My Dad was one of the original editors of Epoch, so I have a lot of copies from over the years. Looking at the 1980s covers- several are abstract, a couple black and white nature covers, and a collage type artwork. After that it seems most covers are various artworks presented in the same format/layout as the 2024 example. Single copy prices rose from $1.00 in 1963 to 7 to 10 dollars for recent copies PDF online. They stopped printing the price on the cover recently. I don't know what any of that means, but it's still very hard to get accepted in Epoch!
Speculative lit mag (sci-fi/fantasy/horror/other genres) have really interesting covers. They tend to get left out of conversations. Really, it's worth spending some time checking out the artwork selections and how they shape reader expectations.
I'm sure someone out there can speak to the way covers were a key part of selling pulp novels and such back in the day.
I love this topic, and am very curious to know your thoughts on the cover art for the North American Review! Next year will be the 40th anniversary of Gary Kelley's first cover in 1986, and he's done every one in row from at least 2019. He has such a recognizable style that I just love. (You've probably seen his mural of famous authors in every Barnes & Noble.) My personal favorite cover was Fall 2021's called Women of Words, to mark that historic issue being created (for the first time since 1815) by a team of all-women editors, of which I was one. I own the original art, and it is extremely special to me! Gary has been an art hero to me my whole life, and he even judged an art scholarship competition I won as a senior in high school, so working with him now as a colleague means the world to me.
Thank you for this fun overview. I immediately thought of the Sewanee Review (the oldest continually published lit mag in North America), which had a plain blue cover (no graphics) until Adam Ross became editor several years ago. The changes to the cover evoked strong reactions, both positive and negative. As for online design, I definitely consider it before I submit work. Often it's a matter of ease of access: I don't care for mags where you have to download the entire issue in order to read it, for instance.
Just as a fun note — I love that several journals make the claim of oldest / oldest continuous published literature mag — I believe Poet Lore and North American Review (NAR) are contenders
Poet Lore (1889) is definitely the oldest devoted solely to poetry, and it is a semiannual. I should have said that SR is the oldest continually published *quarterly*. NAR dates to 1815 but was on hiatus from 1940-64, I believe.
I love those careful distinctions— when I was in college I was a member of “the oldest continuous literary magazine in North America” (Philomathean Society at Penn), which is where I met my spouse.
I love this look at lit mag cover evolution! Reminds me of helping shape Scrivener’s look in college, and how fun it was to choose art from the photo submissions and collaborate with editors on design. I do judge lit mags by the cover—if I don’t know a lit mag and find it ugly, I move on. On the other hand, a striking cover for Brazenhead Review caught my eye at AWP and I bought it & signed up for the newsletter.
Great topic! I’m fascinated by lit mag covers and what they suggest about the contents. The SUN has consistently great covers, but others try way too hard to be edgy or shocking. I would personally not want to be published in Paris Lit Up or Broken Antler, for example, or read anything they publish. Those covers send me away rather than draw me in.
I have a lyric essay in that "Porta Potties" issue of NDQ. Ha! I was worried the porta-potty cover might detract readers. But it's definitely notable and (perhaps) memorable.
I'm a little biased as the poetry editor but I really love how Carolina Muse handles covers- https://www.carolina-muse.com/archive. Our EIC + graphic designer combine 2+ art pieces from the issue to make a hybrid piece that reflects the themes of the issue.
What a wonderful post! Thank you for gifting us with so many & such varied images of lit mag covers! I strive particularly for online publications in order to keep my work available, and I DO pay special attention to website design, navigability, and the online accessibility of older issues. I envy your collection of back issues of the printed kind, Becky! Thank you for sharing!
The Sun is highly memorable. But it's hard to say if that would be the case if it was not already popular and wildly successful (in our niche world that is).
My Dad was one of the original editors of Epoch, so I have a lot of copies from over the years. Looking at the 1980s covers- several are abstract, a couple black and white nature covers, and a collage type artwork. After that it seems most covers are various artworks presented in the same format/layout as the 2024 example. Single copy prices rose from $1.00 in 1963 to 7 to 10 dollars for recent copies PDF online. They stopped printing the price on the cover recently. I don't know what any of that means, but it's still very hard to get accepted in Epoch!
Speculative lit mag (sci-fi/fantasy/horror/other genres) have really interesting covers. They tend to get left out of conversations. Really, it's worth spending some time checking out the artwork selections and how they shape reader expectations.
I'm sure someone out there can speak to the way covers were a key part of selling pulp novels and such back in the day.
Mark, have you seen the covers to Bourbon Penn? https://www.bourbonpenn.com/
I had not but these a great! Pretty sure I've seen work by some of these artists in Juxtapoz
https://www.juxtapoz.com/
These are great!
I love this topic, and am very curious to know your thoughts on the cover art for the North American Review! Next year will be the 40th anniversary of Gary Kelley's first cover in 1986, and he's done every one in row from at least 2019. He has such a recognizable style that I just love. (You've probably seen his mural of famous authors in every Barnes & Noble.) My personal favorite cover was Fall 2021's called Women of Words, to mark that historic issue being created (for the first time since 1815) by a team of all-women editors, of which I was one. I own the original art, and it is extremely special to me! Gary has been an art hero to me my whole life, and he even judged an art scholarship competition I won as a senior in high school, so working with him now as a colleague means the world to me.
Here's a link to our store to see a bunch of cover examples!
https://uni.estore.flywire.com/back-issues-summer-2019-to-present
Thanks for this! Those are beautiful!
Nice!
Thank you for this fun overview. I immediately thought of the Sewanee Review (the oldest continually published lit mag in North America), which had a plain blue cover (no graphics) until Adam Ross became editor several years ago. The changes to the cover evoked strong reactions, both positive and negative. As for online design, I definitely consider it before I submit work. Often it's a matter of ease of access: I don't care for mags where you have to download the entire issue in order to read it, for instance.
Definitely agree about ease of access (and simplicity of design), and especially a direct URL to each piece for online publications.
Just as a fun note — I love that several journals make the claim of oldest / oldest continuous published literature mag — I believe Poet Lore and North American Review (NAR) are contenders
Poet Lore (1889) is definitely the oldest devoted solely to poetry, and it is a semiannual. I should have said that SR is the oldest continually published *quarterly*. NAR dates to 1815 but was on hiatus from 1940-64, I believe.
Seems you've done your homework :)
I love those careful distinctions— when I was in college I was a member of “the oldest continuous literary magazine in North America” (Philomathean Society at Penn), which is where I met my spouse.
I love this look at lit mag cover evolution! Reminds me of helping shape Scrivener’s look in college, and how fun it was to choose art from the photo submissions and collaborate with editors on design. I do judge lit mags by the cover—if I don’t know a lit mag and find it ugly, I move on. On the other hand, a striking cover for Brazenhead Review caught my eye at AWP and I bought it & signed up for the newsletter.
Becky—great topic, article, and examples. This was a fun read and I love that you did a history dive on a number of mags. Well done you!
Great topic! I’m fascinated by lit mag covers and what they suggest about the contents. The SUN has consistently great covers, but others try way too hard to be edgy or shocking. I would personally not want to be published in Paris Lit Up or Broken Antler, for example, or read anything they publish. Those covers send me away rather than draw me in.
A dynamite post. Interesting exploration of lit mag covers.
I have a lyric essay in that "Porta Potties" issue of NDQ. Ha! I was worried the porta-potty cover might detract readers. But it's definitely notable and (perhaps) memorable.
Jeez, Becky! You work hard. Great stuff.
I'm a little biased as the poetry editor but I really love how Carolina Muse handles covers- https://www.carolina-muse.com/archive. Our EIC + graphic designer combine 2+ art pieces from the issue to make a hybrid piece that reflects the themes of the issue.
What a wonderful post! Thank you for gifting us with so many & such varied images of lit mag covers! I strive particularly for online publications in order to keep my work available, and I DO pay special attention to website design, navigability, and the online accessibility of older issues. I envy your collection of back issues of the printed kind, Becky! Thank you for sharing!
I’ll jump in with the cover of Cleaver Issue 49! https://www.cleavermagazine.com/issue-49-spring-2025/
I pay more attention to the lit mag website, and how easy (or not) it is to navigate.
If I can't find your submission link within 2 clicks, I move on.
Likewise, if a lit mags website looks like Geocities is calling and wants its 1998 website back, I move on.
Having said that, thanks for listing your favorite because I've now found some new (to me) places to possibly submit to. Yay!
door = jar
(door is a jar)
The Sun is highly memorable. But it's hard to say if that would be the case if it was not already popular and wildly successful (in our niche world that is).
I love The Sun— terrific magazine.