Young Folks' Tales
Total Issues: 546
"It was in September 1906 that James Henderson and Sons began publishing
Young Folks Tales, a series very clearly modelled on Aldine's Tales for
Little People, with which it remained in sharpest rivalry to the end.
The title was derived from Henderson's much earlier earlier Our Young
Folk's Weekly Budget (begun 1871), later known as Young Folks. The
editor was Roland Qiz (Richard M. H. Quittenton), author of the old Tim
Pippin stories, now aged 73 and retired; presumably one of the objects
was to provide some congenial and not too strenuous work for the
veteran. At the outset, indeed, Young Folks Tales differed in certain
important points of editorial policy from both Books for the Bairns and
Tales for Little People, but it was soon found necessary to re-adjust
this policy in ways that brought the series much more into line with
Tales for Little People." (Otto Maurer)
At first reprinted long stories from Our Young Folk's Weekly Budget
which had appeared in 1871-75. This policy was abruptly stopped after
two years, having reprinted the whole of Quiz's Tim Pippin/Giantland
tales, described by Otto Maurer as "fairy tale bloods". Other stories
include three "Silverspear" stories by Walter Villiers; S. Holland's
"Dick Daring (Fairydom)" and the sequel "Goldyanna"; Alfred R. Philips;
"Prince Goldenwings"; and F. C. Thomson's "Funnyland". In order to
achieve their boast of "long complete stories" the longer stories which
had to be 'serialised' were re-written so each part had a conclusion of
sorts. The four or so reprinted illustrations were supplemented (from
issue 25 on) by new illustrations (mostly by Gunnis or Ebutt) to bring
the number up to a minimum of 14 per issue. The grotesque early
illustrations were replaced with more pleasant visions and even the text
was rewritten so that previously repulsive-looking giants were no longer
repulsive.
From around issue 61 (December 1907) the stories were mostly originals,
although the "Prince of Giantland" stories ran for another nine numbers,
ending with #77. Half the new stories were written by Roland Quiz
himself in a more whimsical style more popular with the parents of the
audience. Alternate stories were written by May P. Japp. The cover was
replaced in September 1908 (#97) with a design by G. W. Wakefield which
had space for an inset illustration from that issue's story. The design
was the same until issue 510 (April 1920). For 16 issues (#s 97-112),
Young Folks' Tales included colour illustrations, but dropped to 48
pages.
A period of uncertainty began in 1909 with only 7 issues and only 2 in
early 1910. From 1909 the un-named editor was probably May P. Japp, who
continued to write for the magazine until it was taken over by
Amalgamated Press in 1920. The title had stabilised by June 1910, and
the Mabel series by A. E. Bull began in July; by September the series
had dropped to three tales a month, each of 10,000 words.
Contains complete fairy stories of 10,000 words. Around 1910 the 3
monthly stories concerned Mabel, Prince Pippin and a third irregular
yarn. From 1914 a new series of Betty stories started by May Japp and a
third regular series of stories was launched. each story related by
Uncle Reg to his nephew and neice, Dicky and Kitty. During the war, the
pagination was forced down from 48 to 40 (Aug 1916), 32 (Oct 1916), 24
(Oct 1917) and finally 20 pages (Mar 1918). The pagination increased to
32 from June 1919 but dropped again to 24 in March 1920.
The title was taken over by the Amalgamated Press in April 1920 and a
new cover introduced in May-1920 ("very inferior and uninspired red and
blue" according to Maurer).
Issues & Index Sources
#becomes Young Folks' Tales (New Series)
Publishers
James Henderson, Red Lion Square, London E.C.; Amalgamated Press from 508 (Apr 1920)
Editors
Roland Quiz (Richard Quittenton); unknown (probably May P. Japp) from #117 (1909)
Prices
1d; 1½ d from-Apr-1918.
Pagecounts
64+pp; 48+pp from 97 (Sep 1908); reduced during war; 32pp from 478 (Jun 1919)
Frequency
4 per month; 3 per month from 1910
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