Short Stories
Title changed from Magazine of Short Stories. Notes towards an Index to Short Stories, published by C. Arthur Pearson Ltd., London
Taken from two bound volumes by John D. Squires
JDS-Books/The Vainglory Press
PO Box 292333
Kettering, OH 45429
March, 2003
Magazine of Short Stories 12 Jan 1889-18 Jun 1904 (807 issues); retitled Short Stories from 15 Jul 1893; relaunched as Smith’s Weekly from 25 Jun 1904-10 Aug 1907 Frequency: weekly Publisher(s): E. & H. Bennett, Strand, London to 9 July 1893; then C.A. Pearson, 15 July 1893- ?
The first volume is bound in quarter leather with a label on the spine that says “SHORT / STORIES / VOL 4”. It contains 26 weekly issues numbered 470 - 495, January 1, 1898 - June 25, 1898, pp 1-832. Each issue contains 32 pages, including the front cover, which includes both an illustrated title and the beginning of a story. The titles for many stories in each issue are illustrated. C. Arthur Pearson is listed as the editor on most covers and C. Arthur Pearson, Ltd is listed as the publisher on the last page of each issue. Each issue is approximately 9 & 5/8 inches high and 7 inches wide and priced at one penny. The bound volume contains no separate title, contents or index pages and probably was not bound by the publisher. None of the issues indicate a volume number. At least two stories were pirated from foreign authors without attribution. PART TWO
The second volume is also bound in quarter leather with a label on the spine that says “SHORT / STORIES / VOL 8”. It contains 26 weekly issues numbered 679 - 704, January 4, 1902 - June 28, 1902, pp 1-832. Each issue contains 32 pages, including the front page, which includes both an illustrated title and the beginning of a story. The titles for many stories in each issue are illustrated. No editor is indicated, but C. Arthur Pearson, Ltd is usually listed as the publisher on the last page of each issue. Issues are priced at one penny. They are approximately 9 & 3/8 inches high and 7 inches wide, and appear to have been crudely trimmed in the binding process. The volume contains no separate title, contents or index pages and probably was not bound by the publisher. None of the issues indicate a volume number. The number on the spine is inconsistent with that found on the earlier example and both volume numbers should be considered suspect. From the sample cover illustrations in several ads it appears the individual issues had a separate cover which was discarded in the binding process. If the format was similar to that of Pearson’s Weekly the covers may have been of a thicker card grade of paper with the single signature of 32 pages stapled inside.
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