GodeysHistory


 * History **

Louis A. Godey established the //Lady’s Book// in 1830 in an attempt to capitalize on the popularity of gift books. Like gift books, his magazine compiled stories, poetry, and illustrations, but it also incorporated recipes, sewing projects, sheet music, and information on the latest fashions.

Godey hired Sarah J. Hale as editor of the //Lady’s Book// in 1837, at which point the magazine began printing only original articles by American writers. As a response to this, Godey began copyrighting the contents of the //Lady’s Book// starting in 1845, to prevent competitors from lifting articles and publishing them in their own magazines, which was a common practice at the time. Although Edgar Allan Poe defended this development, saying that it supported the rights of authors, other magazine publishers were outraged. Nevertheless, Godey stood by his decision, and eventually other publications followed suit.

Godey’s magazine was expensive for its day at $3.00 for a one-year subscription. However, a “club” subscription rate was offered, where people could order as a group and get one issue free (which usually went to the individual in charge of organizing the group). There were also “clubs” where one could subscribe to the //Lady’s Book// and an additional publication at a discounted rate. All of these options were advertised by Godey in his Arm-Chair section, which appeared at the end of each issue.

The //Lady’s Book// reached its highest circulation just before the outbreak of the Civil War, with over 150,000 subscribers. During the war, Godey and Hale chose to steer clear of politics, and never mentioned the war outright, although a close reading of their editorial sections and the Literary Notices advertising various books for sale hint at its existence.

Godey sold the magazine in 1877 and Hale retired. Although it remained in circulation until 1898, the magazine never regained its pre-Civil War subscription levels.

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