Bound copies of National Geographic

[Duane Becker]

Can someone tell me if the National Geographic bound their magazines per year.  I have bound two volume sets of the years 1936, 1940 and 1942.  These are a brown very nice with gold lettering.  Was this from the magazine or a private book binder. There are no ads within the volumes. Thanks Duane Becker

[Melvin L. De Vilbiss]

Duane,

The more I investigate minutia with respect to the National Geographic Magazine, the more I discover how little I really know about this mesmerizing magazine.

Not until recently did I discover the NGS actually offered for sale bound volumes (other than the 1964 reprints) as recently as about 1930. In fact, among the back advertising pages of the July 1930 issue, you'll find the NGS offer of bound volumes for the years 1927 through 1929.

This was the last advertising reference I've been able to locate within the magazines, but that surely does not mean there aren't more recent advertisements on this subject. Advertisements might also have been in loose ephemera rather than integrated into the magazines after that date.

I do know that after I discovered the "binding" offers by the NGS, as a direct result of discussions on this forum that opened the doors for further investigation, I discovered NGS advertisements for same as far back as the early 1900's. In short, there’s a lot of information about the NGS to be had in the ads!

Unfortunately, I have not physically observed NGS productions of bound volumes and cannot attest as to whether they included advertisements or not.

I know I have not really helped you other than to suggest the strong possibility your volumes could be NGS sponsored publications instead of private bindings. Sorry ‘bout that!

Mel

 

[Duane Becker]

Thanks Mel, here's what the binding covers look like, they're pretty cool. Duane Becker

[Melvin L. De Vilbiss]

The Albrecht "Airplane/Globe" bindings are very nice.

I'm not 100% certain, but believe these to be private bindings not sponsored by the NGS.

There are others on this forum more knowledgeable than I when it comes to bindings - I hope they see your post to give us some insight.

Thanks for the picture!

Mel