How do I sort through hundreds of 1900-1990 National Geographic without throwing out rare issues?

[Darcy Williams]

My father, grandfather, and great-grandfather had kept almost every copy they got. I've got five 80L plastic bins filled with them and I've finally reached tipping point. I need to cull this 'collection'.

I have no idea how to best sort through these and haven't been able to find a collector in New Zealand.

How do I know what to keep and what to throw away? At a guess, I can throw away almost anything post WWII, and maybe keep some issues around the moon landings for the kids...

I'd happily keep a couple of bins/boxes full, but the current volume is just excessive. There must be a way to sort out what's common/rare etc... And a lot of this stuff is simply available online these days - but then there are old maps etc that aren't, or are hard to find!

Generally, the collection goes back to around 1904 but a few of those are a bit ratty. The newest ones are from the 90's.

Do I keep the holographic cover issues? Do I keep the war-time issues? I honestly have no idea how to begin sorting through all of this. Any help would be really appreciated!!! Is there a guide to rarity or anything like that?

Thanks

[Melvin L. De Vilbiss]

Darcy,

This is a selling guide that may provide some incite as to value:

http://ngscollectors.ning.com/forum/topics/a-guide-to-selling-natio...

In the top left corner of the main page of this forum you'll find "Published Sources for NG History."

Click on the link and locate the Buxbaum and Nathan references. They are two of the best references with a wide range of topics, to include rarity.

However, I must caution that you'll probably not find "exactly" what you're looking for in a concise reference. You'll have to research all the sources I've provided and determine for yourself the "criteria for keeping."

It's like any collection, it's in the eye of the beholder that the "value" is determined.

I hope this provides some helpful hints to resolve your problem.

Good luck in your research, and please enjoy it while you're at it.

Regards,

Mel

[Darcy Williams]

Hi Mel, thanks so much!  Really appreciated.  Thank you.

[Scott T. Shier]

Darcy, 

Oftentimes it can be useful to group issues by a topic or theme. I say this if you were looking to try and sell a few handfuls here or there. 

In that way, you are appealing to and garnering interest from folks who may not so much be Nat Geo Mag collectors or whatnot, but someone who has a peripheral interest and would want to get some informative quality NGM's to supplement their hobby, interest or collection.

This can even be for (and is perhaps even more relevant to my point) for the "post WW2" era you yourself are mentioning. Here's some random examples, but by no means all :

• gather the Space Shuttle issues (not just the cover story issues)
• do the classic 60's + 70s space program issues....moon landing, Apollo, etc.
• gather the 3 issues w/ sound sheet mini-LP's
• group the hologram covers
• group the "special" issues like Sept. 1988, Jan. 1988, Jan. 1963, Oct. 1963, Dec, 1988, etc., these are particularly focused on Society & Magazine history and accomplishments as per the 75th and 100th anniversary years
• gather special public lands/Parks issues
• TITANIC issues (eg, Dec. '85, Dec. '86, Oct. '87)
• there's some great Dinosaur related articles in NGM through the decades, and certain folks love the illustrations. 

Oh, and even if you were to "dump" the issues for roughly 50's - 90's, pull out all the map supplements. Also, pull out the "Smell Survey" from Sept. 1986 -- is it intact, unused? 

Just some thoughts or ideas. Like Mel said RE: eye of the beholder, it is also about keeping anything that might interest you, or family members specifically. That has golden value in itself.

best,

    Scott S. 

[Darcy Williams]

Thanks Scott.  That sounds very practical.  And to be honest...  Most of those subjects are things I'd like to hang on to anyway.  So maybe that's a good way to simply sort out what to keep for the family.  Thank you!  Damn...  I remember the Titanic issues when I was going through school...  wow.  :-)  Member-berries...  Thanks mate.

[Scott T. Shier]

thanks, and Happy New Year !

[Scott T. Shier]

...eye of the beholder. Yes, it's rather like the value of an issue lies with one's own personal interest or passion.