Cover of The penny magazine of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, issue 18, July 14, 1832

The penny magazine of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, issue 18, July 14, 1832

Edited by Charles Knight

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"The penny magazine of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge" was a weekly illustrated British magazine published from 1832 to 1845. Created by Charles Knight to educate the working class, it sold for just one penny and featured wood-engraved illustrations on every page. Initially wildly successful with 200,000 copies sold, it reached nearly one million readers in its first year. However, its earnest, educational tone and lack of entertaining stories ultimately proved too dry for its intended audience, leading to financial difficulties and eventual decline.

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