The Sphere (newspaper)
Encyclopedia
The Sphere was a British newspaper
, published weekly from 27 January 1900 until the closure of the paper on 27 June 1964; the first issue came out at the height of the Boer War
and was no doubt a product of that conflict and the public appetite for images. At the time, it was in direct competition with The Graphic
and Illustrated London News
, and evidence of this rivalry can be seen in the latter's publication shortly after of a new illustrated paper entitled The Spear in an attempt to confuse readers. During World War I
, the weekly issues were called 'war numbers' and over two hundred appeared between 1914 and 1919. In all, it totalled 3,343 issues, plus a special supplement issued in December 1964, entitled Winston Churchill: A Memorial Tribute
The Sphere was founded by Clement Shorter
(1857–1926), who also founded Tatler
in the following year. It covered general news stories from the UK and around the world; much of the overseas news features were reported in detail as the title was targeted at British citizens living in the colonies. It was similar to the Illustrated London News
, another paper containing many graphic illustrations. Those featured in The Sphere were by renowned artists including W. G. Whitaker and Montague Dawson
. Other illustrators included Sidney Paget
, Henry Matthew Brock, Fortunino Matania
, Ernest Prater
and Claude Grahame Muncaster (1903–1974); photographers included Christina Broom
(1862–1939); and writers included Bryher
, Eleanour Sinclair Rohde
, and Michael Wolff
.
Thomas Hardy
's short story A Changed Man was first published in The Sphere, in two instalments in the 21 and 28 April 1900 editions. During World War I
the newspaper was bought by the shipping magnate John Ellerman
. The Sphere was very popular during World War II
.
The British Library
holds copies of the entire publication run of this newspaper.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, published weekly from 27 January 1900 until the closure of the paper on 27 June 1964; the first issue came out at the height of the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
and was no doubt a product of that conflict and the public appetite for images. At the time, it was in direct competition with The Graphic
The Graphic
The Graphic was a British weekly illustrated newspaper, first published on 4 December 1869 by William Luson Thomas's company Illustrated Newspapers Limited....
and Illustrated London News
Illustrated London News
The Illustrated London News was the world's first illustrated weekly newspaper; the first issue appeared on Saturday 14 May 1842. It was published weekly until 1971 and then increasingly less frequently until publication ceased in 2003.-History:...
, and evidence of this rivalry can be seen in the latter's publication shortly after of a new illustrated paper entitled The Spear in an attempt to confuse readers. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the weekly issues were called 'war numbers' and over two hundred appeared between 1914 and 1919. In all, it totalled 3,343 issues, plus a special supplement issued in December 1964, entitled Winston Churchill: A Memorial Tribute
The Sphere was founded by Clement Shorter
Clement King Shorter
Clement King Shorter was a British journalist and literary critic.-Biography:Clement Shorter was born in London, the youngest of three boys. The son of Richard and Elizabeth Shorter, young Clement attended school from 1863 to 1871 in Downham Market, Norfolk...
(1857–1926), who also founded Tatler
Tatler
Tatler has been the name of several British journals and magazines, each of which has viewed itself as the successor of the original literary and society journal founded by Richard Steele in 1709. The current incarnation, founded in 1901, is a glossy magazine published by Condé Nast Publications...
in the following year. It covered general news stories from the UK and around the world; much of the overseas news features were reported in detail as the title was targeted at British citizens living in the colonies. It was similar to the Illustrated London News
Illustrated London News
The Illustrated London News was the world's first illustrated weekly newspaper; the first issue appeared on Saturday 14 May 1842. It was published weekly until 1971 and then increasingly less frequently until publication ceased in 2003.-History:...
, another paper containing many graphic illustrations. Those featured in The Sphere were by renowned artists including W. G. Whitaker and Montague Dawson
Montague Dawson
Montague Dawson RMSA, FRSA was a British painter who was renowned as a maritime artist. His most famous paintings depict sailing ships, usually clippers or warships of the 18th and 19th centuries....
. Other illustrators included Sidney Paget
Sidney Paget
Sidney Edward Paget was a British illustrator of the Victorian era, best known for his illustrations that accompanied Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories in The Strand magazine.- Life :...
, Henry Matthew Brock, Fortunino Matania
Fortunino Matania
Chevalier Fortunino Matania was an Italian artist noted for his realistic portrayal of historical subjects, including nude women.-Life:...
, Ernest Prater
Ernest Prater
Ernest Prater was a noted English artist and book illustrator, notable also for his work as a war correspondent and reportage artist during the Anglo-Boer War.-Life and works:...
and Claude Grahame Muncaster (1903–1974); photographers included Christina Broom
Christina Broom
Christina Broom was a British photographer, credited as "the UK's first female press photographer".-History:Born at 8 King's Road, Chelsea, London, the then-Christina Livingston married Albert Edward Broom in 1889...
(1862–1939); and writers included Bryher
Bryher
Bryher was the pen name of the novelist, poet, memoirist, and magazine editor Annie Winifred Ellerman. She was born in September 1894 in Margate. Her father was the shipowner and financier John Ellerman, who at the time of his death in 1933, was the richest Englishman who had ever lived...
, Eleanour Sinclair Rohde
Eleanour Sinclair Rohde
Eleanour Sophy Sinclair Rohde was a British gardener, garden historian, and horticultural writer. For much of her life she lived at Cranham Lodge, Reigate. She collected unusual herb and vegetable varieties, and also worked as a garden designer. One of her best known designs was the herb garden...
, and Michael Wolff
Michael Wolff (journalist)
Michael Wolff is an American author, essayist, and journalist. He currently writes a regular column for Vanity Fair magazine. He is well known for his acerbic, combative, and humorous style...
.
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy, OM was an English novelist and poet. While his works typically belong to the Naturalism movement, several poems display elements of the previous Romantic and Enlightenment periods of literature, such as his fascination with the supernatural.While he regarded himself primarily as a...
's short story A Changed Man was first published in The Sphere, in two instalments in the 21 and 28 April 1900 editions. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the newspaper was bought by the shipping magnate John Ellerman
John Ellerman
Sir John Reeves Ellerman, 1st Baronet, CH was an English shipowner and investor. He was one of the most successful entrepreneurs in modern British history, and the only Briton of his generation whose wealth rivalled the leading plutocrats of America's gilded age...
. The Sphere was very popular during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
holds copies of the entire publication run of this newspaper.