''Knowledge'' was a British weekly educational magazine for children which was assembled in blue binders into an encyclopedia.

History and profile

The magazine was launched by Purnell and Sons on 9 January 1961, as "Knowledge: the new colour magazine which grows into an encyclopædia" (subsequently "the colour magazine which grows into an encyclopædia") at a price of two shillings per issue (the pre-decimal equivalent of 10p; a later re-issued run was priced as 2/6 or 12½p). Sixteen volumes of twelve issues each were initially planned, but two additional volumes brought the total to eighteen. There was also a four-volume alphabetical topic guide in slightly smaller yellow binders, also assembled from parts inserted into the main magazine. The majority of the covers of the first 192 issues (volumes 1-16) were the work of illustrator Alessandro Fedini, but the covers of the additional issues 193-216 (volumes 17 and 18) depicted twentieth-century events and news headlines. ''Knowledge'' was a British version of the Italian magazine ''Conoscere'' published by Fratelli Fabbri Editori of Milan. The concept of a British edition had first been pitched to Fleetway Publications Ltd who turned it down, fearing it would damage sales of their own '' The Children's Encyclopædia'' and '' The Children's Newspaper''. Following the success of ''Knowledge'', Fleetway brought out '' Look and Learn'' in 1962. ''Knowledge'' sold 400,000 copies and was edited by John Paget Chancellor (1927–2014), son of Sir Christopher Chancellor, father of actress Anna Chancellor and financial historian

Edward Chancellor John "Edward" Horner Chancellor (born December 1962), is a British financial historian, finance journalist, and former investment strategist. In 2016, the ''Financial Analysts Journal'' called him "one of the great financial writers of our era", a ...

, and brother of journalist Alexander Chancellor. The advisory editorial board of ''Knowledge'' was

Christopher N. L. Brooke Christopher Nugent Lawrence Brooke (23 June 1927 – 27 December 2015) was a British medieval historian. From 1974 to 1994 he was Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of Cambridge. Early life and education Born on 2 ...

M.A.,

Violet Bonham Carter Helen Violet Bonham Carter, Baroness Asquith of Yarnbury, (15 April 1887 – 19 February 1969), known until her marriage as Violet Asquith, was a British politician and diarist. She was the daughter of H. H. Asquith, Prime Minister from 1908 t ...

D.B.E, Norman Fisher M.A., Walter Hamilton M.A., John Sparrow M.A., L. Dudley Stamp C.B.E. D.Sc., and

George Thomson George Thomson may refer to: Government and politics * George Thomson (MP for Southwark) (c. 1607–1691), English merchant and Parliamentarian soldier, official and politician * George Thomson, Baron Thomson of Monifieth (1921–2008), Scottish p ...

F.R.S. D.Sc. In later editions John Chancellor became

editor-in-chief An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies. The highest-ranking editor of a publication may also be titled editor, managing ...

with William Armstrong B.A. as editor and Christopher Falkus B.A. (son of

Hugh Falkus Hugh Falkus (15 May 1917 – 30 March 1996) was a British writer, filmmaker and presenter, World War II pilot and angler. In an extremely varied career, he is perhaps best known for his seminal books on angling, particularly salmon and sea trout ...

) as assistant editor. The magazine ceased publication in 1966. It was also printed and published as a set of 18 hardcover books, ''Knowledge: the new colour encyclopaedia'' (Volumes IXVIII), that came with an index of all 18 volumes in a separate booklet.''Knowledge: the new colour encyclopaedia'', Volumes IXVIII, 19601964, Fratelli Fabbri Editori, Milan, and Purnell & Sons Ltd

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Knowledge encyclopaedia Children's magazines published in the United Kingdom Weekly magazines published in the United Kingdom Defunct magazines published in the United Kingdom Magazines established in 1961 Magazines disestablished in 1966 Education magazines Partworks British encyclopedias Children's encyclopedias