10 Most Valuable National Geographic Magazines

On 13th January 1888, some men in horsedrawn carriages, on horseback, and even on foot headed to Lafayette Square. These thirty-three men convened around a large mahogany table to discuss how to increase the diffusion of geographical knowledge. This discussion led them to create a non-profit scientific society, and some months later, a National Geographic Magazine got printed.

The National Geographic Magazine was once one of the world’s foremost publications, and many people hold it in high esteem. Although this magazine no longer holds a high position in society, its collector value has continually increased. This article will guide you on the ten most valuable National Geographic Magazines and how to get yours.

History of the National Geographic Magazine

Iconic for its yellow-squared covers, the National Geographic Magazine is a classic publication that’s been around for 100 years. With its center of operations located in Washington, D.C., this publication has become a household name for any magazine lover. Although the advent of the internet has reduced its readership, many subscribers refuse to part with it.

In October 1888, the first edition got published with a bland brown cover. This plain cover became the routine of later publications until 1959, when illustrations got introduced on the cover. When this magazine started, its dimensions were 6×9 1⁄2 inches; however, this became 7×10 inches in 1900.

The first two pages of the publication spoke of the National Geographic Society’s mission and guiding ethics. Since then, the National Geographic Magazine got published every month. However, this routine got broken up a few times:

• The first time was in 1897 when 11 publications got produced instead of 12
• In 1917, they also made 11 publications.

The National Geographic Magazine had relatively humble beginnings, as the first volumes were dull and lacking in aesthetics. They were black and white, with boring scientific texts and meteorological maps making up their pages. Of course, the scientific texts made up most of the pages.

This changed in 1904 when an editor got directed by the printer to include 11 more pages in the publication. However, the editor couldn’t create appropriate texts within that short period and decided to use the pictures instead. He inserted the picture of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.

Although this was unorthodox at the time, the move was a success nonetheless. Many readers lauded the January edition of the 1905 publication because of its captivating pictures.

This move affected later publications and made the National Geographic Magazine hire professional photographers for this purpose. As the magazine increased in popularity, it became a matter of prestige to have your picture included in the magazine. As such, the professional photographers pushed to have their pictures included in an issue.

Before digital prints became mainstream, you had to own a magazine or a news publication to read the news. Owning these publications allowed readers to enjoy the stories hidden within, while the pictures allowed readers to visualize the stories. Even in the 21st century, many readers prefer a physical print to a digital copy.

National Geographic Magazine has recorded iconic moments of human history and nature. This includes the Apollo 11 flight, the Machu Picchu discovery, the moon landing, and other historical events. Lots of collectors value this physical magazine because it allows them to re-read their favorite issues whenever they want to.

The 10 Most Valuable National Geographic Magazines

Since the unique issue of 1905, captivating photography slowly became a characteristic of the magazine. You can see this from the pictures on the front covers, which usually feature trending characters or pop culture icons.

These cover pictures, which depict a photographer’s magic, highlight the most important topic of that issue. However, these covers have become a defining factor for collectors as they help them classify the magazines better.

Although there have been a lot of iconic issues over‌ the years, some are more valuable than others. Accordingly, all issues that got published before the year 1907 are the most valuable National Geographic Magazines. Some of the most valuable National Geographic Magazines include:

The First Issue (1888)

The first edition of the National Geographic Magazine culled from Medium.com

The 1888 premier issue of National Geographic Magazine is one of the most valuable publications out there. Although its designs are very basic and unsophisticated, the first edition holds a special place in many hearts. The fact that very few of them survive to this day also increases their value for any collector.

The first issue got published to fit the 165 members of the National Geographic Society, with a few extras included. As such, they are the rarest of all National Geographic publications and the most costly as well.

The National Geographic Magazine (1889)

Title Page of National Geographic Magazine 1889 issue, culled from Biodiversity Heritage Library

The National Geographic Magazine (1890)

Title Page of National Geographic Magazine 1890 issue, culled from Biodiversity Heritage Library

The National Geographic Magazine (1891)

Title Page of National Geographic Magazine 1891 issue, culled from Biodiversity Heritage Library

The National Geographic Magazine (1892)

Title Page of National Geographic Magazine 1892 issue, culled from Biodiversity Heritage Library

The National Geographic Magazine (1893)

Title Page of National Geographic Magazine 1893 issue, culled from Biodiversity Heritage Library

The National Geographic Magazine (1895)

Title Page of National Geographic Magazine 1895 issue, culled from Biodiversity Heritage Library

The National Geographic Magazine (1896)

Title Page of National Geographic Magazine 1896 issue, culled from Biodiversity Heritage Library

The National Geographic Magazine (1900)

Title Page of National Geographic Magazine 1990 issue, culled from Biodiversity Heritage Library

The National Geographic Magazine (1904)

Title Page of National Geographic Magazine 1904 issue, culled from Biodiversity Heritage Library

The above are some of the most valuable editions of National Geographic Magazines out there. Their value comes from the fact that they are vintage editions.

However, some collectors are curators of the colored covers of the magazines. Such individuals would find the publications below more valuable:

The First Colored Issue (1959)

The 1959 issue, culled from Medium.com

Many years after pictures became mainstream in the National Geographic Magazine, the first issue with a colored cover got published. Published in July 1959, this issue has a picture of the United States (US) banner flying from a pole.

Before this issue got published, Alaska joined the union in January of that year. As such, the issue consisted of several articles about the new state and a map of Alaska.

After this issue, the later publications of the magazine unveil various truths about our planet to the readers. This, in turn, cemented this magazine as a publication interested in protecting all life on the planet.

The Man from Ethiopia (1965)

The man from Ethiopia culled from Biblio.com

Although the African continent got discovered many years back, not many Americans got to witness it. This issue of National Geographic Magazine opened the eyes of the public regarding Africans. Its contents also gave people an idea of what the day-to-day lives of Africans are like.

First Explorers on the Moon (1969)

First explorers on the moon, culled from Medium.com

The moon landing of 20th July 1969 is one of humanity’s most historic moments. It was the moment when astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin took humankind’s first steps on the moon. The landing of Apollo 11 heralded the beginning of humanity’s journey outside Earth.

However, that first journey got shown on live TV, and up to 600 million people worldwide watched it. The world talked about it for months after the event, and National Geographic made their publication five months after.

Conversations with a Gorilla (1978)

Conversations with a Gorilla culled from  Medium.com

Psychologist and researcher Penny Patterson taught a female western lowland gorilla sign language. This gorilla, Hanabiko Koko, got taught up to 1000 words in a modified American Sign Language. As a 24-year-old graduate student, Patterson met Koko in 1971 at the San Francisco Zoo for the first time.

She came back to study the baby gorilla the next year as part of her (Doctor of Philosophy) Ph.D. For her Ph.D. project, she decided to teach Koko words in sign language. However, their relationship changed over time from that of a researcher and a subject to friends.

While expressing remarkable learning abilities, Koko also showed some capability in photography. This got National Geographic interested, and they decided to pay a visit. A team member brought a mirror close and got Koko to take a self-portrait through the mirror.  

The Temples of Angkor (1982)

The temples of Angkor culled from NG Collector

The Temple of Angkor Wat is located in Cambodia, which got media attention after the Khmer Rouge regime got overthrown. This is one popular National Geographic magazine issue that focuses on archaeological discoveries.

The Afghan Girl (1985)

The Afghan Girl culled from Medium.com

Although most National Geographic Magazine publications were about nature, some told a story. Photographer Steve McCurry paid a visit to a refugee camp in Pakistan, and while he was there, he noticed a 12-year-old girl.

He admits that he got drawn to that haunting look in her green eyes. Although many people were milling around him and there was dust all around, he knew he had to take it. Even though it was in the era of mechanical cameras, he knew that the image would be spectacular.  

When he came to National Geographic and showed them the picture, they knew that they had their next cover. Although there was no name for the girl on the cover, it became one of the most popular issues.

The Afghan Girl: Found (2002)

The Afghan girl: found, culled from Medium.com

The Afghan girl issue of the National Geographic Magazine set up a whirlwind of emotions. The world became interested in that little girl and wanted to know who she was. This forced Steve McCurry to search for the girl from time to time with the National Geographic team.

Although they were unsuccessful for 17 years, they still kept at it until someone recognized her. The man who recognized her knew the girl from the Nasir Bagh refugee camp since he also stayed there. He told the team that the girl had left many years earlier to the Tora Bora region of Afghanistan.

However, he promised them that he could bring them to the girl, and three days later, he did that. He brought back Sharbat Gula.

Sharbat Gula in 1985 and 2002, culled from Medium.com

Three Irish Boys with a Horse (1994)

Three Irish Boys with a Horse culled from NG Collector

One of the most valuable National Geographic Magazines depicts some of the lost sensations of traditional Ireland. A photographer was able to capture three Dublin boys who are hugging a pony while looking elsewhere.

The Tallest Trees (2009)

The tallest trees culled from Medium.com

It’s believed that the California Redwood forest contains some of the tallest trees on Earth. This forest expanse is one of the most protected regions of the Northern California coastal forests. It’s said to contain rare flora and fauna and is one of the United States’ most important plant ecosystems.

This sensation was so much that National Geographic sent one of their best photographers, Michael Nichols, to capture it. Michael required three weeks, lots of pulleys and rope, a large team, a gyroscope, and 84 differing images. With all these, he was able to capture the magnificence of some of the tallest trees on Earth.

How Much Are Old National Geographic Magazines Worth

Between 1888 and 1890, two volumes of the National Geographic Magazine got published. However, these two volumes got divided into nine different issues. The first volume consists of 4 issues, and the second volume consists of 5 issues.

From 1891 to 1895, 27 brochures of this magazine got published in total. All this culminates in 36 early editions of the National Geographic Magazine, and these are some of the most valuable.

The first four volumes of this magazine are the most valuable, with its price never going lower than $4000. Its price usually ranges between $7000 to $9000, with some exceptional copies going above $10,000.

Among the vintage magazines available today, the first volume of the National Geographic Magazine is one of the most valued. However, this value also correlates with its reduced supply since it’s challenging to find. Even when you do find it, it’s difficult to get any that’s in good condition.

After the first four issues, only the first three issues of the second volume can come close in value. However, these issues rarely go above $5000, as they are usually priced between $2000 to $5000. However, for later publications, prices fall drastically, with many of them being in the hundreds range.

Some of the National Geographic Magazines that got sold on eBay include:

• An 1889 issue of the National Geographic Magazine sold for $649 on eBay in 2013.
• An 1893 issue of the National Geographic Magazine sold for $981.41 on eBay in 2013.
• Vintage National Geographic Magazine from 1969, with the Apollo 11 Moon landing sold on eBay for $21.95 in 2022.
• Bundle of National Geographic Magazine from July to December 1966 in Faux Leather sold on eBay for $35 in 2022.

How to Determine Your Old National Geographic Magazine’s Value

It was established above that the rarest and the most valuable National Geographic Magazines are the premier versions. This means that the first two volumes that got published and those that came a few years after that. However, there are times when a first edition 1888 issue sells worse than a 1905 issue.

Situations like this arise from factors such as the condition of that publication, its year of production, etc. Although an old National Geographic Magazine is valuable, this value is dependent on several factors. These factors affect the ultimate value of that publication.

As such, you can determine your old National Geographic Magazine’s value  with the steps below:

The Physical Condition of the Issue

This is one of the most vital determinants of an old National Geographic Magazine’s value. Are the pages of the book torn, is the front cover still there, and is the map attachment still intact? All these physical factors and more affect the value of any issue.

In fact, besides the first volumes, the value of such issues drops to nothing if the cover page isn’t present. So, if your post-1907 issue is missing its cover page, don’t expect up to $20 from it.

Is It in a Bundle?

Some people love collecting their publications in bundles, and they’re willing to pay more for this. So, if you’ve got the entire issue for a particular year, you’ll make more from selling it as a bundle.

Is It a First Edition or a Reprint?

First editions of any old publication are the vintage editions, and reprints are much lower in value. So, the value of your National Geographic Magazine will be low if it’s a reprint that got produced some other year. At least, it will be much lower than that of the original print.

The Year of the Publication

One of the key forces that determine the value of any National Geographic Magazine is the power of demand and supply. Besides being produced much earlier, vintage National Geographic Magazines are valuable because they’re rare. They got produced according to the numbers of the National Geographic Society members, which numbered in the hundreds.

As such, there’s not much of them to go around, much less be in good condition. So, if you’ve got one of those early editions, collectors will be willing to pay more.

Places to purchase Vintage National Geographic Magazines

A vintage National Geographic Magazine is a rare treasure today, with many issues being in the hands of old families. So, you can find some in the attics of some families, in their garages, their basements, etc. You can also find some at yard sales when these families decide to clear their clutter.

Nevertheless, the internet has made it easy to catch wind of old National Geographic Magazines. So, you can find some of these publications at online auctions, newspaper classified sales, and some online platforms. A few platforms that you can visit for authentic National Geographic Magazines include:

• eBay: eBay is the most popular online auction site and one of the first places to visit for rare goods. This online platform allows collectors to purchase vintage National Geographic Magazines, modern issues, or old National Geographic Magazines reprints. However, using this platform requires a lot of patience as good deals can only appear after waiting a while.
• National Geographic Collectors Corner: The National Geographic Collectors Corner is an online platform that got built by collectors of this magazine. There are guides on how to find rare publications, what these rare publications are, and steps to identify them. Alongside this, they have also got a discussion section where members can create threads to retail their magazines.
• AbeBooks: AbeBooks is an online platform that houses a wide variety of reading material, vintage National Geographic Magazines included. You can take your time to browse the website for a good deal on an edition that you want. Alongside the original editions, they also provide reprints for interested collectors.
• Amazon: Amazon started as a book-retailing service, and this aspect has never changed. They’re one of the best places to visit if you’re looking for a rare publication. However, it’s going to be difficult to see a first edition here, as it’s filled with reprints.
• Etsy: Etsy is a platform where buyers and sellers meet to exchange goods and legal tenders. If you’re interested in getting genuine old National Geographic Magazines, you can browse this website.

How to take care of your Vintage National Geographic Magazine

It’s necessary to know how to take care of books if you’re going to be a collector of vintage books. Most of these books got published hundreds of years ago, with early production methods. As such, any form of improper handling can lead to them coming apart, their words fading, or the pages crumbling.

Some of the factors to consider when taking care of your vintage National Geographic Magazines include:

• Keeping them away from water and direct sunlight
• Avoid stacking them up as this can deform these fragile books or cause them to stick together
• Protect the publications by placing them in slipcases or sturdy paper jackets.

Final Thoughts

The National Geographic Magazine is an initiative by the National Geographic Society to educate the common person on geographical knowledge. This magazine started small, with only the society’s members getting any, but this changed many years later.

Although this magazine started as just words on paper, the importance of pictures got unveiled later. Its status has grown to the point that collectors judge an issue based on the beauty of its cover page. While early National Geographic Magazines are the most valuable moneywise, many collectors could pay more for beautiful modern issues.