Differences between originals and reprints

[Jonathan]

Hi,

I have recently started adding to my collection of NGs. (Currently, I'm complete from 1915 upwards.) I was wondering if anybody knew sure-fire ways of telling what is an original NG and what is one of those ubiquitous 1964 reprints.

Thank-you for your time.

[Scott T. Shier]

Hi Jonathan,

I am sorry to see nobody has replied to your question (myself, I got distracted from this site for a few weeks).

The 1964 Reprints are 20 years from 1888-1907. They were printed w/ extra margin space (white area bordering text blocks) to make them "uniform" size with the other 100 years! If you did not know, the early years were a smaller format.

The word "Reprint" will show at the bottom area (front cover) under the National Geographic Society info. These reprints are also going to be in very good condition (99% of time). The pages were also printed in the heavier, clay-coated paper to make them long-lasting, and certainly less brittle! Thus, they appear and feel glossy. The original issues were more along the lines of the newsprint type paper quality.

In 1975 NGS made some more - unspecified qty. - reprints of No. 1, Vol. 1 ; these have 1975 printed on the inside rear cover. In 1922 they also made reprints (again, "qty." unknown) for No.1, Vol. 1 up to approx. 1895 year I believe (these would be the years of the plain, brick-red covers. Also, recall that the 1st issue commenced October 1888, with the Society itself formed in January, same year. The NG Magazine (journal) was sporatic at first, not being published monthly until Jan. 1896. Up to then, it was either quarterly or a few months here/there. Sometimes, an issue consisted only of 1 article, or merely minutes on the meetings, or announcements.

Obviously, from 1915 +, you need not worry about Reprints or anything. Are you interested at some point in collecting prior to 1915? I'd be happy to chit-chat more with you about this, as I like to talk about Nat Geo alot. Ha-ha.

well, feel free to ask anything else too! IF you already knew what I was saying above, then sorry for repeating it.

- Scott T. Shier