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Prices realized… 16th & 17th centuries…

While we’ve written several posts identifying some of the factors which impact the value of a rare and/or historic newspaper, a “price guide” showing prices realized is as of  yet unavailable.  Our hope would be to have such a resource accessible within the not-too-distant future.  In the meantime, we’ll be taking the next few Mondays to provide some information in this regard which we hope you will find helpful.

[1]16th & 17th Centuries:

One of the earliest issues you will find…  ZEITUNGEN, AUS WELSCHLANDEN, 1546 ($1,752, 2007) [2]

THE KINGDOMES WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, London, January 23-30, 1648 – King Charles I – Trial and Execution ($3,450 – 2008) [3]

The Great London Fire report in a London newspaper… THE LONDON GAZETTE, September 3, 1666 ($6,350 – 2007) [4]

Extremely rare 1665 Oxford Gazette…  THE OXFORD GAZETTE, England, January 4, 1665… 1666 by today’s calendar ($1,999 – 2010) [5]

Finding authentic newspapers from this period (16th and 17th centuries [6]) is becoming exceedingly difficult.  As a result, what would these same issues be valued at today?  What impact did the condition, displayability, content, proximity (date and location to the content), rarity, etc. have on each?  While these factors, and more, impact the valuation of an issue, the above examples are what they are – prices realized.

Note:  Many price guides (in other collectible areas) show highly inflated prices.  This enables resellers to offer items at slightly under “established” prices, giving buyers the illusion that they are getting a bargain.  However, the truth is, the value of an item is really the price that others are actually willing to pay – not what a catalog/price guide lists.  In the field of Rare Newspapers, our approach will always be to base prices on hard data – the track record of previous sales.  Additionally, at Rare Newspapers [7], we try to set prices at a point where both resellers and individual collectors are comfortable.  As a result, we do not have a two-tier system (one price for resellers, and another for collectors).  We believe this policy provides a degree of integrity within the collectible community.  We hope you agree.

5 Comments (Open | Close)

5 Comments To "Prices realized… 16th & 17th centuries…"

#1 Comment By Charles Signer On 09/13/2010 @ 2:59 am

Thanks for this article and putting these issues on line again. When I purchase from your website, I try to make an Adobe Acrobat version of the page for the paper I buy. Once the purchase is complete, the page is gone from your website.

I think the most important of the four issues shown in your article is the King Charles I paper of 1649. If you remember the 1970 film “Cromwell”, a lot of it is in this paper. Perhaps the paper was used a resource for writing the script. It is a complete report from the place and time of the event, one which changed the course of history. I can’t imagine a more desirable 17th century newsbook.

#2 Comment By GuyHeilenman On 09/13/2010 @ 12:29 pm

Thanks Charles – and you are very welcome. 🙂

#3 Pingback By Prices realized… 18th century… | History’s Newsstand Blog On 09/13/2010 @ 12:54 pm

[…] Prices realized… 16th & 17th centuries… […]

#4 Comment By Kevin Faile On 09/03/2015 @ 1:18 am

Long before modern communication the newspaper provided news, often at the slant of the writers, that non-the less offered the reader news they could get no where else. Imagine the world say of 1688. Imagine what it was like to live back then. To hold a newspaper from that period brings to life what it must have been like to live then. For some reason these antiques simply don’t have the appeal of other items of the same period. I believe in buying/investing in things that hardly anyone wants why? Price. This hobby we share is a small number of folks compared to say collecting stamps or cards. But that could easily change. A change in price. Your newspaper you paid $100 for could be worth $1,000 in a few years. For me it’s the historical value. Only collect what you’re interested in. And don’t spend your whole check. I’ve spent $20 a week for 25 years with over 50,000 newspapers. Sometimes when history is made that affects everyone like 9-11 or the like I might buy 20 newspapers a day. Why? What do people do with their newspapers. At checkout it’s usually folded and thrown in a bag. Then it’s taken home and tossed around and either ends in the garbage or left out to yellow quickly. Most don’t see newspapers as an investment. I do. I pick the best from the newsstand and store in the dark. The paper I spent 50 cents on in 1990 today is worth 3 to 25 dollars or more a piece. Where else do you get that kind of return on an investment? Also one last thing. Often it’s articles you don’t even see back on page 15 that latter turns into something much bigger. Look after I’m gone throw em away. I enjoy collecting newspapers and for the most part I’ve done it on the cheap. If you enjoy something do it. If you want a good rare paper buy from this company. They don’t sell junk that falls apart when you turn the page. They package professionally and will give you a letter of authenticity if you like plus they always have really good sales. A newspaper is the first draft of history. Those sports sections of a young Tiger Woods in college was worthless when I bought it years ago. Not anymore. I’ve truly enjoyed collecting papers. Something that could be obsolete in the not so distant future. What’s it’s value then? Keep them in the dark and dry. Then post on Ebay down the line and make some quick cash. Who doesn’t like money?

#5 Comment By GuyHeilenman On 09/03/2015 @ 6:27 am

Thanks for the post Kevin. Good insight. Your kind words are also appreciated.