Purpose Statement: This site explores health advertisements of The Strand Magazine, specifically in volumes 1, 2, 4, 7 and 9 from 1891-1895. The health advertisements provide insight into the health and beauty trends and concerns of the Victorian era. Secondary scholarly articles contextualize the traditions of Victorian health products and beauty practices, highlighting the history of the products, the marketing techniques, and the sociological effects of the advertisements. Additionally, The British Medical Journal provides historical context, with a special focus on the impact of electric belts during this time. The significance of these advertisements can be seen in their sociological effects during the Victorian era and in the lingering trends seen in health products today.
Brief history of The Strand Magazine:
The Strand Magazine was founded by George Newnes in 1988 and edited by H Greenhough Smith. Its authors include big names like Winston Churchill, Queen Victoria, Conan Doyle, and Rudyard Kipling. The Strand includes detective fiction, scholarly articles, advertisements, short stories, and periodicals. The magazine famously incorporated many visual arts such as cartoons in the short stories and eventually, photography in all different kinds of work. The Strand grew in popularity due to the inclusion of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes short stories. Although the magazine stopped publication in 1950 due to effects of the war, The Strand returned after almost half a century and now includes many modern short story writers.
Health Advertisements in Early Issues of The Strand Magazine 