''Murzilka'' () is a popular Soviet/Russian illustrated

magazine A magazine is a periodical literature, periodical publication, print or digital, produced on a regular schedule, that contains any of a variety of subject-oriented textual and visual content (media), content forms. Magazines are generally fin ...

for 7-13 year old children. It has been published since May 1924.

History and profile

At the end of the 19th century, the Canadian illustrator and writer

Palmer Cox Palmer Cox (April 28, 1840 – July 24, 1924) was a Canadian illustrator and author, best known for '' The Brownies'', his series of humorous verse books and comic strips about the mischievous but kindhearted fairy-like sprites. The cartoons we ...

created a cycle of poems about little people from Scottish folklore known as brownies. Later the Russian author

Anna Hvolson Anna may refer to: People Surname and given name * Anna (name) Mononym * Anna the Prophetess, in the Gospel of Luke * Anna of East Anglia, King (died c.654) * Anna (wife of Artabasdos) (fl. 715–773) * Anna (daughter of Boris I) (9th–10th ce ...

started writing stories based on his drawings about little forest men. She called the main character, who wore a

white tie White tie, also called full evening dress or a dress suit, is the most formal evening Western dress code. For men, it consists of a black tail coat (alternatively referred to as a dress coat, usually by tailors) worn over a white dress shir ...

, had a

walking stick A walking stick (also known as a walking cane, cane, walking staff, or staff) is a device used primarily to aid walking, provide postural stability or support, or assist in maintaining a good posture. Some designs also serve as a fashion acces ...

and a

monocle A monocle is a type of corrective lens used to correct or enhance the visual perception in only one eye. It consists of a circular lens placed in front of the eye and held in place by the eye socket itself. Often, to avoid losing the monoc ...

, "Murzilka". The first issue of the magazine came out on 16 May 1924. There ''Murzilka'' was a small white dog and appeared with his owner Petya. The magazine is still published on a monthly basis. In 1937, the illustrator

Aminadav Kanevsky Aminadav () is a moshav in central Israel. Located southwest of Jerusalem near Yad Kennedy, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . Etymology The name "Aminadav" is a combination of two Hebre ...

created the new design of Murzilka – now a yellow furry character in a red

beret A beret ( , ; ; ; ) is a soft, round, flat-crowned cap made of hand-knitted wool, crocheted cotton, wool felt, or acrylic fibre. Mass production of berets began in the 19th century in Southern France and the north of History of Spain (1808 ...

with a

scarf A scarf (: scarves or scarfs) is a long piece of fabric that is worn on or around the neck, shoulders, or head. A scarf is used for warmth, sun protection, cleanliness, fashion, religious reasons, or to show support for a sports club or team. ...

and a

camera A camera is an instrument used to capture and store images and videos, either digitally via an electronic image sensor, or chemically via a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. As a pivotal technology in the fields of photograp ...

over his shoulder. Several famous writers have published their work there (

Korney Chukovsky Korney Ivanovich Chukovsky ( rus, Корне́й Ива́нович Чуко́вский, p=kɐrˈnʲej ɪˈvanəvʲɪtɕ tɕʊˈkofskʲɪj, a=Kornyey Ivanovich Chukovskiy.ru.vorb.oga; 31 March NS 1882 – 28 October 1969) was one of the most p ...

, M. M. Prishvin, V. V. Lebedev). ''Murzilka'' started the creative careers of writers such as

Samuil Marshak Samuil Yakovlevich Marshak (alternative spelling: Marchak) (; 4 July 1964) was a Soviet writer of Belarusian Jewish origin, translator and poet who wrote for both children and adults. He translated the sonnets and some other of the works of Willi ...

Sergey Mikhalkov Sergey Vladimirovich Mikhalkov (; 27 August 2009) was a Soviet and Russian author of children's books and satirical fables. He wrote the lyrics for the State Anthem of the Soviet Union, Soviet and National anthem of Russia, Russian national anthe ...

Elena Blaginina Elena may refer to: People * Elena (given name), including a list of people and characters with this name * Raymond Elena (1931-2024), French former professional racing cyclist. * Joan Ignasi Elena (born 1968), Catalan politician * Francine Ele ...

, Boris Zahoder,

Agniya Barto Agniya Lvovna Barto ( rus, А́гния Льво́вна Барто́, p=ˈaɡnʲɪjə ˈlʲvovnə bɐrˈto, a=Agniya L'vovna Barto.ru.vorb.oga; – 1 April 1981) was a Russian Soviet poet and children's writer of Belarusian Jewish origin. Ear ...

Nikolay Nosov Nikolay Nikolayevich Nosov (, ; – 26 July 1976) was a Soviet writer of children's literature Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. In addition to con ...

Marina Uspenskaya Marina Yevgenyevna Uspenskaya (; June 18, 1925 – 2007) was a prominent Russian children's book illustrator and graphics painter. Biography Marina Uspenskaya was born in Moscow in 1925. She graduated from the 1905 Art College, where she studi ...

, and of artist and writer

Georgy Kovenchuk Gaga (Georgy Vasilyevich) Kovenchuk (; 2 December 1933 — 3 February 2015) was a Soviet-Russian artist and writer. Gaga was an artist, painter, graphic artist, book artist and poster artist, printmaker (etching, aquatint, lithography, linocut, w ...

. In 1974, the magazine was awarded the

Order of the Badge of Honour The Order of the Badge of Honour () was a civilian award of the Soviet Union. It was established on 25 November 1935, and was conferred on citizens of the USSR for outstanding achievements in sports, production, scientific research and socia ...

. The circulation of the magazine in 1974 was 5.6 mln copies. In 1982, the magazine's circulation was 6 million per month, the price of one magazine was 15 kopecks. In 2011, the magazine was listed by the

Guinness World Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a British reference book published annually, list ...

as the longest running children's magazine in the world.

References

External links

Official website

Old official website

Archive 1924-1991
{{in lang, ru 1924 establishments in the Soviet Union Magazines established in 1924 Magazines published in Moscow Children's magazines published in Russia Comics magazines published in Russia Monthly magazines published in Russia Russian-language magazines Magazines published in the Soviet Union