Are Old Life Magazines Worth Anything? Which Issues Have Value
Life was America's picture magazine from 1936 to 1972, and people saved the issues that marked big moments: the war, presidents, the moon landing. Finding a stack in an attic is common. Finding one worth real money is less so, because the issues people kept are exactly the ones printed in the largest numbers.
The short answer: most old Life magazines sell for roughly $5 to $20. A few issues sell for much more, and condition decides almost everything in between.
The first issue
The first issue of Life is dated November 23, 1936, with Margaret Bourke-White's photograph of the Fort Peck Dam on the cover. Original copies in good condition are the most valuable regular Life issue. Be careful, though: the first issue has been reprinted, and reprints are common. Check the inside pages for any reprint notice, compare the size to a known original, and be suspicious of paper that looks too white and fresh for a magazine from 1936.
Issues that sell for more
Late 1930s and early war years. Early issues survived in smaller numbers, and clean copies from 1936 to the early 1940s are worth more than later ones.
Marilyn Monroe covers. Her April 7, 1952 cover is one of the most collected Life issues, and other Marilyn covers draw interest too.
Pop culture and sports. Covers featuring the Beatles, Elvis, James Dean and major sports figures tend to sell better than news covers, because they appeal to collectors of those people, not just to Life collectors.
Exceptional condition. A bright, unmarked newsstand copy with no address label can sell for several times the price of an average copy of the same issue.
Why the famous issues usually aren't worth much
The issues covering President Kennedy's assassination in 1963 and the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969 are the ones people most often think are valuable, and they're among the most common Life issues in existence. Millions of people bought and kept them. Ordinary copies typically sell for modest amounts, and plenty of sellers are trying to move them at once. They're worth keeping if they mean something to you; they're rarely worth much on the market.
The same pattern applies to most news-event issues: the bigger the event, the more copies were saved.
Condition and labels
Most Life magazines were delivered by mail with an address label on the cover. Labels, tears, heavy creases, water stains, loose covers and a musty smell all reduce value, sometimes by half or more. Don't try to peel off a label; it usually takes ink with it and makes the cover worse. Clean newsstand copies without labels are what collectors pay up for.
How to check what yours are worth
Search eBay for "Life magazine" plus the exact date, filter to Sold items, and compare against copies in the same condition. Asking prices for Life issues are often far above what anyone pays. The general method is in the guide to finding out what an antique is worth, and the Valued app can identify an issue from a photo of the cover to give you a quick starting point. If you've got other magazines in the same box, the guides to National Geographic and old Playboys work the same way.
Common questions
Are old Life magazines worth anything?
Most sell for roughly $5 to $20 depending on the cover and condition. The 1936 first issue, early war-era issues, Marilyn Monroe covers and exceptionally clean copies sell for more. Address labels, wear and water damage reduce value.
Is the Life magazine about JFK's assassination worth money?
Usually not much. It was printed and saved in enormous numbers, so ordinary copies sell for modest amounts. Only exceptionally clean copies stand out.
How can I tell if my first issue of Life is a reprint?
Look inside for a reprint notice, compare the size with a known original, and check whether the paper looks too white and new for 1936. Reprints of the November 23, 1936 issue are common.
Should I remove the address label?
No. Peeling a label usually lifts ink and gloss and leaves the cover in worse shape than before. Leave it as it is.