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Listing of Historic Photography Magazines with Links to Scanned Issues

Listing of Historic Photography Magazines with Links to Scanned Issues

A listing of antique photography magazines with mastheads and links to scanned online editions

Here you’ll find a running list of historic photography magazines with their masthead designs and links to read them whenever possible. I’ll add more magazines as I discover them. All of these magazines pre-date 1920 and are in the public domain according to U.S. copyright law.


Historic photography magazines listed in alphabetical order


The American Amateur Photographer

Brunswick, Maine. Published 1889-1906.

1889 Logo for The American Amateur Photographer, published in Brunswick, Maine from 1889-1906.
1889 Logo for The American Amateur Photographer, published in Brunswick, Maine from 1889-1906.

Read it here.


The American Annual of Photography

New York. Published 1908-1953.

A very gothic masthead for the American Annual of Photography, published for nearly half a century beginning in 1908.
A very gothic masthead for the American Annual of Photography, published for nearly half a century beginning in 1908.

Read it here.


The American Journal of Photography

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Published 1879-1900.

The American Journal of Photography, published from 1879-1900 in Philadelphia.
The American Journal of Photography, published from 1879-1900 in Philadelphia.

Read it here.


American Photography

New York. Published by American Photographic Publishing Co.
Official publication of the Camera Club of New York, 1900-Apr. 1912; of the Photo Pictorialists of Buffalo, 1909-Dec. 1914; of the Boston Photo-Clan, Dec. 1911-Dec. 1914.

Masthead of American Photography, circa 1907.
Masthead of American Photography, circa 1907.

Read it here or

Watch a video where I thumb through an entire 1914 issue


The Camera

London, England. Published 1886-1891.

The Camera: A Monthly Magazine for those who Practise (sic) Photography. Edited by T.C. Hepworth. Circa June 1, 1886.
The Camera: A Monthly Magazine for those who Practise (sic) Photography. Edited by T.C. Hepworth. Circa June 1, 1886.

Read it here


Camera Craft

San Francisco, California. Published 1900-1942.

Front cover of Camera Craft magazine, circa 1905.
Front cover of Camera Craft magazine, circa 1905.

Read it here


Camera Notes

New York. Published 1897-1903.

Camera Notes: The Official Organ of the Camera Club of New York. This publication was often edited by photographer Alfred Stieglitz and was one of the most significant American photography journals of its era.

Read it here.


Down-Town Topics

New York. Published 1902-1913.

Down-Town Topics, published by the Obrig Camera Co. from 1902 - 1913.
Down-Town Topics, published by the Obrig Camera Co. from 1902 – 1913.

Read it here.


The Liverpool and Manchester Photographic Journal

Liverpool, England. Published 1957-1859.

Nameplate for the Liverpool and Manchester Photographic Journal, a precursor to the British Journal of Photography, which is still in publication today.
Nameplate for the Liverpool and Manchester Photographic Journal, a precursor to the British Journal of Photography, which is still in publication today.

Read it here


Paine’s Photographic Magazine

Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Published 1899-1901.

Paine's Photographic Magazine: A Monthly Journal, Devoted to the Interests of Amateur Photographers. Published in Milwaukee from 1899-1901.
Paine’s Photographic Magazine: A Monthly Journal, Devoted to the Interests of Amateur Photographers. Published in Milwaukee from 1899-1901.

Read it here


The Philadelphia Photographer

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Published 1864-1888.

Masthead for The Philadelphia Photographer January, 1870 issue.
Masthead for The Philadelphia Photographer January, 1870 issue.

Read it here.


The Photo-Beacon

Chicago, Illinois. Published 1901-1906.

Masthead for The Photo-Beacon, published in Chicago.
Masthead for The Photo-Beacon, published in Chicago.

Read it here.


The Photographic Journal of America

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Published 1864-1923.

The Photographic Journal of America January, 1916 name plate.
The Photographic Journal of America January, 1916 name plate.

Read it here.


The Photographic Monthly

London, England. Published 1906-1908.

Printed cover for the Photographic Monthly, May 1906 issue.
Printed cover for the Photographic Monthly, May 1906 issue.

Read it here.


The Photo-Miniature: A Magazine of Photographic Information

New York. Published 1899-1920.

April 1899 masthead for The Photo-Miniature: A Magazine of Photographic Information.
April 1899 masthead for The Photo-Miniature: A Magazine of Photographic Information.

Read it here.


Wilson’s Photographic Magazine

New York. Published 1889-1914.

Masthead for Wilson's Photographic Magazine, January 1891 issue.
Masthead for Wilson’s Photographic Magazine, January 1891 issue.

Read it here.


The Photographic Times and American Photographer

New York. Published 1871-1888.

The Photographic Times and American Photographer, circa 1888.
The Photographic Times and American Photographer, circa 1888.

Read it here.


Western Camera Notes

Minneapolis, Minnesota. Published 1899-1907.

Masthead for Western Camera Notes, a monthly magazine of pictorial photography. January 1901 issue.
Masthead for Western Camera Notes, a monthly magazine of pictorial photography. January 1901 issue.

Read it here.


Thanks for reading.

Be sure to visit me on FacebookInstagram or Pinterest, or on my website at keithdotson.com.

~ Keith

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