Printed prospectus for 'The People's Journal: An Illustrated Periodical for all Classes', with full-page engraved portrait of Richard Cobden by Henry Anelay.

2pp., 8vo, on a single leaf. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. One side of the leaf is headed: 'For Three Half-Pence | Is now issued a Weekly Sheet, of Sixteen Pages, Super-royal Octavo, beautifully printed in Double Columns, entitled | The People's Journal: | An Illustrated Periodical for all Classes, | Edited by John Saunders.' The text in small print, is under the headings 'Plan', 'Objects', 'Means', 'Authors' [in three columns, including Miss Martineau, Miss Mitford, Walter Savage Landor, Ebenezer Elliott, 'J. R. Lowell (of America)', 'J. B. Rogerson (of Manchester)' and Joseph Mazzini], 'Artists' [also in three columns, and including Edwin Landseer, Kenny Meadows, Daniel Maclise]; 'Engraver' [W. J. Linton]. Note on 'Modes of Issue', in even smaller print at the foot of the page, including: 'Part I appeared on the 1st of February, 1846. [...] the plan of the Journal, to make the Volume cheap enough for the Poor Man's Cottage, - beautiful enough for the Drawing Room Table: and equally fitted by its contents for both.' The reverse is headed 'Specimen of the Engravings | of the | People's Journal', and is filled by an engraving of 'Richard Cobden, Esq., by H. Anelay'. This prospectus is scarce, with no copy traced on either OCLC WorldCat or COPAC. According to his entry in the Oxford DNB: 'In 1846 Saunders founded the People's Journal, an illustrated weekly paper; Howitt, along with his wife, Mary, was from the first a regular contributor and soon a joint proprietor. W. J. Linton contributed engravings to the paper, and several series of articles by Harriet Martineau appeared there, including one entitled ‘Household education’, the plan of which was suggested by Saunders. However, following a disagreement, Howitt broke away to found the rival Howitt's Journal in 1847. By the time the two journals were amalgamated in 1849, Saunders had lost his position as editor and was reduced to acting as clerk in a Fulham brewery for several years.'