ABSTRACT
Serials as a form of communication have a long history, dating back perhaps as far as the ancient Egyptians who inscribed annals on the tombs of honored kings. A form more recognizable to contemporary readers developed in the mid-seventeenth century almost simultaneously in England and in France as a result of efforts by their respective scientific societies to promote scientific discoveries. 1 It would take two more centuries before the first journal devoted strictly to historical scholarship appeared in Germany. From that simple beginning historical journals have proliferated remarkably. Indeed, a look at the 2000 edition of Ulrich’s International Periodical Directory yields an estimated 3500 titles that treat some manner of history. 2
