There's Still Life in Old Magazines (2024)

Question: We are cleaning out my father’s house. He saved everything. What should we do with old copies of Life magazine? Throw them out?

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Answer: If you have time and patience, sort through the magazines. They are good sellers at shows and sales. Some buyers want the old ads on inside pages. Only the “best” covers, in near-mint condition, sell for high prices.

Among the best are covers picturing sports stars.

The May 1, 1939, issue picturing Joe DiMaggio sells for $150, while the June 25, 1956, issue with Mickey Mantle sells for $100. The most valuable copy of Life, priced at $200, is the April 13, 1962, issue with Liz Taylor and Richard Burton on the cover. The price is high because there is an insert of Topps baseball cards inside.

Life magazines with covers picturing movie stars or members of the Kennedy family are especially collectible. So is the very first issue, dated Nov. 23, 1936. Most issues, however, will sell for $1 to $10 each.

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Q I have a dark wood smoker’s stand with a folding top. The open top is half green felt and half wood. There’s a shelf below the top that holds two built-in ashtrays with pipe stands, plus a small cabinet behind a green-and-white marbled opaque glass door. A label under the shelf reads “The Lakeside Craft Shops, Sheboygan, Wisconsin.”

*

A Your smoker’s stand doubles as a game table when the top is opened.

The Lakeside Craft Shops worked in Sheboygan from about 1900 to 1920. Its designs were inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement of that period. During the past few years, some of its small furniture pieces have been sold at East Coast auctions. An oak domed cellarette that converts to a bar sold for $400, a magazine stand for $650 and an 11-by-34-inch cabinet for $900.

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Q I inherited some plates from my great aunt. On the back is one word, “Millennium,” printed in brown in a rectangle with curlicues. The front is decorated in brown with a picture of a child, lion, cow and wolf. “Peace on Earth” is written above the picture. There is also a large eye (the eye of God) and a Bible open to Isaiah.

How old is this millennium souvenir?

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A You have some prized Staffordshire transfer plates made in the mid-19th century by Ralph Stevenson and Sons in England.

It represents the biblical description in the book of Isaiah that refers to his prophecy of the Second Coming of Christ: “The wolf shall also dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.”

The year 2000 has brought back many discussions of the biblical interpretation of the millennium.

For a listing of helpful books and publications, include a self-addressed, stamped (55 cents) envelope to Kovels, Los Angeles Times, King Features Syndicate, 235 E. 45th St., New York, NY 10017.

Current Prices

Current prices are recorded from antique shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary by location because of local economic conditions.

* Mondale & Ferraro political bumper sticker, autographed, 1984, 3 by 12 inches, $45.

* No-Pak 31 ice cream scoop, Pat. No. 1861655, metal with wooden handle, 9 3/4 inches, $75.

* Hawley & Hoops calendar, paperboard, young lady in straw hat holding hay rake, full pad, 1905, 9 by 11 1/2 inches, $110.

* Bradley & Hubbard bookends, lady’s head, Art Nouveau design, 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches, $110.

* Batt & Rabbet gauge, Stanley Rule & Level Co., No. 92, Pat. Aug. 23, 1892, $150.

* Eisenberg Original compact, gilt metal, square, “Henriette,” rhinestone ring in multiple colors, original applicator pad, stamped, 3 inches, $320.

* Hubley Fish Hatchery truck, die-cast, red, silvered bumper and grill, plastic transport tank, net and fish, wiggle rod that creates illusion of being underwater, box, 10 inches, $360.

* Madame Alexander doll, Maggie Mix-Up, skater, hard plastic head, green sleep eyes, watermelon smile, seven-piece bent-knee walker body, 8 inches, $385.

* Gorham sterling silver flower basket, circular foot supports, basket-form rim, handle, ribbon and floral swags, dated 1916, 16 inches, $575.

* Cast-iron garden bench, pierced geometric and foliage scroll design, white paint, “Pat’d. May 17, 1895,” 33 by 38 inches, $600.

There's Still Life in Old Magazines (2024)

FAQs

Is there value in old life magazines? ›

Among the best are covers picturing sports stars. The May 1, 1939, issue picturing Joe DiMaggio sells for $150, while the June 25, 1956, issue with Mickey Mantle sells for $100. The most valuable copy of Life, priced at $200, is the April 13, 1962, issue with Liz Taylor and Richard Burton on the cover.

Is Life magazine still in existence? ›

Life was an American magazine published weekly from 1883 to 1972, as an intermittent "special" until 1978, and as a monthly from 1978 until 2000.

What makes a magazine valuable? ›

If you're wondering how much you can earn selling your back issues, you should know that it can range. Copies with popular celebrities on the cover, thick and lengthy issues, or famous editions are worth more money—and the older the issue is, the more value it holds.

What was the actual last cover of Life magazine? ›

Technically, LIFE magazine had two "last" issues. The last monthly issue was published May 20, 2000. The cover story, "Premature Baby" by Jason Michael Waldmann Jr., featured a picture of a tiny baby, born prematurely, held in someone's hands, connected to life-supporting tubes.

Can you sell old magazines for cash? ›

Yes it's true! You can make easy money working from home, finding, listing and selling old magazines online and offline. All it takes is some spunk, some storage space, some motivation and some know-how on getting started.

What can you do with old life magazines? ›

Here is What to Do With Your Old Magazines
  • Donate. You might be done reading your favorite magazines, but that doesn't mean that other people should miss out. ...
  • Decor. The photos found in many magazines are downright stunning. ...
  • Crafts. ...
  • Gift Wrap. ...
  • Recycle.

When did Life magazine end? ›

April 20 will be LIFE's last print issue, Time, a unit of Time Warner , said in a statement. It is the latest magazine to shut down as more readers desert print publications for online news and photos.

Why did Life magazine end? ›

Time Inc. cited the “decline in the newspaper business” and poor advertising outlook as factors in its decision. Time Inc. has now shut down Life magazine three times. Originally launched in 1936 as a weekly, Life was suspended from regular publication in 1972 and brought back as a monthly in 1978.

What is the oldest Life magazine? ›

On November 23, 1936, the first issue of the pictorial magazine Life is published, featuring a cover photo of the Fort Peck Dam's spillway by Margaret Bourke-White.

What is the number 1 magazine in the world? ›

Run Free

What are the 3 types of magazines? ›

The three types of magazines are consumer magazines, trade magazines and organization magazines. Each type of magazine has a variety of popular subsections and genres.

Are magazines worth saving? ›

Most magazines are worth between $5 and $20, though some are quite valuable.
...
The most valuable magazines in the world.
MAGAZINEESTIMATED VALUE/PRICE
Dime Mystery Magazine April 1937Sold for $772
Popular Science August 1931Sold for $750
18 more rows

What size was the original Life magazine? ›

The Classics:

LIFE - 10-1/2" x 14" TIME - 8" x 10-3/4" Rolling Stone - 10" x 12"

How do you store old life magazines? ›

For magazines, remove any staples and stack the issues (perhaps each encased in a polyester-archival magazine sleeve, to prevent handling damage) in a same-size acid-free archival box. Place book and magazine boxes flat in a dark closet, cabinet or drawer. Look for archival supplies at sites like Gaylord Archival.

Can you sell old magazines on Amazon? ›

Start listing your books

Since books are an unrestricted item on Amazon, you can sell new and used books, magazines, textbooks, magazines, even the sheet music your kids stopped using two months after they begged for lessons. The Amazon seller app can walk you through how to list them.

What happens to magazines that are not sold? ›

Unsold magazines are returned to the publisher's distributor (in some cases only the cover), and recycled when possible. Be aware that almost all paper today is made from partially recycled materials and the original forest where the tree was cut down and sent to the mill was replanted by the paper industry.

Do old magazines sell well on eBay? ›

A question I often receive is, “Can I make money on eBay by selling old and vintage magazines?” The short answer is, “Yes.” But to do so, you have to take the time to conduct the 'right' eBay market research.

What is the oldest magazine still in circulation? ›

The oldest consumer magazine still in print is The Scots Magazine, which was first published in 1739, though multiple changes in ownership and gaps in publication totalling over 90 years weaken that claim.

Is a simple Life magazine still published? ›

Unfortunately. due to people being able to subscribe on their own now, our sales have declined so we are no longer carrying new issues.

How old is Life magazine? ›

When Life magazine launched on 23 November 1936, its mission, as stated by its creator Henry Luce, was to enable the American public “to see life; to see the world; to eyewitness great events … to see and be amazed; to see and be instructed…” For the 36 years that marked its golden age, the US weekly informed the ...

What happened to Best Life magazine? ›

The magazine ended after its May 2009 issue.

Is Time magazine going out of print? ›

To mark the final edition, four artists created bespoke covers. Writing in this last issue, global editor-in-chief Caroline McGinn said: “It's been a privilege and a pleasure to serve you in print for 54 years. Long may our love affair continue.”

How much is Life magazine cost? ›

After your initial term, your subscriptions will automatically renew for 4 issues of Life Magazine (currently $20.00) and , and then continue until you tell us to stop.

What is the oldest magazine in America? ›

ABOUT THE UNITED CHURCH OBSERVER

With roots dating back to 1829, The Observer is proud to be the oldest continuously published magazine in North America, and the second-oldest in the English-speaking world.

What was the Life magazine of 1930s? ›

Life, weekly picture magazine (1936–72) published in New York City. Life was a pioneer in photojournalism and one of the major forces in that field's development. It was long one of the most popular and widely imitated of American magazines.

What is the oldest women's magazine? ›

Magazines in Chronological Order
  • Godey's Lady's Book, and Ladies' American Magazine. Publication Date: 1830 to 1898. ...
  • McCall's. Publication Date: 1873 to 2001. ...
  • Harper's Bazaar. Publication Date: 1867 to present. ...
  • Ladies' Home Journal. Publication Date: 1883 to present. ...
  • Good Housekeeping. ...
  • Cosmopolitan. ...
  • Vogue. ...
  • Redbook.
Jan 20, 2023

What popular magazines no longer exist? ›

Some other publications recently no longer in print include: O magazine, Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, Popular Science, Shape, Air & Space Smithsonian, and ARTnews.

What is the most subscribed magazine in the US? ›

Magazines with largest monthly audience in the U.S. 2022

People magazine had the largest audience in the United States in June 2022, with an average monthly reach of 81.35 million people. AARP The Magazine ranked second with a reach of 48.49 million, followed by Allrecipes with a total audience of just over 40 million.

What is the most famous magazine brand? ›

Ranking the Top 80 Magazine Brands based on Digital Competence
RankMagazine
1Wired
2The New Yorker
3Entertainment Weekly
3Glamour
9 more rows
Aug 14, 2012

What is pig magazine? ›

PIG (People in Groove) is for people who wants to discover and read about young fresh new & talented artists in music fashion cinema arts and design.

Why is it called a magazine? ›

In 1731, an Englishman named Edward Cave published a periodical called The Gentleman's Magazine. He invented the word "magazine" from the Arabic word makhazin, which meant storehouse. Cave's goal was to create a magazine that the general public would be interested in.

What is in a lifestyle magazine? ›

Lifestyle journalism is the field of journalism that provides news and opinion, often in an entertaining tone, regarding goods and services used by consumers in their everyday life. Lifestyle journalism covers travel, fashion, fitness, leisure, food, and arts, among other topics.

Are magazines in decline? ›

Over the past few years, we've seen print numbers decline with more people turning to digital media for their entertainment following the rise of online publications and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Do magazines still make money? ›

Print Subscriptions

For legacy and established brands, print magazines are still a great steady source of income. Although cost of production can be high, print has a few distinct benefits a medium: First, print subscribers a loyal and reliable.

Why are magazines always a month ahead? ›

There are two reasons for this discrepancy: first, to allow magazines to continue appearing "current" to consumers even after they have been on sale for some time (since not all magazines will be sold immediately), and second, to inform newsstands when an unsold magazine can be removed from the stands and returned to ...

When did Life magazine start? ›

The LIFE magazine was launched in 1883 as a lightweight publication mostly centered on humor, but after it was purchased by the owner of Time, Henry Luce, in 1936, it became a crucial weekly news publication in the United States focused on photojournalism.

What was the first dog in Life magazine? ›

“Blind” won the No. 1 U.S. retriever stake of the year and had his picture taken at Southampton by LIFE photographer George Karger. He is believed to be first dog to appear on the cover of Life Magazine when his photo appeared on the December 12, 1938 cover.

What to do with stacks of old magazines? ›

If you've let your magazines pile up, instead of dumping all your old periodicals into the recycle bin, try your hand at repurposing those monthly mags.
...
where can I donate magazines?
  1. Local library.
  2. Nursing homes.
  3. Military troops.
  4. Women and family shelters.
  5. Doctor and dentist offices.
  6. Preschools and daycares.
Nov 18, 2021

Is it OK to store ammo in magazines? ›

When using quality magazines with quality ammunition, stored and maintained properly, you can leave them loaded as long as you want to without any reservation.

Should magazines be stored flat or upright? ›

Comics and magazines must always be stored on end such that the spine supports the issue. Even if you have them in a board and bag, the issue can sag in the bag causing a slight permanent bend.

What is Deaf Life magazine? ›

DEAF LIFE is a monthly magazine that gives visibility to the Deaf Community, provides a forum for Deaf views, and enlightenment to hearing readers. View back issues. Playing in picture-in-picture. DEAFLIFE-WEBSITE-LAUNCH.

Are Life magazine images public domain? ›

Probably not. All Life Magazine photos are copyrighted. You absolutely can use photos from old Life magazines—if you go through the proper licensing. There is a website that will direct you to the various sources of Life photos.

How do I sell my magazine? ›

3 KEYS TO SELLING YOUR MAGAZINE:
  1. Know your audience. ...
  2. Sell advertising. ...
  3. Create the next one. ...
  4. Events. ...
  5. Through your blog. ...
  6. Showcase community collaboration. ...
  7. As a companion piece to a project, or Kickstarter incentive. ...
  8. Large print run through Large Order Services, larger stockists.

Why was Life magazine discontinued? ›

Time Inc. cited the “decline in the newspaper business” and poor advertising outlook as factors in its decision. Time Inc. has now shut down Life magazine three times. Originally launched in 1936 as a weekly, Life was suspended from regular publication in 1972 and brought back as a monthly in 1978.

What is the oldest magazine still in print? ›

The oldest consumer magazine still in print is The Scots Magazine, which was first published in 1739, though multiple changes in ownership and gaps in publication totalling over 90 years weaken that claim.

How do you make money with magazines? ›

How do Digital Magazines Make Money?
  1. Advertisem*nts (Banner Ads, Google AdSense, etc.) The first method of making money with digital magazines is via advertisem*nts. ...
  2. Selling Membership (Subscription) Plans. ...
  3. Sponsored Content. ...
  4. Affiliate Marketing. ...
  5. Mailing Lists. ...
  6. Creating Events. ...
  7. With Podcasts and Other Media. ...
  8. Live Streaming.
May 9, 2022

What type of vintage items are worth money? ›

Here, you'll find a list of the most popular vintage items that are currently in demand.
  • Records. Records are a popular collectible item among various age groups. ...
  • Vintage Advertising Signage. ...
  • Vintage Books. ...
  • Automobilia/Petroliana. ...
  • Vintage Toys. ...
  • Jewelry. ...
  • Mid-Century Modern. ...
  • Art Deco.
Mar 1, 2022

What vintage household items are worth money? ›

15 surprisingly valuable things you might have lying around the...
  • Old Magazines. If you're one of those people that find it hard to through away magazines, it may have been worth those years of lugging them around. ...
  • Vintage Furniture. ...
  • Old cameras. ...
  • Rare coins or notes. ...
  • Books. ...
  • Stamps. ...
  • Old china. ...
  • Glassware.
Jun 2, 2022

Is there an app that tells you what an item is worth? ›

The eValuator app determines a realistic average price from items successfully sold in the past weeks. Perfect to find out what you can earn selling something, or to check if a promising bargain really is one.

Is Life magazine only online now? ›

April 20 will be LIFE's last print issue, Time, a unit of Time Warner , said in a statement. It is the latest magazine to shut down as more readers desert print publications for online news and photos.

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