Journal des sçavans
The earliest academic journal in Europe, now a leading voice in French humanities.
Last updated
The Journal des sçavans, created by Denis de Sallo, holds the distinction of being the first academic journal in Europe and is also considered the earliest scientific journal. Its initial issue, a twelve-page quarto pamphlet, appeared on Monday, 5 January 1665, just ahead of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. The journal originally covered obituaries of notable figures, church history, scientific discoveries, and legal reports, with natural philosophy included from the start. It stopped publication in 1792 during the French Revolution, briefly returned in 1797 under a new title, but did not resume regular publication until 1816, when the National Imprimery took it over under the Institut de France.
From 1908 to 2020, it was published under the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, and in 2021, the Belgian company Peeters became its publisher. Today, it remains a leading humanities journal focused on European history and premodern literature. Notable articles include Ole Rømer’s 1676 calculation of the speed of light, which showed it was not instantaneous, though his figure was about 26% too slow; François Bernier’s racial theories in 1684; Leibniz’s first explanation of Monadology in 1692; Abraham Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duperron’s 1762 study of Zoroastrianism; and an 1817 article by Jean-Pierre Abel-Rémusat that, through a confident misinterpretation of Japanese sources, gave the Bonin Islands their name. The 18th-century physician and encyclopédiste Louis-Anne La Virotte was introduced to the journal through the protection of chancellor Henri François d'Aguesseau.
Last updated 2026-09-30 from the source article.
Lore & Background
The first issue appeared as a twelve-page quarto pamphlet on Monday, 5 January 1665. This was shortly before the first appearance of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, on 6 March 1665. The 18th-century French physician and encyclopédiste Louis-Anne La Virotte (1725–1759) was introduced to the journal through the protection of chancellor Henri François d'Aguesseau. Its content originally included obituaries of famous men, church history, scientific findings, and legal reports.
Natural philosophy was part of its original scope. It is thought to be the first published scientific journal. The journal ceased publication in 1792, during the French Revolution, and, although it very briefly reappeared in 1797 under the updated title, it did not re-commence regular publication until 1816.
From then on, the journal was published by the National Imprimery under the patronage of the Institut de France. From 1908 to 2020, it was published under the patronage of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres. In 2021, the Belgian company Peeters took over publication. It continues to be a leading academic journal in French humanities scholarship.
Reader's Guide
The journal published Ole Rømer's determination of the speed of light in 1676, which established that light did not propagate instantly. It came to about 26% slower than the actual value. In 1684 the journal published François Bernier's racial theories.
In 1692, Leibniz published his first explication of Monadology in the journal. In 1762 it carried Abraham Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duperron's landmark study of Zoroastrianism. A self-assured misreading of Japanese sources in an 1817 article by Jean-Pierre Abel-Rémusat led to the name of the Bonin Islands to the south of Japan.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Journal des sçavans (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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