Tatler

Tatler is a British "society" magazine (i.e. about the social life of British aristocracy).

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It was originally founded in 1709 by Richard Steele who also used the nom de plume of Isaac Bickerstaff, Esquire.

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Steele's idea was to publish the news and gossip heard in London coffeehouses, hence the title. A "reporter" was based in each of the best-known of these, in order that readers need not miss out on anything.

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In its first incarnation, it was published three times a week. The original "Tatler" was published only two years from April 12, 1709 to January 2, 1711.

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Three months after the original "Tatler" was first published, a Mrs Crackenthorpe published what was called the "Female Tatler." It, too, was published thrice weekly. However, its run was much shorter: the magazine ran for less than a year - from July 8, 1709 to March 31, 1710.

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There is some question as to whether the current glossy "society" magazine is related to the original Tatler. It is generally acknowledged that the current edition began publishing in 1901.

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From the 1940's until the early 1960's, the then-weekly magazine was entitled "Tatler & Bystander." In March 1968, the "bystander" was dropped from the magazine's title, and it began publishing on a monthly basis.

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Today, the magazine is owned and operated by Advance Publications.

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Richard Steele: Other persons called Richard Steele include Richard Steele, the boxing referee, and Richard Steele, the American magican and illusionist....

Nom de plume: A term used to denote an assumed name under which an artist publishes their work. The standard English-derived term is penname or pen-name....

Isaac Bickerstaff: Isaac Bickerstaff Esq. was a pseudonym used by Jonathan Swift (for information about Joseph Addison or the Anglo-Irish playwright, see Isaac Bickerstaffe) as part of a hoax to predict the death of then famous Almanac?maker, astrologer, and quack John Partridge....

Tatler related Images and Photos (experimental)

Tatler Front-Cover: Madeleine Carroll