What Was YOUR First Issue Of Ripperologist?

[Tom_Wescott]

To celebrate the 100th issue of Ripperologist magazine, I thought it might be fun to create a thread for everyone to post about their first encounter with the mag.

I'll start, since it was my idea -

My first issue happened to be the very first issue edited by Paul Begg. I think it was 23? It had 'The Lodger' on the cover. How I came about the issue seems rather odd today. I had subscribed to Stephen Wright's 'Whitechapel Journal' (no relation to the WSJ of today) because it was the cheapest and I was broke. I soon found out why it was the cheapest - 10 pages of ramblings stapled together does not a Ripper mag make. So, I was hesitant to pay the higher prices for the magazines. I started e-mailing with Chris George, then editor of Ripper Notes. In a generous gesture I still haven't forgotten, Chris sent me an issue of his magazine for free. To my surprise, he also included the above mentioned issue of Ripperologist - HIS COMPETITOR! - totally for free.

Needless to say, I was blown away by both magazines and subscribed immediately. Today I own every issue of Ripperologist, including the pilot newsletter. My collection of Ripper Notes still has a couple of holes in it, in case anyone out there knows how I might fill them.

Anyway, that's my 'How I Met Rip' story in a nutshell. Who's next?

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Supe]

Tom,

Well, I'm rather embarrassed all round now, but my first Ripperologist was a bootleg copy of issue 63 that you sent me. Who knew at the time, eh? Anyway, I hope the statute of limitations has expired. I especially wanted it because Howard Brown had said his next weekly trivia quiz was going to be based on an article in there.

Unfortunately, you were still commuting from work when at quiz time, as you would have been a formidable opponent--unless I grabbed you as my teammate since my success was always picking a good partner. Usually Ben Holme (we were undefeated) but I also won with Ally, Mellisa Gorman and Belinda Pearce. Fun days.

Anyway, interesting that you provided my first copy.

Don.

[Magpie]

I'm sad to say that my first copy of Ripperologist was the one prior to the one that I first appeared in, and Christopher was kind enough to send it to me as a style guide.

[Ben]

Fun days they were, Don!

Pity they fizzled out, as I fondly recall how "Supe and Roebs" kicked butt every Tuesday night.

All the best,
Ben

[Monty]

I cant remember mine.

I do remember it came in a fancy brown envelope.

I have it somewhere.

Monty

[Tom_Wescott]

Tom,

Well, I'm rather embarrassed all round now, but my first Ripperologist was a bootleg copy of issue 63 that you sent me. Who knew at the time, eh?

That's not too terribly weird. In spite of the hard time Eduardo and Chris G like to give me these days, I've sent them a ton of subscribers over the years. And apparently one editor. Ha ha. Good thing I didn't send you a copy of Cosmopolitan. I'd hate to imagine the impact you'd have on the fashion world as editor of THAT mag!

Say, for issue 1001, you guys should make a page-full montage of all 100 covers. Or maybe do an updated index of all the articles to appear in the first 100 issues. That would be very handy.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Robert]

My first was 42, with Alf Hitchcock on the front.

Tom, there are very few of us who will be around for issue 1001. Maybe Mrs Shelden and one or two others.

As for fashion, if I'm still around I'll still be wearing my anorak.

[Tom_Wescott]

Robert, your dry humor cracks me up. Ha ha. Of course, I meant issue 101. If we can get the editors to 'pick it up' and start putting out DAILY issues, we'd be at issue 1001 in no time!

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[ChrisGeorge]

My first issue happened to be the very first issue edited by Paul Begg. I think it was 23? It had 'The Lodger' on the cover. How I came about the issue seems rather odd today. I had subscribed to Stephen Wright's 'Whitechapel Journal' (no relation to the WSJ of today) because it was the cheapest and I was broke. I soon found out why it was the cheapest - 10 pages of ramblings stapled together does not a Ripper mag make. So, I was hesitant to pay the higher prices for the magazines. I started e-mailing with Chris George, then editor of Ripper Notes. In a generous gesture I still haven't forgotten, Chris sent me an issue of his magazine for free. To my surprise, he also included the above mentioned issue of Ripperologist - HIS COMPETITOR! - totally for free.

Hi Tom

Thanks for remembering that, Tom. The way the act of largesse came about is the following. While yes you are right, Ripperologist was technically the rival of Ripper Notes, RN was at that time published by Casebook Productions, Inc., who also sponsored the first U.S. convention at Park Ridge, New Jersey, in April 2000. Our guest of honor for the convention was Paul Begg, and he kindly brought over for the conventioneers sample copies of the issue of Ripperologist that you mentioned. Since I had a few of these issues left over after the conference, I thought to send you a copy along with the copy of RN. I am pleased that you were soon hooked.

I believe the first issue of the Rip that I received was Ripperologist No. 18, August 1998, when Paul Daniel was still editor. I was immediately struck by the quality and extent of the information in the magazine, as well as the fine illustrative matter. I ordered all of the back issues back to the first 1994 issue and began writing articles for the magazine, the first being "The Cardinal and the Ripper Suspect" about Dr. Francis Tumblety and Baltimore's Cardinal James Gibbons, who received $10,000 under Tumblety's 1903 St. Louis will--although the suspect had signed an earlier will giving $1,000 to Cardinal Gibbons and, intriguingly, $1,000 to the Home for Fallen Women on the city's North Exeter Street. "The Cardinal and the Ripper Suspect" was published in Ripperologist No. 21, February 1999.

All the best

Chris