National Geographic Braille

[Corey Kendall]

Hello,

I have a November 1965 Braille edition. I was wondering if someone could give me some information on this.

Thanks!

Corey

[Daniel Eckert]

While I am reluctant to revive a "zombie" post from 15 years ago, I'm replying here with a little information I've found recently in my own searching.  Attached is a screenshot I've found recently from a post on Facebook in 2020, which appears to be from the National Geographic Society.  In this post is the statement that the first braille edition of the magazine was published in January 1963, making your November 1965 item one of the earlier issues.

Additionally from a personal perspective:  Last year, I came across an August 1996 "Part 2 of 2" braille edition -- and this week I have found 4 more:  Parts 1 and 2 each of April 1997 and May 1997.

At this nationalgeographic.com link, I found this mention which leads to more questions than it answers.  It seems to suggest that perhaps not all issues were reproduced in braille, and it is unclear whether braille editions continue to be produced for current issues:

"National Geographic does not publish National Geographic material in large print or any other special editions for the visually handicapped. However, materials published by National Geographic are regularly selected for reproduction in Braille or recorded form and are distributed through regional programs of the U.S. National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (lcweb.loc.gov/nls/)."

In a search on the NLS catalog, I see a mention on this result page:

"Beginning with Nov. 2000 also available from Web-Braille as digital contracted braille files"

I have not yet found a source to confirm the relative quantity of printings made of each issue over time, and I have also not found a source to confirm whether braille editions were produced of all monthly issues or only certain issues.  Unclear as well whether physical braille issues continue to be produced.

I will be curious to learn more if anyone has additional information to share.

[Scott T. Shier]

Actually, Daniel, thank you for bringing this up. That is some more interesting insight and background on the Braille editions. 

I had a few myself (via eBay) as "samples" for my Nat Geo collection, dated in 2006. 

Recently I had just seen 2020's NGM in Braille, as well as --and I did not know of this before-- there are also Braille editions made of Nat Geo KIDS - (also Little Kids ?) and the classroom Explorer magazines as well. 

I do not have anymore information to add beyond this comment. Nice to see your post/comment/update. 

best, 

Scott S.