Science's first issue (courtesy of JSTOR)
Cover of Science's first issue
Content from Science's second issue

Science's First Issues

"In presenting to the public the first number of 'Science,' we would briefly define its aim and scope, so that its position in the periodical literature of the country may be clearly understood." So begins the editor's "Salutory" for the first issue of Science, published 3 July 1880 and billed as "a weekly journal of scientific progress."

To celebrate Science's 125th anniversary year, we're making available, free to all registered users of Science Online, a PDF copy of that first issue -- the content of which ranged from the potential of electricity as power for railroads, to the latest observations of the Pleiades, to the early history of the U.S. Naval Observatory. (The cover of that debut issue can be found here.) We've also posted a copy of the second issue, which includes (beginning on page 15) the essay "The Coming of Age of the Origin of Species," by T. H. Huxley.

These features are available to registered users of Science Online. If you're not yet registered, why not sign up now -- registration is free and takes only around a minute. Or consider becoming a member of AAAS, the benefits of which include access to the entire Science Online/Science Classic archive.