Rebus Magazine (1881-1917): Book Studies Aspects

The purpose of the article was to present and analyze the history of the emergence and development of the Russian magazine Rebus from a Book Studies standpoint. The Magazine was published successively in St. Petersburg and Moscow from 1881 to 1917. It combined entertainment content (solving charades and rebuses) with a discussion of issues related to something inexplicable and mysterious (spiritualism, mediumship, clairvoyance, etc.). This study describes the fate of the magazine from the moment of its inception until its closure; the personalities of the editors; the features of the editorial policy, and the structure of the publication. The historiography of the most significant publications on the topic of the study was given. The publication will be of interest to Book Studies specialists and historians as well as to all those interested in the fate of Russian journalism in the pre-revolutionary period. The novelty of the study refers to introducing Book Studies discussion about phenomenon of the emergence and development of this very remarkable publication, which was the magazine Rebus.