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London, 3rd November 2025
Exact Editions Launches Expanded Set of Illustrated Periodicals for Digital Subscription
Digital platform Exact Editions has expanded its roster of illustrated archives with the launch of six newly digit-ised titles, now available for both individual and institutional subscriptions. Subscriptions include fully searchable access to each title’s complete archive across web, iOS and Android, with each publication capturing a vivid snapshot of the social, cultural, and political landscape of its time.
The new titles, which join The Illustrated London News, The Illustrated War News, The Graphic & The Sphere are:
- Britannia & Eve (1929-1957): Two legendary titles (Britannia and Eve) were brought together in 1929 and the resulting magazine was notable for its coverage of women in art, sport, literature and lifestyle, also featuring notable women writers.
- The Bystander (1903-1940): A protégé of The Graphic, The Bystander was a weekly satirical magazine designed to look at the ‘lighter side of life’. Each issue was packed with political satire, topical drawings, illustrations, cartoons and short stories, along with reviews of sport, travel, motoring and society news, all carried out with a characteristic, tongue-in-cheek humour.
- The Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News (1874-1970): Catering for an increasing enthusiasm for sport-ing and leisure pursuits by the upper and middle classes, The Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News fo-cussed on pastimes ranging from cricket, tennis, rugby and rowing and equestrian sports to theatre and the arts.
- The Tatler (1901-1965): Advertised as the “lightest, brightest and most interesting Society and Dramatic paper ever published”, The Tatler was a weekly aimed at the British upper classes and regularly featur-ing articles on fashion, the arts, opera, cinema, debutante balls, society events, and the sporting calendar.
- London Life (1965-1966): Swooping onto the scene in the 60s at a time of great cultural and social change, this glossy magazine presented a radical scene of fashion and culture, where key figures of the day appeared in their bohemian splendour, including Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, Marianne Faithful, Marc Bolan, John Lennon and Omar Sharif.
- The Sketch (1893-1959): Created and published by the Illustrated London News, The Sketch embraced British high society and what we know now as the celebrity lifestyle with a focus on fashion, the arts, theatre and everything royal, through sumptuous photography and illustration. The publication was the first to feature short stories by Agatha Christie.
Subscriptions to the illustrated archives are available in the Exact Editions individual shop here
Gary Thorpe from Consolidated Archives Holding Ltd (CAHL) said: “Each of these fascinating periodicals captured a different facet of life; from war reporting and theatre reviews to fashion, satire and society. These new editions available through Exact Editions ensure that the publications’ valuable contents can continue to inform and inspire a new generation.”
Daryl Rayner, Managing Director of Exact Editions, said: “We are proud to have added these diverse and visually striking titles to the collection of archives on the platform, which together form a time capsule spanning over a cen-tury and a half. The search function brings the archives to life and turns them into important tools for scholarly re-search, as well as a treasure trove for amateur historians who can easily delve into a wealth of historical illustrated media.”