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The Collection

Summary:

The Magazine Collection: This page describes the unique & valuable collection you are buying.

  • 769 Magazines - Every US magazine ever printed (December 1953 to Present)
  • 68 Years of Magazines
  • Included multiple magazines printed in single month
  • Organized for access
    • Each Magazine Indexed Chronologically (1-769)
    • Stored in 29 New Numbered Magazine boxes (C1-C29)
    • Linked to a Collection Database (see "The Data" page)
  • Magazines Stored with Care
    • Acid Free Boards
    • Stored Vertically – Alternatively placed front to back
    • Boxes not overstuffed
    • Air Pillow Packing
    • Lifetime interior humidity-controlled, non-smoking environment
  • ~800 Pound Collection

I do not believe you will find a better set of quality Playboy Magazines anywhere!

Collection Quality:

This entire 769 magazine Collection is of extremely high quality…exceptionally high quality 1950s-decade magazines. All magazines are bagged, boarded, and newly boxed. They are all stored vertically, alternative stacked front to back with magazine dividers by year in numbered boxes.

Entire Collection

The entire Collection has always been stored inside a humidity controlled, non-smoking home…... never in a garage; All centerfolds and covers are firmly attached; there are no spine tears. Covers and pages are clean. Only very minor imperfections (if any) on any magazine.

Included all hard to find copies of multiple covers published in a given month; Magazines from 1983 forward are mint, removed from original shipping bag, never read, and re-bagged and boarded;

Quality Definition Sources:

This Playboy Collection was graded on 3 separate sources for quality definitions and priced on 3 of 4 different price lists (See Quality and Price Source Tables below). The quality assessment was performed repeatedly over the last 40 years (1980-to 2020) as I upgraded magazines in the collection. Some of the sites for quality definitions, I chose long ago, have now shut down, but I had downloaded copies of every definition that were used. ( See the downloaded site data in References )

The quality definitions sources are listed in the table below along with the link to the website for the definition.

Quality Sources

Any minor deviation from the absolute best quality magazines were mapped into the quality definitions on the eBay and Bear Value scales using the criteria in the following table.

Quality Deviation Mapping Criteria

Price Sources:

Not all price lists were available in every year. In most cases, 3 of the 4 separate price lists were used to determine value. For the more current issues (Jan 2007 to Winter 2020), only 2 price lists were used. However, these later magazines are all mint. The following Table shows the specific magazine price lists used for each year. The 1st Issue, Dec 1953, was priced based on market value.

Pricing Sources by Year

Quality Metrics:

To help quantify the quality of The Collection, I have taken the five eBay quality definitions (Brand New, Like New, Very Good, Good, Acceptable) and the five Bear Value quality definitions (Near Mint to Mint, Near Mint, Excellent, Good, OK) to develop quality metrics. These metrics show both the total and percent total of magazines in the 1950 decade and the total and percent total of magazines in the entire collection that are in the Top 2 Categories for the eBay and Bear Value quality definitions.

The quality of The Collection is demonstrated by the percentage metrics shown in the following three tables.

The first table summarizes The Collection quality (magazines in the top two quality categories) for several different year groupings. The next two tables provide the details of this quality summary.

Quality Metrics Summary

The middle levels (3rd) on both scales are considered collector quality. The metrics for the eBay and Bear Value definitions are identical.

The tables above are found at the right-hand side of The Collection Database (discussed later). The sum of each quality assessment by year is totaled in the appropriate quality column and the percentage calculated. For example, there are 13 magazines in the 1953 & 1954 years. There is 1 magazine (8%) in the top quality category and 11 (85%) in the second category. Hence 93% are in the top two quality levels.

The first table summarizes The Collection quality (magazines in the top two quality categories) for several different year groupings. The next two tables provide the details of this quality summary.

Number of Magazines by Year and Quality (1950 Decade Only)

Number of Magazines by Decade and Quality (Total Collection)

Collection Value And Price:

This is a once in a lifetime chance to own a rare, valuable, and enjoyable piece of history. Very few complete collections ever become available. The last print magazine was published in Winter 2020.


Value: The value of this Collection is found on the far-right side of the Database. The value of each magazine in each row shows average value over several price and quality sources. The value is totaled by year and cumulative. The Collection value is listed at the bottom right portion of the pricing section of the Database.

That is if you bought each of equal quality magazine separately on the market (if you can find them). But remember, this is a highly organized, high quality, realistically priced Collection!

The value of this collection will only increase!

Details:

SHIPPING: Buyer Responsibility. I do not believe this Collection should be shipped commercially, but picked up by the buyer in Santa Barbara, CA. Make is an inspection, buying, vacation trip.

The Collection weighs 800 lbs. composed of 30 quality BCW magazine boxes. (The BCW box dimensions are 9"W x 15.75"L x 11.75"H). If you do not wish to pick the Collection up in Santa Barbara, CA, there are commercial services that ships and provides insurance for collectables. But it is the buyer responsibility to make all arrangements. I have talked to the two below:

A commercial service must put the 30 boxes on a pallet, fabricate and custom wooden crate, pack it with styrofoam, insure it for $30,000 and ship it to you. It is expensive. I have quotes for shipping in the continental US between $3,000 and $5,000.

PAYMENT: To ensure both the Buyer and Seller are comfortable and protected in this transaction, the following process shall be followed:

  • Buyer inspects the Collection in Santa Barbara, CA and accepts the Collection in the quantity and quality presented in the website.
  • Seller will provide a Release Letter to Buyer which both Buyer and Seller will sign stating the Terms and Conditions of this sale listed here.
  • Buyer accepts the Collection as offered after inspection.
  • Buyer provides the Purchase Price in liquid funds (No Cashier's Checks) to local attorney, specified by seller, who will hold the liquid funds in his trust account.
  • When Buyer takes possession of The Collection, the attorney shall release the funds to Seller.
  • The transaction is complete (See Return Policy below).

RETURN POLICY: None. Sorry. You are welcome to visit and inspect the Collection in Santa Barbara, CA. You are buying a valuable collection from a meticulous collector (not a magazine seller), which will increase in value over time. High-definition pictures are provided in The Gallery.

You will be glad you made this purchase. It is an excellent investment, at a very fair price.

CONTACT

MYPLAYBOYCOLLECTION.COM
(805) 448-2568 (tel-805-448-2568)
skimanjim1@gmail.com