National Geographic's Collectors Corner

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Melvin L. De Vilbiss
  • Male
  • Magnolia, TX
  • United States
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Melvin L. De Vilbiss's Friends

  • Rodney McLellan
  • Susan Schopen
  • Michael Spohn
  • James Catlin
  • Tracy Lee
  • Marcus Ludwig
  • Steven P Francis
  • Helena Zar
  • Joseph Marvin Erwin
  • Laura Sullivan
  • T.A. Ewart
  • K. Scott Moore
  • Bill Riessen
  • Nicole Russell
  • Jonathan Dewar

Melvin L. De Vilbiss's Groups

Melvin L. De Vilbiss's Discussions

Buyer Beware
3 Replies

I've contacted this seller about several of their listings declaring the maps as "antique originals." The seller has acknowledged my input but continues the listings as originally shown.They are 1964…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by George Thomas Wilson May 25, 2023.

Anomaly in 1922 Reprint of Volume I, No. 4.
5 Replies

Buxbaum proved that the 1922 Reprint of Vol. I, No. 2 was used for the 1964 reproduction run, both individual issues and bound, of the first 18 Volumes.He speculated both 1922 Reprints (No.’s 2 &…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by Jonathan White Sep 8, 2023.

Set of 10 - 1895 monographs for sale:
4 Replies

With tax and shipping I just purchased a set of 10 individual monographs for $4,145.16 (tax and shipping included). Back in the early 2000's these were listed at about $400 per issue (reference Don…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by Melvin L. De Vilbiss Feb 10, 2022.

Buyer beware!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/363283956441?ul_noapp=trueThe above add lists an "original" Gold and Coal Fields of Alaska for $350.A…Continue

Started Feb 7, 2021

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Melvin L. De Vilbiss's Page

Latest Activity

Melvin L. De Vilbiss replied to Richard Kennedy's discussion New Collectors Corner Administrator
"Thank you, Richard, for keeping this going. Much appreciated! Mel"
13 hours ago
Melvin L. De Vilbiss replied to Cathy Hunter's discussion Thank you and farewell from Cathy
"Many thanks Cathy: you have made this a wonderful experience. Thank you, Richard, for stepping into the fray! Mel"
13 hours ago
Melvin L. De Vilbiss replied to Ron Choquette's discussion Estate Sale - Ron Choquette, long time collector with noteworthy collection
"Ron, this is my grading standard, considered high by many, but I've found it useful while building my collection: http://ngscollectors.ning.com/forum/attachment/download?id=1029239%3AUploadedFile%3A269305"
Apr 15
Melvin L. De Vilbiss replied to Scott T. Shier's discussion National Geographic RESEARCH Journal ~ birth of "A Scientific Journal" - January 1985
"Well done Scott!"
Jan 21
Melvin L. De Vilbiss replied to Scott T. Shier's discussion 60th anniversary of the 1964 "The National Geographic Magazine" REPRINTS project
"Well done Scott! Mel"
Jan 1
Melvin L. De Vilbiss joined George Thomas Wilson's group
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The Space Place

A place for all things space related.  Topics, especially with National Geographic tie-ins can include:* Manned space flight (from the Space Race to Artemis).* Planetary exploration.* Exoplanets.* Earth as a planet.* Astronomy (Stars and Galaxies).* Astrophysics (Black Holes, Big Bang, and such). * Any other thing space related that you can think of.See More
Oct 25, 2024
Melvin L. De Vilbiss replied to George Thomas Wilson's discussion 100 Years Ago: October 1924
"As always, well done Tom!"
Oct 1, 2024
Melvin L. De Vilbiss replied to george warren's discussion MAP SELLER CONTACT
"National Geographic Society Collectors Corner National Geographic Collectors Center (jbcarey.net)"
Aug 21, 2024
Melvin L. De Vilbiss replied to Robert Zelenak's discussion National Geographic issue with most pages?
"I would suspect you gentlemen are correct on the two most numerous page total issues. However, you may want to complete your investigations with the 1920's. A couple of samples are: 1) Dec 1922 with 129 article pages and 54 advertisement pages;…"
Jan 30, 2024
Melvin L. De Vilbiss replied to stephen zamarin's discussion Mistake in November 1982 Southwest Map in the group Map, Atlas, Supplement, and Index Collectors
"Ditto!"
Jan 15, 2024
Melvin L. De Vilbiss left a comment for Rodney McLellan
"How are you doing?"
Jan 8, 2024
Melvin L. De Vilbiss replied to Thomas Jovin's discussion Can anyone part with NGM 1902 (Vol. XIII), May issue, VG+? Or exchange for June issue?
"I did look, but no extra May issue. Sorry!"
Jan 7, 2024
Melvin L. De Vilbiss replied to Richard Kennedy's discussion National Geographic on The Adventures of Superman
"I remember that episode Richard - on replay, obviously... :)"
Oct 19, 2023
Jonathan White replied to Melvin L. De Vilbiss's discussion Anomaly in 1922 Reprint of Volume I, No. 4.
"Interesting - thank you! I have seen evidence of other inconsistent datings too, but apparently that was not at all uncommon in the early era of the publication when volumes and numbers were not issued on a regular and predictable basis. I will seek…"
Sep 8, 2023
Melvin L. De Vilbiss replied to Cindy's discussion Maps
"You may also find this of interest, bound volumes are nearer the end of the article: A Guide to Selling National Geographic Magazines (Revised 19 January 2018) - National Geographic's Collectors Corner (ning.com)"
Sep 8, 2023
Melvin L. De Vilbiss replied to Cindy's discussion Maps
"If your maps do NOT have the small word in all caps (REPRINT) anywhere in the margin or under the index, you have an original map, and most likely the bound volume is too, but I'd have to see it to be certain. Please reference this revised…"
Sep 8, 2023

Profile Information

Hometown (If US city & state; Others city, province, country):
Magnolia
About Me: (If none, make no entry):
Collecting since the mid '70s, I didn't get serious about it until 2001. Now I'm hooked!

Comment Wall (16 comments)

At 3:47am on June 7, 2010, Claude Belisle said…
Melvin,
Can you send me an email at belisle@mat.ulaval.ca ?
Thank you.
Claude
At 5:00pm on October 13, 2010, Keith Sargent said…
I grew up with NG's and my parents bought me a lifetime subscription when I was 15. I've finally decided to stop at 1909 (I hope), because several years back, I purchased a bound volume for that year. I had stopped at 1913 (the year my dad was born), but that three year gap bothered me; then, three months ago, I found someone selling his early 1910's and picked up 1910-1913 (about $20 each). I purchased the 1913's to get the one issue I was missing - April (Machu Picchu). I feel really satisfied now. I'm only missing May 1923, "At the Tomb of Tutankhamen" How far back does your collection go?
At 5:48am on April 17, 2012, Dale said…

Hi Mel,

Sorry to say, but I only have spares of V3 #1 (May'91) and #5 (Feb '92), both VG+ copies.

Dale

At 6:29pm on May 7, 2012, Freddie L. Smith said…
I will be happy to send a list to you. Possibly by
the weekend.
At 7:40pm on May 7, 2012, Freddie L. Smith said…
Individual copies: (o) original (r) reprint
These are spares be willing to swap-trade
Etc..
1900
Jan-O
April-O
May-O
1899
Jan-O
Feb-O
Aug-O
Nov-R
1897
July-Aug-O
1896
Feb(2)-O
May-O-missing back cover
1894
Jan,31-R
May,23-R
1893
April,29-R
1888
Vol. 1 # 1
At 8:10am on September 10, 2012, Pier C. RONCHIETTO said…

I got a message from you regarding some very old issues . My E-mail is caio@mweb.co.za and my name is Pier Ronchietto. Can you giveme you Emails address?

Thanks 

Pier 

At 11:49am on November 9, 2012, Lia Calder said…

Dear Melvin,

We're looking foward to sell the whole collection, not just a single volume... Let me know if you are still interested.

Best relagrd, Lia

At 9:24pm on December 3, 2012, Sivaramakrishnan Balakrishnan said…

Hi Melvin - I am new to collecting the National Geographic magazines and so at this point I am looking to buy the more extensive collections - but quite clearly the more recent vintages (like 1950s onwards - unless there's a way to get the earlier years at a reasonable price) - since the very very early vintages (late 1800s-early 1900s) are quite out of my reach (and intent).

At 9:12am on October 30, 2013, Dawn S said…

Hello Melvin, thank you for friend requesting me.  Mine or the bound set for 1964 I believe.

At 5:20pm on November 1, 2013, Sandra J. Phipps said…

We have a few from 1917   however,    January 1965 through 1988 the collection is non stop, and complete. He got them every month . He died 1987 and mom never renewed. '.

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