Polish popular-science periodicals have not yet been researched in terms of their overall graphic design and layout. Undertaking an in-depth assessment of this particular aspect was intended to follow the development of graphic design in the periodicals published on the Polish lands throughout the period spanning 1758–1939, with a view to identifying the most characteristic components that stood for overall visual appeal of specific publications, whilst pondering overall aesthetic and educational value of diverse illustrative material they offered to their readership. The article presents an outline of research into the graphic design of fifty such periodicals, highly representative of a popular-science genre. Comprehensive research results along with the accompanying factual material and tabularised data, which might well prove of some consequence in further comparative research, are available in a book format.

W artykule zaprezentowano wyniki badań grafiki dwunastu polskich czasopism popularnonaukowych ukazujących się XVIII wieku w Warszawie i Krakowie. Omówiono charakterystyczne cechy układu graficznego oraz szaty graficznej periodyków, wskazano prototypy europejskie tego typu czasopism oraz źródła pozyskiwania tekstów i ozdobnych elementów typograficznych, a także znaczenie grafiki dla popularyzacji nauki w czasopismach.

Popular science magazines published in Poland between 1758 and 1939 are an important resource for all kinds of research including interdisciplinary analysis as well testing new methodological approaches. They provide insights into the changing understanding of science and its social functions, the status of the scientist, models of popularization of science, the channels and forms of communications, techniques of construction of the popular science text enhanced with graphics and illustrations.