The Girl's Own Paper appeared for the first time 12 months after the successful launch of Boy's Own Paper (B.O.P.). There were differences between the two magazines that went beyond that of the different sexes: in Girl's Own there was less of an emphasis on adventure stories and more on the essential womanly arts.

It proved immensely popular and in time its circulation was even larger than that for B.O.P. It was intended, as it proved to be a 'sensible, interesting and good-humoured companion, counsellor and friend, advocating their best interests, taking part in everything affecting them, giving them the best advice ...'

Health and beauty, fashion tips including steel engravings of the latest trends in clothing and accessories, cookery and needlework, and music scores were among the many pieces provided, in addition to the serialised stories.

Like B.O.P. the volumes of Girl's Own held by the Children's Literature Research Collection have mostly been donated by South Australian families and, like its companion title, show the same signs of frequent use. Many of the volumes are inscribed affectionately by parents.

Drotner, Kirsten. English children and their magazines, 1751-1945, New Haven: Yale University Press, c1988

Forrester, Wendy. Great-grandmama's weekly: a celebration of the Girl's own paper, 1880-1901, Guildford [etc.]: Lutterworth Press, 1980

The Girl's Own Paper Index

A short history of the G.O.P.

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing exhibitions. To be a child August 2004-