THE LEISURE HOUR, London, Sept. 12, 1861 This 12 page issue measures 9 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches and is "A Family Journal Of Instruction And Recreation" with 2 illustrations.
Nice condition.

Background: The September 12, 1861 issue of The Leisure Hour (No. 507) stands as a vital cultural artifact that highlights the shifting media landscape and socio-political anxieties of Victorian Britain. Published under the direction of the Religious Tract Society, this particular weekly issue embodies the publication's core educational mission—acting as a wholesome, family-friendly counterweight to the sensationalized "penny dreadfuls" that dominated working-class reading habits. Its historical significance is profoundly heightened by its timing; hitting British newsstands five months after the outbreak of the American Civil War, the issue serves as a mirror to a nation deeply anxious over the disruption of American cotton supplies and the broader moral implications of the conflict. By blending accessible geography lessons, moral essays, and beautifully hand-carved woodblock engravings, this specific issue captures a moment where the magazine was actively shaping British public empathy and geopolitical understanding, solidifying its legacy as a pioneer in instructional, mass-market journalism.