Address labels

These days, address labels tend to be printed in special areas on back pages. Earlier magazines frequently show paper labels applied to the fronts of issues. Address labels are exceedingly common, but fortunately show in most photos.

I try to flip through most magazines to see if there are any missing pages. Occasionally, however, single ads may have been clipped and escaped detection. I have seldom seen evidence of ads clipped out of general interest magazines. I have, however, found ads clipped out of magazines intended for younger readers. I always describe such problems if I find them.

Round stains from wet bottles and cups are sometimes found on magazine covers. Generally, I discard such magazines, but I sell a few if they are otherwise desireable or collectible.

These days, covers are applied to magazines prior to trimming to final size. The pages of many earlier magazines were stapled together and sometimes trimmed, before the covers were applied. These earlier ,magazine covers were often 1/4" larger than the pages inside. These covers were often "floppy" and developed edge tears almost immediately. I don't think I have ever seen perfect covers on those kinds of magazines.

Pencil, pen, or crayon marks

It is exceedingly common to find random marks on the covers of magazines. There seems to be a loose relationship in that magazines with the marks lack address labels and issue with labels lack marks. I strongly suspect many of these marks represent newstand sales. Distributors often marked covers as part of their inventory system.

Essentially all newspapers were printed in vertical formats (narrow and tall). However, they were almost always (and I mean maybe 99.999%!) folded in half to horizontal formats (wider than tall). That last fold is what I call the "horizontal centerfold."

Paper can develop a light wave when dampened or stored in a ver humid environment. The easiest way to feel paper wave is to run your hand lightly down the length of the cover near the spine or outside edge.

Unlike newspapers, magazines were meant to be read or saved over extended periods of time. Extended use often shows up by separation of the front and back covers, either at the top, bottom, or both. "Perfect bound" magazines (those with flat spines) often show the same kinds of separations, although they seem to appear more frequently on the front.

Except for Life, Look, Saturday Evening Post and a few other large format publications, most magazines were sized for comfortable reading. Mail boxes, mail slots, and postal boxes, however, were seldom that large. consequently, magazines frequently show light vertical creases. Even when present, vertical centerfolds are seldom bad.

Water stains are moderately common, but not always visible on first examination. Look inside the front or back covers. If rust or black stain shows around the staples, then the issue has been dampened at one time.