1929 to 2002 What are they worth? Would like to sell all of them.

[Shannon L Moe]

My grandmother has all issues from 1929 to 2002, all in good condition  - they include any special editions/Members only issues and extras that might have been published between those years. Are there any issues that should be sold seperately due to being valuable, or should we just donate the whole lot out?

I have checked on ebay, and I am not seeing that they sell very well or for any real money. I just wanted to check before we give them away. Thank you in advance for your help.

 I would be willing to sell seperate issues, full years, etc.

 

[e-mail]

Shannon

[Melvin L. De Vilbiss]

This may be of assistance:

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

Good luck!

Mel

[Shannon L Moe]

That was helpful..but confusing. I am trying to get rid of the whole collection for my grandmother - 1929 to 2004 is a lot of boxes!

One by one is too long, and I am not seeing them move quickly as sets on ebay. She has said just to donate them or give them all away, I just dont want her to lose any money if there is an issue or two that could bring her some money. Thank you for your help!

Shannon

[Melvin L. De Vilbiss]

Shannon,

Your question is not an easy one to answer. It is rare for a seller to find that one buyer who will purchase the entire collection "and" lives close enough to avoid shipping costs. I have done this three times over the last twelve years (last was 2007) in an effort to "better" my personal collection. I still have "over" 6000 extra magazines and doubt I'll ever do it again. This is the position most dedicated collectors eventually find themselves.

Because the sellers of these sets had no takers, for all their efforts to sell, I was able to purchase them for only a few hundred dollars as long as I took care of the packaging and transport. The largest collection spanned 1910 thru 2001 with many extras and was purchased for less than $500. The key here was that I was close enough to rent a truck and had friends who could assist me. I would not pay to ship such a massive amount of bulk - even if I had been offered the collection for free.

Having said this, what is important to me for my collection is most likely not important to the next collector. My top 100 issues (if I had such a list) are probably not the next collector's top 100 (if the other collector had such a list).

With over 1 million copies of an issue (even back to the 1930's) produced, you as a seller must locate that one buyer who needs that particular issue. You only do that by selling them one at a time, or perhaps by a year at a time. This takes time and a lot of energy (which is why I still have over 6000 extra magazines).

I have donated two complete sets (1950 to 2000) to newly opened middle schools but none since 2003 (and I have tried). In this automated age, the schools do not have the resources or space to deal with such bulk. You will more than likely discover this problem if donation is the route you choose to follow.

The supplements (maps and pictures), sold as a lot, might be easier to sell if all else fails. You "may" have (please let me stress - "may" have) better luck selling some issues that are hard to find in pristine condition, those with recordings {Aug '65; Dec '69; Jan '79} or holographic covers. I would look on eBay for those specific issues and see how they are selling before attempting this. However, this doesn't even put a dent in your problem.

I would also suggest that if your grandmother's magazines are "better" than the VG I described, you will have better luck attempting to individually sell the magazine. Condition, particularly for those '49 and older, is critical.

I wish you the best and I'm sorry to be of so little assistance.

Mel

[Shannon L Moe]

Thanks Mel, you given me something to work with which is more then I had when I started! :)