Well, the answer is yes and no. Some magazines are highly collectible; others don't do much more than collect dust.
For instance, maybe you saved a few magazines from the early 1960s, they just happen to relate to President Kennedy's assassination. Now that some time has passed, you wonder whether any of these Life, Look and Post issues covering similar topics might be valuable.
Although these magazines certainly fit into an interesting topical category, and one that remains controversial, most of them would probably sell for under $15 in excellent to mint condition through a paper collectibles shop or at a specialty show. If you're thinking that sounds rather low, consider a couple of factors before drawing a conclusion.
First, these magazines cover a topic that shocked the world. It just stands to reason that many, many people saved them so they're not going to be extremely rare at this point in time.
Also, they're not even 40 years old yet. Lots of collectors lived through this time period and aren't as curious about reading "news" on the subject just yet. As time passes and younger collectors yearn for knowledge on historical events, the price will more than likely rise. This is where demand comes into the picture and drives up prices.
Most any periodical can have some value depending on how many people want it. There are far more collectors of sports materials and movie star items than hard news buffs now days.
To those who gather sports memorabilia, finding a copy of the first Sports Illustrated magazine might be a real treasure worth paying some money to own. Most copies, even those from the '50s, don't bring more than $20 in today's market, however.
Popular sports figures emblazoned on a cover can fetch a little more. Magazines featuring Muhammad Ali, also known as Cassius Clay, can be worth up to $35 depending on the edition.
Movie star fans ferret out magazines presenting their favorite stars on the front, too. Notables such as Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe usually bring from $10-25 whether it's on older Look, Life or specialty movie magazines.
Some can be worth much more though, so consulting a price guide on paper collectibles is a good idea before selling a collection. For example, even a certain Post magazine from the '60s covering the Beatles can be worth as much as $40 or so.
Early illustrators, such as Harrison Fisher, drew beautiful covers that graced magazines at the turn of the last century. These, along with the Saturday Evening Post illustrations of Norman Rockwell, can be some of the most costly magazines around. Many eager collectors will pay $50-300 for a magazine cover alone if a noteworthy artist signed the illustration.
Removing the advertisements from magazines and selling them separately can be more profitable than keeping them whole in some instances. Collectors decorate their homes with ads featuring everything imaginable from automobiles to food products. The prices on these single ad pages can often be as much as an entire magazine when marketed to the right person.
Other people want older magazines for research. Collectors of vintage clothing and jewelry often employ fashion magazines, especially Vogue, to learn about the styles and designers of yesteryear. Many fashionable periodicals from the '60s on back currently sell in the $10-25 range.
So what about those dust collectors mentioned earlier? If you're thinking National Geographic, you're right on the money. Although this publication remains popular and noteworthy, there are just far too many lying around unwanted to be worth much. But there is an exception.
If you've got a few from the '50s and '60s stacked up in the garage, check the back covers for Coca-Cola advertisements. Collectors will pay a few dollars each for those older Coke ads, especially the ones depicting Santa Claus in an endearing pose.
Photo by Pamela Wiggins
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