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“Penny press” refers to a type of inexpensive newspaper sold for one cent in the 1800s, providing news coverage for working and lower classes. Today, some small publishers use the term to describe their inexpensive publications, and a penny press can also refer to a machine that stamps designs onto pennies.
The term “penny press” can have several meanings, including the original historical meaning of a specific type of newspaper commonly sold on the streets during the 1800s. All of these meanings revolve around the cent, a small unit of money common to many currencies. Cents are usually among the smallest units of currency, and the term “penny” is sometimes used to imply that something is inexpensive or of low value.
Historically, a penny press was a tabloid published for the price of a single cent. These newspapers began to appear around the 19th century as competitors for slightly more expensive editions. The journal was classically made from cheaper materials, and the staff minimized the use of engraving and other expensive features to keep costs down. Originally, these penny presses were simply meant to attract people who were strapped for cash, but eventually they started filling a specific social niche, thanks to their low cost.
Members of the working and lower classes who could not afford newspapers could afford to buy a penny press, so these newspapers began to cover social issues of interest to these groups, providing news coverage where none previously existed. Many penny presses also covered political issues and included commentary on emerging political and social issues. While these newspapers were cheap and sometimes sensational, they were a valuable source of news for many people who might otherwise have been deprived of information.
Penny presses have largely fallen by the wayside, but some small publishers call themselves penny presses. These publishers produce chapbooks and other small volumes that are often inexpensive and produced in small editions, and it can be difficult to obtain penny press publications outside the area in which it is located. A variety of authors can be carried by a penny press, and the press usually offers mail order services, sometimes selling everything by mail rather than going through distributors.
People may also refer to a penny and printing press as a “penny press.” These machines are designed to produce novelties which are made by putting a penny under immense pressure and stamping it with a design. Favorite tourist spots often have a penny press that people can use to make an inexpensive souvenir, and some people like to collect flattened, stamped pennies from various sites they’ve visited.
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