The Boy's Own Paper, Vol. III, No. 90

The Boy's Own Paper, Vol. III, No. 90 (October 2, 1880)

This cover illustrates "Adventures of a Boston Boy Amongst Savages," serialized fiction by Elijah Kellogg. The engraved scene depicts a young Western male seated with two indigenous figures in an interior setting, while a third figure stands armed in the background—a composition typical of colonial-era adventure narratives. The Boy's Own Paper, published by the Religious Tract Society from 1879 onward, positioned itself as wholesome alternative to penny dreadfuls, offering illustrated serials combining adventure, empire exploration, school life, natural history, and practical instruction. Its stories frequently featured youthful protagonists encountering distant lands and peoples, framing imperial adventure as both moral enterprise and entertainment for middle-class British and American readers. Priced at one penny, the weekly paper reached a broad juvenile audience seeking excitement within respectable bounds.