This month marks the 150th anniversary of Popular Science, or at least the predecessor of what we know as that magazine. The original magazine, whose first issue was published in May 1872, was a scholarly journal of about a hundred pages, with about ten articles, and just a few illustrations. The rights to the name were acquired in 1915, and the October 1915 issue resembles the modern incarnation of the magazine.

The first issue contained articles on topics such as the study of sociology, an essay on science and immortality by Rev. T.W. Fowle, the source of labor, Quetelet on the science of man, and disinfection and disinfectants. One of the few illustration is this sketch of the sun’s corona, illustrating an article about the solar eclipse of December 12, 1871.

In April 2021, the paper edition of the magazine ended, and it exists now only in digital format. All issues from 1872 through the early 2000’s are available at Google Books for free reading.

The image shown above is the cover from May 1972, celebrating the 100th anniversary. The magazine used the occasion to publish a review of its first hundred years, and used copies are available at the followng links. As with many used books, prices can vary wildly, so be sure to compare prices at all of these links:

Current subscriptions to the digital magazine are available at the following link:

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