The Sphere (newspaper)

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The Sphere (full title: The Sphere: An Illustrated Newspaper for the Home) was a British newspaper, published weekly by the Illustrated London News Group from 27 January 1900 until the closure of the paper on 27 June 1964. In all, it totalled 3343 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.^[1] 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 often confused with 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 (1895-1973). Other illustrators included Sidney Paget, Henry Matthew Brock (1875–1960), Fortunino Matania and Claude Grahame Muncaster (1903-1974); photographers included Christina Broom (1862-1939); and writers included Bryher, Eleanour Sinclair Rohde, and Michael Wolff (1930-1976).^[2]

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.^[3] The Sphere was very popular during World War II.

The British Library holds copies of the entire publication run of this newspaper.

[edit] References

^ Caroline Zilboorg, ‘Shorter, Clement King (1857–1926)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, accessed 1 Jan 2008
^ ODNB
^ W. D. Rubinstein, ‘Ellerman, Sir John Reeves, first baronet (1862–1933)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2006, accessed 1 Jan 2008