An Early British Tabloid
The Illustrated Police News was a weekly illustrated newspaper that ran from 1864 until 1938. Sensational reports and illustrations of murders and hangings were featured within the paper’s four pages.
The Police News was inspired by The Illustrated London News, which began in 1842. It was around this time that people realized that newspapers featuring illustrations would reach higher sales.
The paper’s illustrations resembled the popular “penny dreadfuls” of the day and reached its peak of popularity during the Jack the Ripper murders in 1888.
Due to its detailed descriptions and images of violent and disturbing crimes, The Illustrated Police News was banned in Ireland by the Committee on Evil Literature in 1926.
Woodblock Engraving
The process used to print the drawn scenes was called Woodblock Engraving. The method is a relief form of printmaking. It is usually done on the end grain of a block of solid boxwood.
Sharing the Scenes
I find the illustrations to be so interesting and detailed that I thought it would be fun to share some from time to time. Check back often as I will be updating the gallery section periodically.
January 1867
February 1867
March 1867
April 1867
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