Monthly, NY; monthly; illustrated; comic; sixteen pages; size of page 33 x 46; subscription $1.25; established 1859; Jesse Haney & Co., editors and publishers; circulation (average) 16,500, office 121 Nasssau Street.

4. Frank Leslie's Comic Almanac, NY; 15 cents; 537 Pearl Street.

5. Yankee Notions, NY; monthly; comic; thirty-two pages; size of page 33 x 46; subscription 15 cents per copy; C. Matthews, editor and publisher; do not insert advertisements; office 27 New Chambers Street.

6. Wild Oats, NY; bi-weekly; comic; illustrated; sixteen pages; size 33 x 46; subscription $2; established 1870; Winchell & Small, editors and publishers; claims 35,000 circulation; office 113 Fulton Street.

7. Puck, St. Louis; German; comic; illustrated; sixteen pages; size of page 10 x 12; Subscription $5; established 1871; Puck Publishing Co., editors and publishers; claims 4,000 to 5,000 circulation.

Pettingell's Newspaper Directory, 1877:

1. Eulenspiegel, Chicago; Sundays; German; comic illustrated; Moritz Langeloth, publiisher; circulation, 9500. The "Eulenspiegel" is the favorite Sunday journal among the Germans of the entire Northwestern states. It was established in 1872, and has reached a circulation of 9,500 copies. Moritz Langeloth and Mrs. Marie Langeloth, editors. Moritz Langeloth, publisher. (In 1876 Eulenspeigel publishing address was 55 W. Randolph.)

2. Merry Masker, NY, monthly; comic; Collins & Small publishers. (Might be a misspelling; possibly Merry Maker.)

3. Wild Oats, NY; Wednesdays; comic; illustrated; J. B. Collins & Co., publishers.

4. Brooklyn Anzeiger, NY; Saturdays; independent; F. Keller & Soshinsky, publishers; circulation 6,225. A first-rate German paper with excellent comic illustrations, 661 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY.

5. Y Pwnch Cymreig, Pennsylvania; semi-monthly; Welsh; comic. Y Pwnch Cymreig, the only Welsh humorous journal published in Eastern Pennsylvania. Is largely circulated in every Welsh settlement in the United States, and has a corps of the best humorous writers of the Welsh language. Pwnch office, Hyde Park, Pennsylvania.

6. Frank Leslie's Budget of Fun, NY; monthly; comic; Frank Leslie publisher.

7. Kikeriki, Cincinnati; Saturdays; German; comic; Charles F. Lang, publisher; circulation 1,100. (In Germany, the parent paper, Kikeriki, rivaled Kladderadatsch in popularity and circulation at 25,000 copies.)

8. Comic Monthly, NY; monthly; humorous; illustrated; Joseph Haney & Co., publishers.

9. Spottvogel, Indianapolis; Sundays; German; literary and comic; Gutenberg Co., publishers; circulation 4,620.

10. Grip, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Saturdays; comic; independent; Bengough Bros., publishers; circulation 2,000.

11. Puck, NY; Wednesdays; German; comic; illustrated; Keppler & Schwarzman, publishers.

12. Comic Chronicle, Potsdam; monthly; miscellany; A. L. Myers, publisher; circulation 1,000.

Geo. P. Rowell & Co.'s American Newspaper Directory, 1879. The KEY is provided at bottom.

1. Comic Monthly; illustrated; sixteen pages; size 33 by 46; subscription $1; established 1859; Jesse Haney & Co., editors and publishers; circulation X 1; office 119 Nassau Street.

2. Spottvogel; Sundays; German; comic; eight pages; size 26 by 40; subscription $2; established 1866; Gutenberg Co., publishers; Circulation H 1.

3. Grip; Saturdays; comic; four pages and cartoon; size 12 by 18; subscription $2; established 1870; Bengough Bros, editors and publishers; circulation J 1.

4. Wild Oats; Wednesdays; comic; illustrated; sixteen pages; size 33 by 46; subscription $4; established 1870; J. B. Collin & Co., editors and publishers; circulation G. 1; office 14 Park Place.

5. Kikeriki; Fridays; German; comic; four pages; size 19 by 25; subscription $2.50; established 1872; Charles F. Lang; editor and publisher; circulation H 1.

6. Thistleton's Illustrated Jolly Giant; Saturdays; comic; illustrated; sixteen pages; size of page 9 by 12; subscription $4.20; established 1873; George Thistleton; editor and publisher; circulation X.

7. Puck; Wednesdays; German; comic; illustrated; sixteen pages; size of page 10 by 14; subscription $5; established 1876; Keppler & Schwarzmann, editors and publishers; circulation G; office 13 North William Street.

8. Puck; Wednesdays; comic; illustrated; sixteen pages; size of page 10 by 14; subscription $5; established 1877; Puck Publishing Co., editors and publishers; circulation X; office 13 North William Street.

9. Duch Casu; Thursdays; Bohemian; illustrated; comic; eight pages; size 20 by 28; subscription $2.50; established 1877; circulation K; issued from the office of the Svornest.

10. Diblik; Sundays; Bohemian; illustrated; comic; eight pages; size 23 by 33; subscription $2.50; established 1877; does not insert advertisements; office 235 East Fourth street.

11. Jester; Fridays; comic; four pages; size 13 by 18; established 1878; Fred J. Hamilton & Co., editors and publishers.

*Illustration courtesy Joe Rainone.