PRIME COLLECTIBLE MAGAZINES

PRIME COLLECTIBLE MAGAZINES

Issues That Have the Potentials to Become Very Valuable

 

          Among my collection of Philippine magazines, except for the truly vintage (more than half a century old as of this posting) and first issues, which are already posted in this blog, I find the following as prime collectibles, some presently having high collectibility value and others having potentials for future value increments.

          How important is the cover of a magazine for collector? When I asked my fellow collectors, their answers were just about in the middle. Some collectors collects magazines just for the covers, for its uniqueness, for its extraordinary features, for its rare quirks and foibles, and others for what the magazines contain, the write-ups, ads, pictures, and stories. For me, if I were to estimate the value of collectible magazine, the cover  comprises around 70 percent of its worth.

          The magazine cover must indeed have unique and extraordinary features for it to be potentially collectible.

 

UNIQUE AND EXTRAORDINARY

MOD Vol. 36 No. 1693, March 26, 2004,
with Christine Jacobs on the main front cover,
and Lydia de Vega, and Milo’s “40 Years” Hall of Champions print ads
on the inside cover’s folded spread.

          On its March 26, 2004 issue, MOD release a two-leaf five-page reverse folded front cover spread in celebration of Milo’s 40th year titled “Hall of Champions” (the back cover is not shown here). It featured Christine Jacob on the main front cover, Lydia de Vega on the inside front cover, and a gallery of star athletes on the reverse fold of the front page and on the succeeding six pages. This alone makes this MOD issue a prime collectible.
 

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 21 No. 9, June 24, 1997,
with Rosanna Roces on the front cover.

          This is probably the only time that Mr. & Ms. featured a totally nude celebrity on its cover (June 24, 1997 issue) in the person of Rosanna Roces wearing only a pair of crystal wings. Though nothing is really exposed, this one is as rare as it gets, and therefore very, very valuable.

 

Pinoy Playboy Vol. 1 No. 44,
with the cast of Take Home Girl on the front cover
and Anna Luna on the back cover.

          An adult magazine with seven nude women on the front cover, and yet only a single nipple can be seen, is certainly quite rare and extremely collectible. Pinoy Playboy August 9, 1984 issue featured the cast of Take Home Girls: Emily Loren and Anna Luna (on the floor), Anna Marie Gutierrez (on the sofa), Farida Yulo (kneeling sideways, the only one with an exposed nipple), and Maritess Samson, Glenda Araneta and Angela Perez (at the back of the sofa). On the back cover is Anna Luna.

 

Movie Queen Showbiz Magazine Vol. 6 No. 62,
with Vilma Santos on the front cover
and Ric Manrique Jr on the back cover.

          Where can you see a picture of Vilma Santos in a made-up leopard skin jungle outfit holding a poodle in her right arm and the leash of a monkey on her left? This Movie Queen Showbiz Magazine July 30, 1973 issue had it all captured for posterity in its front cover. To top it all, singer Ric Manrique Jr is on the back cover.

 

Playhouse Men’s Magazine Vol. 1 No. 2, February 12, 2008
(Two cover variants),
with Jeanette Joaquin (left) and Wella Williams (right)
on the front covers.

          Playhouse Men’s Magazine had only two legitimate issues. Both of them have two cover-variants, very unique, extraordinary  and groundbreaking, and all are highly collectible. This February 12, 2008 second issue featured the story “Bondage,” with Jeanette Joaquin (white underwear) on the first cover and Wella Williams on the second cover.

 

ERRORS AND MISTAKES

Aliwan Vol. 2 No. 84, March 31, 1947,
with the illustration of Alfonso Sujeco’s novel,
 Ikalimang Utos ng Diyos, on the cover.

           The magazine Aliwan, containing novels and some komiks pages started circulating in 1946. Because of its vintage, any existing copy is considered rare, but to be highly collectible it must still be in very good to excellent condition. This particular March 31, 1947 issue, which bannered the illustration of Alfonso Sujeco’s novel, Ikalimang Utos ng Diyos (“Fifth Commandment of God”), is one for the book. Why? Because, if you haven’t read the novel, you will think that either its title is wrong or the cover illustration is wrong. In the Bible (Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5), the Fifth Commandment is “Honor thy father and mother” and not “Thou shall not kill” as implied in the novel’s title and cover spread illustration. While the mistake maybe out of ignorance or a religious foible, either way it gives intrinsic value to the magazine.
 

 

Celebrity World Vol. 3 No. 153, July 11, 1994,
with Gretchen Barretto on the cover.

          Errors such as typos and misspellings are quite rare, especially on a magazine cover. This is because the publication goes through several editing and proofreading eyes. So, any such occurrence is considered to have intrinsic value. Take a look at the spelling (encircled by red line) of the word “collision” on this Celebrity World July 11, 1994 issue cover.

 

Mr. & Mr. Vol. 20 No. 8, June 25, 1996,
with Regine Velasquez and Kuh Ledesma on the cover

          For this Mr. & Ms. June 25, 1996 issue, the mistake maybe considered not readily known unless you check the issue date with the issue volume and number. This is one reason why this issue is extremely collectible and very valuable. The other is the front cover itself, featuring the rare instance that two well-known Philippine diva, Regine Velasquez and Kuh Ledesma, grace the cover.

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