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Frequency |
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Publisher | Louis Schäfer publishing company |
Founded | 1854 |
First issue | 10 December 1854 |
Final issue | 1933 |
Country | German Empire |
Based in | Berlin |
Language | German |
Der Bazar was a fashion magazine which was published in Berlin, German Empire, in the period 1854–1933. Its subtitle was first Technische Muster-Zeitung für Frauen.[1] Then it was changed to Illustrirte Damen-Zeitung (Illustrated Women's Magazine) from 1 January 1857.[1] It is one of the earliest examples of a multilingual magazine.
Der Bazar was launched on 10 December 1854 as a biweekly magazine[1] and was based in Berlin.[2] Its publisher was owned by Louis Schäfer.[1][3] However, it was Antonie von Cosmar who suggested establishing Der Bazar.[1] She was a playwright and novelist.[1] From 1857 the magazine was redesigned, and its subtitle was modified, and the frequency was switched to weekly.[1] Der Bazar folded in 1933.[4]
The magazine covered fashion-related news and illustrations, as well as suggestions to retailers on methods of selling clothes to women.[5] Der Bazar featured illustrations of ballroom outfits as clothing advice to its readers in its first January issue every year.[5] The magazine also published articles on cosmopolitan lifestyles, home life and aesthetics.[3]
Der Bazar enjoyed international readership and had editions in other languages.[3] By 1863, in addition to 105,000 copies in German annually, it sold 50,000 copies in English, 32,000 in French and 15,000 in Spanish.[1][3] The magazine also published editions in Dutch, Russian, Italian, Hungarian and Czech, and claimed to be the most widespread journal in the world with a circulation of over half a million.[1] By 1891 it was the best-selling women’s fashion and home magazine in Germany, targeting primarily middle to upper class women.[2]
Der Bazar had many spin-offs and inspired many women's magazines.[4] A notable example was the American fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar, which employed some of the content of Der Bazar following its foundation in 1867.[1][3][6] Another magazine inspired from Der Bazar which republished its fashion content was Magyar Bazár, a Hungarian fashion magazine based in Budapest.[7] The Dutch edition of Der Bazar was De Gracieuse which was published in Leiden between 1862 and 1936.[4]