Does any one now exact pricing?

[Jeremy Polunsky]

Does anyone know the exact pricing on Original National Geographic Magazines Volume 1 No. 2, 3 and 4??

 

Thanks

[Melvin L. De Vilbiss]

Such a "thing" does not exist - far too many variables!

 

Please refer to my "Selling Guide...." post, seven below this thread on the main forum for information on original eBay sales.

 

1) Book dealers will offer "you" ONLY 10% to 30% of the true value of these magazines because they want to pay for their overhead and make a profit. They will also, most likely, have to hold the product for a long time before they find the "right" buyer. Can you do the wait?

 

2) eBay sales are potentially risky - but you "could" find that happy "median" sale that would give the buyer a discount but give you more profit. Can you deal with the risk?

 

3) You may be able to advertise (if you can find the right market) and sell it yourself. Do you have the expertise, patience, time and contacts to embark on such an endeavor?

 

4) If you're the buyer - reverse the perspective on 1 thru 3 above and apply those simple variables to the equation.

 

I say simple, because there exist still many more variables, i.e. condition (a full range of), completeness, and rarity. For example, Volume 1, Numbers 2 and 4 are actually MORE rare than Vol 1, No 1.

 

I realize I didn't actually answer your question, but your question is not an easy one to answer.

 

I do hope this provided some modicum of assistance to you.

 

Regards,

 

Mel

[Dale]

I agree with all that Melvin has said, there is no exact price.

Price dominantly depends on two conditions: that of the magazines and that of the market at the time of sale. From any cashed-up collector's perspective the main issue is condition of the magazines. If they were in really excellent (i.e. Fine +) condition they would be worth quite a lot, probably in the order of $10,000, $10,000, $6,000 and $10,000 respectively, a total of $36,000, perhaps even more (but probably no more than $42k), depending on who was buying at the time and who had the funds. If they were in poor condition (i.e. severely chipped and disconnected covers and missing spine) they still might be worth around $10k to $13k in total). Now is not really the ideal time to sell to a broad market in terms of consumer market conditions, particularly for the US economy, but conditions are improving steadily. Selling through a dealer on a 10% commission would however make sense as they may well have contacts in need of what you are selling.

Regarding rarity, as Melvin says V1 #2 and #4 are really very rare as individual copies, much rarer that #1 or #3. I should know, as they have been the most difficult of all the magazines for me to find. #1 is however similarly priced simply because it has the cachet of being #1 and therefore is more in demand or sellable. It is not nearly as rare as #2 an #4. In introducing their new magazine in October 1888, the NGS seems to have printed many more copies of that first issue than its membership numbers, not only to cater for library copies, but more as a marketing ploy, such as give-aways, etc. While I currently have three copies of #1 (don't ask me why, I'm still trying to figure that out, but investment come to mind.....), I only have one each of #2 and #4 as individual copies, The NGS seems to have had a more conservative approach with #2 and #4. I would say that #2 and #4 took me ten times the effort and time to find. The rarity of #2 and #4 was noted as early as 1935 in Buxbaum's original NG collectors guide. We can see this evidence even earlier in the advertised prices the NGS were willing pay to to buy back such issues, as published in their late 1890's and early 1900 magazines.

[Melvin L. De Vilbiss]

An added data point to this interesting discussion is that the NGS contracted to officially reproduce "just" Vol 1, No.'s 2 & 4 in 1922, hence the special reproduction cover with three vertical pinstripes to distinguish these publications from the originals.

 

In other words, the rarity of these two numbers was well established by at least 1922, if not sooner.

 

Very nice to have your expertise on the forum Dale!

 

Someday, I'd love to see your collection. However, since my funds are limited I must sadly admit that if it came down to viewing your collection in Australia or purchasing one of the rarities we are discussing... well,... I think you of all people would understand my decision (an attempt at levity here).

[rich ling]

i have a vol 1 2 and 4 im going to put up on ebay in a couple months