When Was "Reader's Digest" First Published?

"Reader's Digest" is the most widely circulated magazine in the world. It started as a small, subscription-only publication in 1922. Seven years passed before the magazine appeared on newsstands. From such humble beginnings, the Reader's Digest Association gradually emerged as a global publishing powerhouse.

Founders

William Roy DeWitt Wallace and his wife, Lila, published the first issue of "Reader's Digest" as a collection of condensed articles to help readers keep up with current events.

Time Frame

In 1921, DeWitt established the Reader's Digest Association and began to seek subscribers to help pay for the first issue.

First Issue

The first issue of "Reader's Digest" sold for 25 cents, and 5,000 copies were printed.

Circulation

As of March 2009, "Reader's Digest" had published 50 editions of its magazine in 21 languages. The magazine reached 130 million households in 79 countries.

Other Products

The Reader's Digest Association publishes 92 magazines and sells roughly 68 million books and other media products annually.

Resources

• Reader's Digest