Thoughts on the collecting of Obama inauguration newspapers…

January 21, 2009 by  
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It seems that with every election or inauguration I get asked about the collectability of such newspapers, so I thought I might share my thoughts with you, and encourage you to do the same.

USA Today - Obama Election & Inuguration

USA Today – Obama Election & Inuguration

As for pure collectability, sure, election and inauguration issues are collectible because they document a very important part of American history and the democratic process. The smooth transfer of power from one person or administration to another does not come easily to many countries today. And to be able to add such historic issues to a collection for 50 cents or a buck is a great opportunity.

But I suspect the real interest of many who inquire about the collectability (of Barrack Obama election and inauguration issues) is the potential for such issues to increase in value. My opinion is, in general, no. They will not increase much in value in years to come. Now I’m speaking of “recent” history, say the last 30 years or so. I feel the public has become very collector-focused the last several decades, and many, many “historic” newspapers have been set aside in attics and drawers only to be found by their children many years later.

For a newspaper to appreciate dramatically in value I believe it requires several things: 1) Historic content. Yes, elections and inaugurations are historic; 2) Rarity. No, elections and inaugurations of the past 30 years are not rare because they were hoarded in large quantities and will always be relatively common; and 3) Something unique or dramatic. A “screaming” headline in tall, bold letters, or a cleverly worded headline, or something else which makes the issue unusual.

Supposedly the New York Times printed an extra one million issues of its January 21 inauguration issue, and I suspect most of them will be hoarded in quantity. The Washington Post printed a much larger quantity than normal, but they didn’t comment on the exact quantity. I’m sure it was sizable, and many of those issues will be hoarded. All this means that 20 years from now issues will be showing up on eBay (or its equivalent at that time) and anywhere else people might try to sell collectibles.  With millions of such newspapers in the marketplace will the values get higher and higher? I doubt it.

Issues which tend to increase in value are those which were NOT saved. Most major headlines pre-World War II have appreciated nicely in value because they were not hoarded in quantities. I just don’t think the American public was collector-conscience then, so consequently they are genuinely rare in additional to being historic. And add a huge headline or terrific graphic and you have the potential for a very desirable newspaper; one which has appreciated nicely in value.

As an interesting side note, I understand that the New York Post printed a special afternoon inauguration edition on January 20. Given that most major newspapers are morning publications, coverage of the inaugural proceedings would be in their September 21 issue. But the Post had coverage in their January 20 issue, the same day as the election. A friend, stopping by a newsstand in New York city bought several issues of the Times of January 21 and noted a stack of other issues in the back. Inquiring what they were he was told it was the Post of the 20th, “…but they came in too late to be sold on the newsstand, so they will be returned. We can’t sell a day old newspaper…” the friend promptly purchased them all. I’d be curious to hear how many of the January 20 afternoon edition were actually sold on the streets and not returned for destruction. Perhaps that edition will have a real rarity component.

But don’t let this deter you from collecting historic events of the last 30 years and events yet to come. One of the great aspects of this hobby is the ability to assemble a great collection of truly historic newspapers at a nominal cost–at the newsstand price if you are lucky.

What are your thoughts?

Note:  The Times News (out of Lehighton, PA) interviewed Tim concerning this topic.  The article may be accessed at:  http://www.tnonline.com/about

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Comments

2 Responses to “Thoughts on the collecting of Obama inauguration newspapers…”

  1. Morris on January 22nd, 2009 5:32 pm

    I set my alarm for 6:30 A.M. Wednesday, January 21st. Normally it would take a fire, earthquake, or a scream for HELP to get me out of bed at that time of morning.

    My impetus this day was to get a New York Times newspaper of President Obama’s inauguration. I live in a small town at the foothills of the Pocono Mountains and our local grocery store generally only gets two or three N.Y. Times. (It seems no one wants to pay $3.00 or more for a newspaper.)

    I was waiting outside the store before 7:00 AM., at which time the store opens for business. When the doors opened I hurried to the newsstand and lo and behold, they actually had six N.Y. Times.

    A friend living in Amsterdam, Netherlands had sent me an email to get him a copy of a ’national’ American paper on the inauguration. The Netherlands was so excited over the inauguration of President Obama that he just had to have an American paper. So I purchased two N.Y. Times and also a N.Y. Post because, for a change, the Post actually had a ‘non-tabloid’ headline, not like their typical headline such as ‘Saddam Swings’ or some other intellectually questionable headline. It also had a real nice 32 page insert with great pictures.

    I can’t wait till 2109 when this paper may fetch as much as $30.00
    The fact I will be 166 years old does not concern me. My Yiddish name is the same as Moses so I expect to be around for quite a while.

    Morris

  2. Todd And on January 26th, 2009 6:49 pm

    For me, the Obama election and inauguration newspapers are two that I want to save for my kids and grandkids to read one day… when printed papers no longer exist. On a completely separate subject, did you see the video clip of MLK Jr in 1964 predicting an African American president in about 40 years or less? Just a few years off, but very impressive!

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