Unexpected Magazines You Might Have That Are Worth A Ton Of Money

It's no secret that print media isn't as popular as it once was. With the rise of the digital age, people can access everything from major political happenings to features on their favorite celebrities within mere seconds. Still, it must be noted that print journalism is far from dead.

Most grocery stores, bookstores, pharmacies, and other retail businesses today still have a dedicated section for magazines (or periodicals), allowing customers to browse row after row of publications covering entertainment, sports, fashion, home and gardening, science, pets, among other genres. Though most of the articles found in these modern magazines are available now online as well, there's just something different about seeing the words and photographs come to life on the glossy page.

Magazines have been a staple in the United States for well over two centuries, dating back to 1741, when Andrew Bradford's American Magazine and Benjamin Franklin's General Magazine began to circulate in the colonies. While such early publications were simply meant to inform, modern-day magazines serve as a sort of time capsule, with the most important people and events of that month or year emblazoned on the front cover. In fact, if you happen to own certain ones, then you've got something of great value in your hands.

One of the most valuable magazines someone might have in their possession is a first edition of the first-ever Playboy to hit the shelves. Released in December 1953, the issue featured Marilyn Monroe smiling and waving on the front cover, and, on the inside, a photo shoot the actor did several years prior (1953 was the same year Monroe starred in two big movies, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "How to Marry a Millionaire"). Controversy surrounds this magazine, as Monroe never consented to Hugh Hefner using the photos (she did the shoot to earn extra money, not for Playboy). This Playboy typically sells for a few thousand dollars, including in April 2024 by Julien's Auctions for $6,500.

Another magazine that can earn you big bucks if you have it in your home is a 1956 edition of Sports Illustrated featuring Yankees center fielder Mickey Mantle on the front cover. In 2022, a nearly mint-conditioned copy was sold for a whopping $27,600 by Heritage Auctions. (Speaking of which, here are five valuable sports cards that might be hiding in your closet, too.)

But valuable magazines go back further than the 20th century, of course, though it's unlikely you'd have any of these issues in your family. Still, the 19th century was an era that saw writers like Edgar Allen Poe release their work in compilations spanning a year or more. April 1841, for example, saw the printing of Poe's "Murders in the Rue Morgue" in the Philadelphia-based Graham's Lady's and Gentleman's Magazine, which is now worth ~$1,000 (Sotheby's sold a lot in 2019 for $1,125).

Not every magazine is worth a lot of money, with a publication's value dependent on several factors. Oftentimes, front covers that depict major events, important people of the time, or unique photos are coveted by collectors. Examples include news of a popular celebrity's death (e.g., Michael Jackson or Princess Diana), a historically tragic occurrence like 9/11, or a viral pop culture moment such as Kim Kardashian's highly discussed 2015 cover for Paper Magazine, which saw the reality star catching champagne in a glass balanced on her behind. As of this writing, the latter is available on eBay for upward of $1,375.

Other things that could increase a magazine's value include it being a first edition, a rare or obscure publication, and, like most collectible items, in good condition. A magazine that is in near-mint condition will sell for much more than one that's ripped, worn, or missing pages. So, if you're walking past that magazine rack at your local grocery store and see a cover that stands out to you, you might want to snag it because, in a few years' time, it's possible you could get those few dollars back tenfold. (On that note, check out the unexpected value of old concert posters today.)