The Germ periodical struggled with poor sales for several reasons. First, the magazine's content and style did not resonate with the general public, as it was primarily focused on the ideas and works of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of artists and writers with a specific artistic vision 2. The magazine's content included poetry, essays on art and literature, and contributions from both members and non-members of the Brotherhood, which may not have appealed to a broader audience 1.
Second, the magazine faced logistical and financial challenges. The initial print run of 700 copies for the first issue resulted in only 70 copies sold, and the print run was reduced for later editions, but sales did not improve 7. The financial losses were largely borne by George Tupper, who had a stake in the publication 7.
Lastly, the magazine's short run of only four issues between January and April 1850 may have contributed to its lack of success, as it did not have enough time to establish a strong presence in the market and attract a wider readership 1. Despite its poor sales, The Germ played a significant role in promoting the Pre-Raphaelite movement's ideas and artistic vision 1.