Tags:
Wyatt,
Impressive collection!
Some follow-up questions if you please:
Do you have something that indicates the date these volumes were bound?
What is the status of all the issues post 1963 (your last airplane binding), i.e. a different binding, or loose?
Are there any volumes bound with covers earlier than the July 1905 you show in one of your pictures.
Thank you for taking the time to do this, the effort will most definitely assist you in this sale.
Regards,
Mel
One of the quickest ways to see if an early set is reprints is to look at the monthly covers that are bound into the books. The cover you posted of the July 1905 issue is an original issue , not a reprint. If you could take photos of the covers(The red monthly issue covers) for the first 2 or 3 volumes that would give us here at the "Corner" an idea whether you really have a $100K collection....
Best,
Phil
Covers are the main way to see if they are reprints.. Supplement maps (They are stuck in the volume) are not that important in the first few years... There is no advertising in the 1st 4 volumes. Surprisingly leather bindings are very common because libraries bound their collections in leather. Many of us here at the corner have complete sets (with some reprints).I have a matched bound set complete from 1888 to 1978. People I know go and pick up major collections because shipping 1476 issues (1888-2015) is very, very expensive. In reality your money issues go to about 1915. AND individual early monthly issues are many, many times more valuable than bound issues. That being said if you have original bound 1888- 1907 you do have some money there.
I hope this helps you out and that your earliest issues have those red covers..
Phil
There us a fella in Australia that had two, yes two, complete (individual) sets. He is selling one of them piecemeal at this time.
For example, a Volume I, No. 2 (restored, complete with covers) from one of his collections just sold on eBay for $10,000.00.
This issue, along with Volume I, No. 4 are the rarest issues in the NGM collection.
Please note that bound volumes almost always sell for far less than all the individual issues for the volume combined would sell.
You may find this helpful (it should answer several of your questions):
http://ngscollectors.ning.com/forum/topics/a-guide-to-selling-natio...
Note: Any sales or trade arrangements are solely between users of this site; The National Geographic Society is not a party to and does not endorse or promote any particular sales or trade arrangements between collectors, dealers, or others. Due to the immediate nature of this medium, National Geographic Collectors Corner also does not review, censor, approve, edit or endorse information placed on this forum. Discussion boards on National Collectors Corner are intended to be appropriate for family members of all ages. Posting of indecent material is strictly prohibited. The placement of advertisements or solicitations unrelated to National Geographic also is prohibited. National Geographic Collectors Corner shall review information placed on this forum from time to time and delete inappropriate material that comes to its attention as soon as it is practicable, but cannot guarantee that such material will not be found on the forum. By posting material on this discussion board you agree to adhere to this policy prohibiting indecent, offensive or extraneous advertising material, and to legally assume full and sole responsibility for your posting.
© 2025 Created by Cathy Hunter.
Powered by