Editing Henry Mayhew (section)

===''Punch'' magazine===
[[Image:Punch.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Punch (magazine)|Punch magazine]] was co-founded by Mayhew in 1841.]]
On 17 July 1841, Mayhew cofounded [[Punch (magazine)|''Punch ''magazine]]. At its founding, the magazine was jointly edited by Mayhew and Mark Lemon. The two men hired a group of writers and illustrators to aid them. These included Douglas Jerrold, Angus Reach, John Leech, Richard Doyle, and Shirley Brooks. Initially, the magazine was subtitled ''The London Charivari'', referencing the satirical humour magazine published in France under the title ''[[Le Charivari]]'' (a work Mayhew read often whilst in Paris). Reflecting their satirical and humorous intent, the two editors took for their name and masthead the anarchic glove [[puppet]] [[Punch and Judy|Mr. Punch]].

''Punch'' was an unexpected success, selling about 6,000 copies a week in the early years. However, sales of as many as 10,000 issues a week were required to cover all costs of the magazine. In December 1842, the magazine was sold to Bradbury and Evans; Mayhew resigned as joint editor,<ref name = "gxjpjs"/> and he continued at the magazine as "suggestor in chief" with Mark Lemon reappointed as editor. Mayhew eventually severed his connection with the magazine, writing his last article in February 1845. His brother [[Horace Mayhew (journalist)|Horace]] stayed on the board of Punch until his own death.

The ''Punch'' years gave Mayhew the opportunity to meet talented illustrators whom he later employed to work from [[daguerreotypes]] on ''[[London Labour and the London Poor]]''.<ref name = "gxjpjs"/> Following ''Punch'', Mayhew launched ''Iron Times'', a railway magazine. However, this venture lost Mayhew so much money that he was forced to appear in a court of [[bankruptcy]] in 1846.