| Publisher: | Louis Schäfer publishing company |
| Founded: | 1854 |
| Firstdate: | 10 December 1854 |
| Finaldate: | 1933 |
| Country: | German Empire |
| Based: | Berlin |
| Language: | German |
Der Bazar was a fashion magazine which was published in Berlin, German Empire, in the period 1854–1933. Its subtitle was first . Then it was changed to (Illustrated Women's Magazine) from 1 January 1857. It is one of the earliest examples of a multilingual magazine.
Der Bazar was launched on 10 December 1854 as a biweekly magazine and was based in Berlin.[1] Its publisher was owned by Louis Schäfer.[2] However, it was Antonie von Cosmar who suggested establishing Der Bazar. She was a playwright and novelist. From 1857 the magazine was redesigned, and its subtitle was modified, and the frequency was switched to weekly. Der Bazar folded in 1933.
The magazine covered fashion-related news and illustrations, as well as suggestions to retailers on methods of selling clothes to women.[3] Der Bazar featured illustrations of ballroom outfits as clothing advice to its readers in its first January issue every year.[3] The magazine also published articles on cosmopolitan lifestyles, home life and aesthetics.[2]
Der Bazar enjoyed international readership and had editions in other languages.[2] By 1863, in addition to 105,000 copies in German annually, it sold 50,000 copies in English, 32,000 in French and 15,000 in Spanish.[4] [2] The magazine also published editions in Dutch, Russian, Italian, Hungarian and Czech, and claimed to be the most widespread journal in the world with a circulation of over half a million.[4] By 1891 it was the best-selling women’s fashion and home magazine in Germany, targeting primarily middle to upper class women.[1]
Der Bazar had many spin-offs and inspired many women's magazines. A notable example was the American fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar, which employed some of the content of Der Bazar following its foundation in 1867.[4] [2] [5] Another magazine inspired from Der Bazar which republished its fashion content was Magyar Bazár, a Hungarian fashion magazine based in Budapest.[6] The Dutch edition of Der Bazar was which was published in Leiden between 1862 and 1936.[7]