Thank You

[George Thomas Wilson]

Yesterday, I achieved a goal I started three and a half years ago.  That was to compile a complete, individual issue, collection of The National Geographic Magazine.  I'd like to thank everyone who helped me alone the way, but first a little background.

On July 27, 2011, the day I ordered my first back issue on eBay, my collection consisted of 497 magazines with the oldest dating back to 1948.  Since that time, I've received 40 more issues in the mail.

To further my effort, and to help me enjoy my collection, I joined the Corner on April 18, 2012.

Early on I decided to take advantage of the 1964 reprints issued by the Society.  There are 179 issued that have been reprinted covering the first twenty years of the magazine.  Yesterday, I received the last three reprints I needed.  In all, I have 100 reprints and 79 originals from those early years.  I have attached a worksheet I was using to track my collecting for these years.

Now for my gratitude:

First I'd like to thank Mel, for his advice and knowledge (buyers' guides) and for helping me upgrade several issues I had that were not up to snuff.

Next, thanks to Phil for his help with map and supplements and providing a forum for me to rant about them (and indexes).

I'd like to thank Scott for his help completing my annual index collection, his knowledge of more esoteric collectibles, and providing a forum to discuss parodies and other, "off the beaten path" topics.

Thanks to Mike Christie for his website that allows my to inventory, and display my collections.

Thanks to Mike Oliphant from whom I acquired many a map and supplements; to Greg Rahn for the bulk map purchase I made from him; and to Bruno Amalberti for the two large batches of reprints.

And also Thanks to the listed dealers who have helped me. John Martello (issues and indices); Nick Koopman (hard to find indices); and John Carey (map indices and more).

I hope I haven't forgotten anyone.  I could not have accomplished this goal without all of your help and support.

Thanks Again,

Tom Wilson

[Scott T. Shier]

Tom, 

This is great news to share and I'm sure the others will be grateful for your appreciation and acknowledgment therein. 

Congratulations again!

So one question for now: Do you intend to back-track and swap out your 100 reprint copies w/ 'originals', or are the glorious reprints "good 'nuff", case closed? hehe. 

          ~ Scott 

p>s>

I should also say you built your collection in record time! Not counting my multi-year hiatus (for grave personal/family reasons), I started with only 1 issue (Jan. 2005's) on Dec. 28th 2004, and had most of my collection (sans handful of gaps in 1911-1915) by end late 2007 // wee early '08. I made my first back-issue purchase on the 30/31st of Dec. '04 --those 5 Titanic issues--, and it was a tsunami after that! I had had a modest collection when I was younger, but lost it via the story I shared in my Titanic post earlier this year.

[George Thomas Wilson]

Scott,

I currently have no plans to upgrade those issues, but who knows what tomorrow will bring.  The next phase of this project will be presentation.  I want to find, or build, a bookcase that can hold the whole collection.

Tom

[Philip Riviere]

Tom,

Congratulations on your completion of your individual issue collection. I was happy to help you in reaching your goal. My goal was to have a complete collection with originals and reprints. I  did this with a beautiful bound collection from 1888 to 1978 as well as individual issues back in Feb 2013. I need only 7 maps to finish that collection but I'm in no rush.  

Phil

[Melvin L. De Vilbiss]

Tom,

Quite an accomplishment!

I was happy to have met you prior to our move from Maryland, and sorry that it may be unlikely we meet again.

You have an open invitation to visit should you ever be in the Houston area.

I look forward to your final presentation, please keep us in the loop.

Yours in collecting,

Mel