The lecture gives a detailed account of the reasons for the establishment of large-volume and small-volume magazines; the process of their development is also described. Large-volume magazines influenced both the public opinion formation and typological changes in the Russian press. Small-volume magazines occupied an intermediate position between large-volume magazines and newspapers. They could be entertaining (humorous and satirical editions), enlightening (family magazines, popular science), cultivating useful skills (children's magazines, theatre magazines) etc.