Murzilka (Russian: Мурзилка) is a popular Soviet, and later Russian, illustrated magazine for children aged 7-13 years old. It has been in continued publication since May 1924.[4]
A 2024 postal stamp dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Murzilka.
At the end of the 19th century, the Canadian illustrator and writer Palmer Cox created a cycle of poems about little people from Scottish folklore known as brownies. Later the Russian author Anna Hvolson started writing stories based on his drawings about little forest men. She called the main character, who wore a white tie, had a walking stick and a monocle, "Murzilka".
The first issue of the magazine came out on 16 May 1924.[1] There Murzilka was a small white dog and appeared with his owner Petya. The magazine is still published on a monthly basis.
In 1937, the illustrator Aminadav Kanevsky created the new design of Murzilka – now a yellow furry character in a red beret with a scarf and a camera over his shoulder.
In 1982, the magazine's circulation was 6 million per month, the price of one magazine was 15 kopecks.[5]
In 2011, the magazine was listed by the Guinness World Records as the longest running children's magazine in the world.[6]
References
12345678Мурзилка // Большая Советская Энциклопедия / под ред. А. М. Прохорова. 3-е изд. Т.17. М., «Советская энциклопедия», 1974. стр.124
123"Мурзилка" // Большой энциклопедический словарь (в 2-х тт.). / редколл., гл. ред. А. М. Прохоров. том 1. М., "Советская энциклопедия", 1991. стр.851
