The Germ began as an idea by Dante Gabrielle Rossetti, but it eventually became a collective initiative supported by artists, critics and poets associated with the original Pre-Raphaelite circle. Comprised of no more than 50 pages, its first volume was printed in January of 1850 by G. F. Tupper and was published by Aylott and Jones. This monthly magazine brought together works of art and literature by contemporary artists, including poems by the only female contributor, Christina Rossetti, whose work appeared under the pseudonym of 'Ellen Alleyn'. Poetry acted as a uniting leitmotif, around the theme of which other works of literature and visual art were carefully organized. Edited by William Michael Rossetti who also acted as the first chronicler of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, The Germ upheld the artistic aspirations of the Brotherhood which placed particular emphasis on the natural world and celebrated the artist as creator. Although the magazine itself was short-lived with merely four numbers published, it had immense impact on the future design and creation of findesiècle magazines and “little magazines” of the late Victorian period.