The Comet (1930s zine)

The Comet - renamed Cosmology by its fourth issue - was the official newsletter the Science Correspondence Club. It was created and edited by Chicago branch members Raymond A. Palmer and Walter Dennis and is believed by many to be the very first fanzine ever published. There is some controversy to this - the SCC focussed more on science than science fiction and for this reason is not considered a fanzine"What Was the First Fanzine?" - Fancyclopedia 3 (via Wayback May 28/23). 
Coming from a correspondence background, the letter section of this zine was a prominent feature, with readers discussing science, science fiction and fiction"The Comet" - ZineWiki.com (via Wayback May 1/24). Other segments focused on scientific discovery and theory, with the club's belief that reading science fiction could - and should - lead to a career in science; therefore, the zine tended to publish more about science fact than science fiction"ISA" - Fancyclopedia 3 (via Wayback Mar 10/24). 
In his Recollections on the Origins of Science Fiction Fandom 1917 to 1948, Aubrey MacDermott (editor January 1932-1933 with Clifton Amsbury) had this to say about the zine: 
Seventeen issues were published in total before the zine (and the club, which had been renamed the International Science Association in 1931), ceased operations in 1933. Even in 1935, only two years after it closed, copies of the zine were hard to find: 
Due to this rarity (and expense if found!), the contents of the zine beyond Issue #1 are largely apocryphal, based on reports from those who were remembering the zine years alter.
==Issue#1==
The Comet. Vol. 1, No. 1, published May 1931. Editors: Raymond A Palmer and Walter Dennis. 8 pages. 
Contents: 
* Science Correspondence Club - office-holders, committees, branches, etc. 
* "A Brief History of the Science Correspondence Club" by unknown and "Evolution" a poem by Frank Eason Sr. 
* Candidates for Presidency - profiles for members running for presidency of the SCC: Frank Eason Sr., Arthur Gowling, Edward Smith and Arthur Stephenson. 
* Presidential Ballot, Resignation of President (Aubrey Clements) and status updates for the secretary and treasurer. 
* "Open Letter to Members of the SCC Who Are Delinquent in Dues" - Frank Eason Sr. 
* "Announcement of the Formation of the S. Lynn Kohrer Society of Greater America, A Branch of the SCC" by Frank Eason (secretary) - named in honour of S. Lynn Kohrer, organizer of the Southern Cross Observatory and a noted Amateur Astronomer recognised by leading authorities and the discoverer of a new star. 
* "Trends in Psychology" by Lillith Lorraine, member of the above branch. Includes a request for reactions from the editors and a clip-out feedback form. 
* "Odd Notes": 
==Issue #2==
Science Correspondence Club Organ and ?. Vol 1, No. 2, published July 1930. Editors: Raymond A Palmer and Walter Dennis. 12 pages.
This was the first issue to reference science fiction.
== Issue #3 ==
Science Correspondence Club Organ Vol 1, No. 3, published in August 1930. Editor: Raymond A Palmer. 10 pages. 
== Issue #4 ==
Science Correspondence Club Bulletin Vol. 1, No. 4, published in September 1930. Editor: Raymond A Palmer. 11 pages. 
== Issue #5 ==
Cosmology. Vol. 1 No. 5, published in October 1930. Editor: Arthur Gowing. 13 pages.
== Issues 6-17 ==
Issue	Date 	Pages	-Notes
V1.6 	November 1930	21 	
V1.7 	December 1930	7 	
V2.1 	January 1931 	23 	
V2.2 	February 1931	23 	
V2.3 	March 1931 	23 	
V2.4 	April 1931 	23 	
V2.5 	May 1931 	23 	
V2.6 	July 1931 	23 	
VV.1 	January 1932 	15 	Eds. now Aubrey MacDermott and Clifton Amsbury
VV.2 	March 1932 	30 	
VV.3 	Fall 1932 	6 	
VVI.1	1933 	20 	Connie Ruppert
==References ==
Category:Science Fiction Zines
Category:1930 Zines
Category:1930s Zines