What are my vintage adult magazines worth?

Answer 1

Well I'd need a bit more information as it is not just the age or condition that adds value to a magazine, it depends on who's inside and what the shoot depicts. The most traded market is for magazines that are from 1980 through 1990.

I would suggest to start by trawling through the online adult magazine database at http://jobbydealer.com that will give you an idea as to what people expect to pay for a clean copy of certain issues.

Bear in mind that these are retail prices on this website so don't expect a trader to buy the lot in bulk at a similar price.

For these magazines, condition (or "grade") is a major factor in determining a magazine's value. An issue which is well-preserved can be worth much more than one which is damaged or well-worn. Completeness also is crucial, as it is common to find magazines which have had ads, pictures, or entire pages removed, and incomplete magazines are usually difficult to sell at any price.

The title, date (usually month and year), and contents are also important factors in the worth of a magazine. A number of popular authors have had their work published in these vintage magazines; these issues are worth more than other issues of the same age and title. For example, Stephen King had his first stories published in some of these magazines in the 1970s before he became famous.

Also there are a number of vintage models who are very popular and whose presence in a magazine can add substantial value. (*see second paragraph below for more on this)

An excellent way to quickly find a 'ballpark estimate' of a magazine's value is to search the Completed Auctions section of eBay's Adult Only --> Magazine Back Issues category. To access the Adult Only category, you must be a member of eBay and provide them a valid credit or debit card number, which is a one-time process used solely for verification of your identity to keep minors out of that part of the site. (I don't know any kids with their own credit cards.) Also, you must be a member of eBay to access Completed Auctions in ANY category, not just Adult Only. These Completed Auctions are available on the site for only 15 days after an auction closes, so in many cases you won't find a historical price for a specific issue, but you will often find many results for other issues of the same title - just search for the title without any date, or search for the title and year without a month. (Note: these items are available on the site for 90 days by searching for item number, but available for only 15 days if searching by title.)

To get a sense of whether a magazine model is popular - and therefore valuable - is to search their name in the eBay adult magazine auction titles. Many collectors have favorite models whose magazines they collect, and sellers try to attract these bidders by mentioning popular models in their listings. eBay also has an option to search titles AND descriptions (for current auctions only); a name search by title and description will generate many more hits than just a title search.

When you search auction listings for magazine prices, search for the title and the date. For example, you might search for Playboy March 1958 or Modern Man May 1965 or maybe Tip Top Vol 2 No 3. If the specific issue does not appear, search by title and year (without month) to find how much contemporaneous issues are selling for. Most newsstand magazines are dated by month and year; most magazines sold through adult theaters and bookstores are dated by Volume-Number or simply Number. When you find an actual sale price, note the condition described in the listing - your copy might be worth more or less depending on the condition of your copy.

An excellent way to sell these magazines is to simply list them on eBay - in the Adult Only --> Magazine Back Issues category, of course. A good listing includes the following: (1) a scan or digital photo of the actual magazine cover, (2) a title header which includes magazine title and date as well as Volume and Number, plus (if known) most popular or notable models, authors, interviewees, and public figures (e.g. JFK, Timothy Leary, Ronald Reagan), and (3) a description which includes the general condition of the magazine plus any problems which detract from the condition (e.g. dog-eared pages, cover crease, rusty staples), plus anything appropriate for (2) above which doesn't fit into the title header. In general, the more names you can put in a listing, the better. Model photos in addition to the cover picture are also helpful; many sellers add at least one or two more photos to each listing. Include the cover price in your description, especially if your magazine does not list a date, as cover prices are helpful in dating these magazines.

If selling on eBay, Sunday evening (Eastern time) is the most popular time sellers use to end their auctions, as this seems to be the most popular time for bidders to access the site.

An easier - but less profitable - ways to sell these magazines is to consign them to an eBay seller who for a fee will do all the work and typically will create a more valuable listing than the average person. Many people earn money selling other people's stuff on eBay - there's probably someone in your town doing it.

Online dealer prices often seem unrealistically high, but there is a reason for this. Many vintage magazine specific issues are scarce, and some are rare, which is to say that a person who passes up an 'unrealistically high' price may not be able to find another copy of that issue at any price. Dealers use their websites as an online store, cheap to operate but profitable whenever a magazine sells.

Actual sale prices on eBay offer a better guide to the value of these magazines, but prices vary from seller to seller (based on seller reputation, feedback, and content of listings), from week to week or even by time of day, so don't take a single price or two as more than a ballpark estimate.

Answer 2

The value of vintage adult magazines can vary depending on factors such as rarity, condition, demand, and specific titles. It is recommended to research recent sales of similar magazines online or consult with a specialist or collector to get a more accurate estimate of their worth.

Answer 3

They are worth $20,000

Answer 4

A good ten minutes.