Golden hours, ed. by W.M. Whittemore

Golden Hours was a popular Victorian-era periodical for children, edited by the Reverend William Meynell Whittemore and published in London starting in the 1860s. It emerged during a period of significant growth in moral and educational literature aimed at young readers, designed to provide wholesome reading material that aligned with the religious and social values of the time. The publication was characterized by its blend of moral tales, poetry, and serialized stories, often illustrated with intricate wood engravings typical of mid-19th-century publishing.

The design and editorial direction reflected Whittemore’s commitment to evangelical instruction, aiming to engage children through accessible, character-driven narratives while reinforcing domestic and spiritual virtues. While the individual illustrations were often the work of various contemporary artists commissioned by the publisher, the overall aesthetic was cohesive with the era's Victorian gift-book style. It was well-regarded by the target audience of middle-class families, serving as a staple of home libraries and Sunday school prizes for several decades.