Cliff Aliperti

Today in 1951 – Paging Through Colliers Magazine, March 10, 1951

March 10, 2009 By Cliff Aliperti Leave a Comment

Time to spend our 15 cents and pick up a copy of Collier’s Magazine, dated today, March 10, 1951, after all, how could we resist the pleading eyes of Mrs. A. Vien’s Boston Terriers, shown in the first image below.

There’s a note on the contents page that these doggies are father and daughter and that Mrs. Vien, of Irvington, NJ, developed this particular strain through five generations of breeding. I didn’t see another word about the Terrier’s throughout this issue, so if the only reason you bought this issue was in response to them eyes, well, you’ve been had.

Colliers Magazine Cover March 10 1951 — Collier's Front Cover, March 10, 1951

The opening article informs us that we’d better be prepared to give blood if total war comes because we might be mandated to do so. The article discusses a less intrusive alternative, research aimed at a better way of storing blood.

Nancy Cunningham is profiled by Seymour Freidin in an article explaining the life of a hard-working clerk-stenographer to a diplomat in Belgrade. “At Belgrade Nancy Cunningham keeps long hours, rarely has a date, and dreams of home.” Freidin notes that 30-35 single American girls are working in the embassy right now, alongside just one lucky and eligible bachelor.

To give a general idea of the writers and illustrators active at this time, fiction this issue is as follows:

Hero’s Holiday by Harry Sylvester and illustrated by John Pike
The Sky’s For Birds by Graham Doar and illustrated by John Floherty, Jr.
The Corpse Was in the Countinghouse, Part 2 of a story serialized over 5 issues, by Erle Stanley Gardner and illustrated by Tran Mawicke
Reverse Formation by S.W.M. Humason and illustrated by Mauro Scali
Dynamite! is the Short Short Story and is by B.M. Atkison, Jr. with illustration by Robert Bugg

Are the Major Leagues Strangling Baseball? is an article by Francis Wallace who says the minor leagues are answering yes to the title question with the future of the game hinging on a solution to the “TV-Radio Problem.” The text is really overshadowed here by the always excellent illustrative work of Willard Mullin, who besides cartooning for The Sporting News was a regular in Collier’s sporting articles during this period.

Some Nostradamus named Frank Lawrence is quoted here as saying “Television will be baseball’s cancer if present policies continue–and IF baseball survives radio, which has become its heart trouble.” You around, Frank? Sorry, that’s not fair, actually Mr. Lawrence’s quote was the common complaint of the day.

Willard Mullin Illustration — Illustrated by Willard Mullin

Treasure hunters seek pirate gold off the coast of Florida’s beaches. The story largely focuses on Florida’s Assistant Attorney General…and treasure hunter…Ralph E. Odum, who has supplied us with this colorful map:

The Personal Memoirs of Herbert Hoover continue this issue with an entry titled “I Never Wanted to See Europe Again,” by former President Hoover himself, this is part four and discusses his days pre-Presidency, in the teens, as director of Belgian relief.

Former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (resigned February 1950) David E. Lilienthal asks a good question and scares the hell out of us at the same time with his article “When and Where Do We Drop the A-Bomb?” The fifties were such cheery times, here’s the articles opening:

If Russia were to bomb Detroit, New York, Seattle or Washington, or otherwise directly attack the United States, we would have no choice but to strike back with the only force we have to meet such an attack, the terrible power of A-bombs.

Lilienthal then pulls back some and does a much better job of reading the tea leaves than our baseball buddy above:

The chances are that the Russians will continue their policy of gradual encroachment, of indirect aggression, of using their allies and dupes to front for them, and die for them; always short of open attack upon us.

Then he gets a little wound up again:

Should we use the bomb against the Chinese Communists, in Korea or in China itself?

If Indochina is about to go under the Communist heel, should we attempt to save it with the A-bombs?

If the East Germans,in obedience to their Soviet masters, move to take over West Germany, should we try to stop them by using the A-bomb either in Germany or Russia itself?

…There is no quick and easy answer to questions such as these…

Lilienthal’s confusion seems to come from being in a new kind of war he can’t quite succinctly define:

The question now is, not are we “at war” but what kind of war? Can it be limited in scope? Have we any alternatives short of A-bombs and direct conflict?

Finally, Lilienthal pulls himself back again before turning his piece over to a biology of the bomb itself:

The frantic demands that the A-bomb be used every time we face trouble are based upon a dangerous misconception of the power of the bomb. While the atomic bomb is a great weapon, it is neither absolute nor decisive. It would not relieve us of the painful necessity of raising an Army…The atomic bomb is not an all-purpose weapon.

David E. Lilienthal in Colliers — Don't Mess with David E. Lilienthal

Military Miniatures is a fun two page spread for those with a collector’s bent like us. It features James Gregg, Jr. with several color photos of his toy soldiers on display. One of the photo captions notes “Prices range from 25 cents to $50 apiece.” More than a mere collector, Gregg operates one of the few stores in the country exclusively devoted to miniatures, and he pays Manhattan rent doing so! Like many underground hobbies back in their formative years Gregg sent out a catalog of two-inch figures to a list of 8,000 collectors across the U.S., Britain and France.

The back of the issue is filled with about half ads and half text continued from the articles and stories begun towards the front of the magazine. Also, interspersed throughout are small cartoons, of which we’ll sample one by Bob Barnes:

1951 Bob Barnes Colliers cartoon — We're just one, big, happy family here, my dear. In fact you may begin by calling me Daddy!

I have a feeling Barnes might have somewhere new to send his work once a certain still-published men’s magazine begins its run in 1953.

If you’d like to learn more about Collier’s Magazine you can see the collector’s history I wrote up some time back on Collecting Old Magazines.

Today in History – March 2, Dr. Seuss is Born in 1904

March 2, 2009 By Cliff Aliperti Leave a Comment

The Dr. Seuss I most come into contact with inside the pages of old magazines is the one who illustrated ads for the insecticide Flit and the freelancing cartoonist whose work cropped up often in Liberty, the earlier incarnation of Life, Judge, and other magazines throughout the 1930’s.

As I searched my stock I couldn’t find anything available that was clearly labeled as containing a Flit ad, but I did find the November 5, 1932 issue of Liberty Magazine which includes a full-page Seuss cartoon:

Is the Bird in Hand REALLY Worth Two in the Bush?

Symposium of Great Thinkers on a Much Mooted Question
By Dr. Seuss – Part 1

(Top Left) – Gus Apfel (North Bloomer, Ontario)
“I can’t say that I wish to be quoted.”

(Top Right) – Mahyeriz Mazerewski (Janitor of the Polish Corridor)
“Speaking from an absolutely unbiased point of view, locking my ears to the treacherous winds of prejudiced gossip, and staunchly entrenched in the fortress of equanimity, I think it’s six of one and half a dozen of another.”

(Bottom) – Ivar B. Kroll (Honorary Eagle Scout, Chickadee Patrol, Troop 4, Boy Scouts of Onbat, Esthonia)
“Yes and no.”

Happy Birthday to Theodor Geisel a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, born this date, 1904, lived until September 24, 1991.

For more information about Dr. Seuss and old magazine back issues be sure to visit Dr. Seuss and Magazines at the Magazine History blog.

Google Home Page March 2 2009 — Google Home Page - March 2, 2009

Today in 1944 – Paging Through Life Magazine, February 28, 1944

February 28, 2009 By Cliff Aliperti Leave a Comment

Walking over to our 1944 newsstand today, beautiful Ella Raines peeks up at us from under a veil on our favorite, and America’s favorite, weekly news magazine, Life. Of course I’m going to fish a dime out of my pocket to see what’s going on. I’ll have to make a note to re-up my expired annual subscription at $4.50 after I finish this week’s issue.

So what’s going on? Let’s open up my February 28, 1944 issue of Life Magazine and see what they say:

Life Magazine Cover February 28 1944 — Front Cover - February 28, 1944

Life is all about pictures, and one of my favorite regular features is the “Speaking of Pictures” column towards the front of the issue. This week we take a look at emblems for each of the nation’s busiest railroads. Top row at left starts as it should with Union Pacific, I also recognize the New York Central, the Chesapeake & Ohio, Santa Fe, the Rock Island line, B & O of course, and some others ring a bell too. Wish they’d put the feature in color, but with the war on I suppose they’re cutting costs where they can.

Once we get past the contents page and a slew of ads including a pretty color one from 7up, we hit the lead feature, “Lincoln Day Opens G.O.P. Campaign.” Up top is a photo of Wendell Willkie and the article mentions that February 12 kicked off the four month race which will culminate with the Republican convention in June. What better way to rile up the patriotic juices than celebrating Lincoln Day throughout the country, 2,000 banquet halls in all.

The Lincoln Day opening is followed by some photo features of leading Republicans including more on Willkie, John W. Bricker, and Governor Thomas E. Dewey, each of whom has a full-page photo with their wife included in their mini-profile.

Wendell Willkie and wife in 1944 Life Magazine — The Willkies

There’s a full page black & white photo of our old friend Charlie Chaplin, minus the tramp mustache, being fingerprinted in L.A., as he’s up on Mann Act charges, accused of being father of Joan Barry’s child. The brief blurb mentions that 54 year old Chaplin recently married 18 year old Oona O’Neil, his fourth wife.

Charlie Chaplin in Life Magazine 1944 — Chaplin Gets Printed

U.S. troops are told to keep out of Naples as a typhoid epidemic has broken out there. The pictures aren’t pretty.

Containing Typhus in Life — Containing Typhus

“Battle of Berlin” features several hard to focus on aerial photos of the destruction of Berlin over a period of the past four months. It’s followed by a few shots of Air Chief Marshall Sir Arthur T. Harris, referred to here as “The Brain Behind the Death of Berlin.”

Charles A. Beard has a feature article titled “The Power of the President.” I’ll have to read that one later, lots of words, but what I’m struck by is the unfinished portrait of Woodrow Wilson by Sir William Orpen, which is in full color. Definitely a pose of Wilson in office, as he looks older and even a bit more emaciated than I used to seeing him appear.

Ah, very good, I was hungry and I found my cheesecake, a much more revealing photo of cover girl Ella Raines greets me. Managing to shift my eyes to the text below I see the 22 year old actress has recently been passed from B-H Productions, Inc “to Universal in whose Phantom Lady she has her first real chance to display her dewy beauty and genuine acting talent.” Life

Ella Raines in 1944 Life Magazine — The American Girl

also let’s us know that Ms. Raines has more talent than filling a swimsuit too, she’s shown doing things as diverse as riding a horse, fishing, skiing, she loves archery, and one of Howard Hawks’ goats has her down on the ground licking her face so she loves animals too. What a gal! Finally the multi-faceted Raines is shown is several shots from Phantom Lady, including images with co-stars Alan Curtis, Franchot Tone, and even Elisha Cook, Jr.

A feature on “Fun in Mexico” comments that “The City is Gaudy” in the sub-title, leaving me to wonder if that’s good. Photos show lots of night club action with a further section titled “Joy is for Sale” including a photo of comedian Cantinflas and another of Diego Rivera painting. There’s also a full-length shot of Puerto Rican actress Mapy Cortez, the highest paid woman in Mexican films, which begins with the bolded notation “Mexicans Like Plump Girls.” More photos feature the international set in Mexico, which Life seems to harbor doubts about as they’re referred to as the “so-called international set” and headlined “Titles and Bogus Titles Find Their Refuge Cosy.” They mention the most famed name of this set, the exiled King Carol of Romania, but spend more words on Count Eugene Rossi, who is described as follows:

He is not a member of the Italian vermouth family, as some say. He is not to be found in the Almanack de Gotha, the register of Aristocrats. He is just the jovial “Count of Corpus Christi” (Texas) at whom plain tourists gawp in envious awe.

This is followed by a large, albeit again black and white, photo of the Morning Beach at Acapulco.

Good reading for later is another feature article, this one on the “Shy Boss of Murder, Inc.” Meyer Lepke, who awaits his date with the electric chair. Several photos of Lepke, plus one of the body of Abe “Kid Twist” Reles after he turned state’s witness and jumped out of a window. Also shown is the badly charred corpse of “Puggy” Feinstein, a loan shark killed for double-crossing a racketeer, found in a Brooklyn lot in 1939. Oh look, another corpse found in Brooklyn, this one George Rudnick, who lies about looking undamaged despite having 63 separate puncture marks in him from an ice pick. This apparently is the favorite method of disposal by “Happy” Maione, who’s also partial to a meat cleaver.

Mob Corpse in 1944 Life Magazine — 63 Puncture Marks But a Good Looking Corpse

Another regular Life Magazine feature, “Life Visits …”, is found at the back of the issue. This time around they visit “Red Cross Girls in England.” Just judging by the photos they apparently like to serve donuts and flirt with the male soldiers. One is shown visiting a field hospital, her last stop where Life says she dispenses the remaining “doughnuts, gum, cigarets, home-town newspapers.” They really seem big on the donuts.

Donuts in Life Magazine 1944 — Ummm, Donuts

Inside Story – Collecting Century Magazine

February 3, 2009 By Cliff Aliperti 2 Comments

The Inside Story in this case is the wealth of amazing text to be found inside old issues of Century Magazine.

Century Magazine was a general interest magazine published 1881-1930 with a cover price of 35 cents. In size and format it’s similar to other magazines of the period such as Harper’s Monthly and the Atlantic Monthly. Century actually existed prior to 1881 under the title Scribner’s Monthly, which is ran as from the November 1870 issue through to October 1881, then taking the name of Century without missing a beat, with the November 1881 issue.

You can find a complete archive of contents of both Century Magazine and it’s earlier incarnation as Scribner’s Monthly at the Making of America collection at the Cornell University Library online. The Making of America archives only run through 1899, so I am working to include latter issues on my magawiki site.

What I wanted to do here, in order to show you how amazing some of these issues were, was include contents of some issues I has in my possession back when I originally posted this. Here are the highlights:

January 1885:

The Making of a Museum by Ernest Ingersoll
The Rise of Silas Lapham — Part 3 — by William Dean Howells
Part 2 of 3 of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” — First Printing Anywhere — Part 2 is “Jim’s Investments and King Sollermun” by Mark Twain

February 1885:

A Florentine Mosaic — Part 1 by William Dean Howells
The Bostonians — Part 1 by Henry James
Part 3 of 3 of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” — First Printing Anywhere — Part 3 is “Royalty on the Mississippi” by Mark Twain
The Rise of Silas Lapham — Part 4 by William Dean Howells
The Battle of Shiloh by Ulysses S. Grant
Plantation Memories by Joel Chandler Harris

April 1885:

A Florentine Mosaic — Second Paper by William Dean Howells
Phases of State Legislation by Theodore Roosevelt
The Rise of Silas Lapham — Part 6 by William Dean Howells
The Bostonians — Part 3 by Henry James

May 1906:

The Training of the Human Plant by Luther Burbank
Lincoln the Lawyer — Part 6 of 6 — by Frederick Trevor Hill with pictures from photographs, documents, and ambrotype

June 1906:

Tatra — A Mountain Region Between Galicia and Hungary by Wladyslaw T. Benda (W.T. Benda) with pictures by the author
The Negro and the South — by Harry Stillwell Edwards

August 1906:

Frontispiece: The Sweet Girl Graduate – Drawing in Color by Howard Chandler Christy
Vesuvius in Fury — Causes and Characteristics of the Great Eruption of April, 1906 by William P. Andrews with pictures from pastels by Charles Caryl Coleman (two in color) and from photographs, and map
Heroic San Francisco — A Woman’s Story of the Pluck and Heroism of the People of the Striken City — by Louise Herrick Wall with Drawings in pastel by C. Dormon Robinson (one in color)
The Future of San Francisco — Plan of the Proposed New City — by Benjamin Ide Wheeler
To San Francisco by S.J. Alexander

Pretty incredible stuff, no? I post this to make you more aware of Century Magazine in general, a lot of the items mentioned above caught me by complete surprise when I was paging through. Some I knew of, the Twain for instance, but Henry James was an unexpected bonus. “The Rise of Silas Lapham,” well I read that in college a few years back, it’s a classic!

President Magazine Covers – 19 Presidential Inaugurations 1937-2009

January 20, 2009 By Cliff Aliperti Leave a Comment

Well, I guess could really say 21 Presidential inaugurations since there were two held behind the scenes when the January 20th date fell on a Sunday, but those were then done publicly the following day, January 21 (1957, 1985). Prior to FDR’s second inauguration (1937), the first to be held on a January 20, thanks to the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the majority of inaugurations had been held on the date of March 4 since the time of George Washington’s second swearing in in 1793.

Perhaps we’ll revisit the pre-Roosevelt Presidents on that date, but what I propose to do today is take a quick look at collecting trends for the American Presidents from Franklin Delano Roosevelt through Barack Obama, in other words, those who were sworn in on this date, or thereabouts, in history. More specifically, collecting old magazines featuring these Presidents and how hot a buy they are at this time in history.

Following the name of each President will be their inauguration date, a rating 1-5 with 5 being the hottest sellers, and an image of a past magazine cover appearance.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt January 4 1937 — Franklin Delano Roosevelt - January 4, 1937

Franklin Delano Roosevelt – (March 4, 1933, January 20 1937, 1941, 1945), 4/5

FDR has a lot going for him in terms of collectibility. You don’t even need to like President Roosevelt in order to be drawn in to collecting him because of the sheer length of his term of office which multiplies the number of world events a collector might be going after. Notably and quite obviously, The Great Depression and World War II. Roosevelt’s most notable cover appearances are probably his record holding three times as Time Man of the Year in 1932, 1934, and 1941. Average price of period cover: $20.

Harry S Truman April 23, 1945 — Harry S Truman - April 23, 1945

Harry S. Truman – (April 12, 1945, January 20, 1949), 4/5

That first inauguration date is so far off because Truman was Vice-President succeeding Roosevelt at his passing. Truman remains popularly collected as the man who authorized use of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to precipitate the end of World War II. Truman also gets points for personality, even today being quoted from both sides of the aisle. His popularity with collectors probably hinges as much on this down to earth personality as it does any historical happenings. A two-time Time Man of the Year himself in 1945 and 1948. Average price of period cover: $15-$20.

Dwight D Eisenhower February 12 1951 — Dwight D. Eisenhower - February 12, 1951

Dwight D. Eisenhower – (January 20, 1953, January 20 and 21, 1957), 3/5

A three might not be entirely fair for Ike, but my experience is that he’s only a 4 when you include his previous cover appearances from World War II. As President I believe a 3 is quite fair. Ike’s got the Cold War going for him, but people would rather have FDR and Stalin magazines than Eisenhower and Khrushchev. Two time Time Man of the Year appearances, but only once as President, 1959, with the other coming during World War II in 1944. Average price of period cover: $10-$15.

John F Kennedy January 5, 1962 — John F. Kennedy - January 5, 1962

John F. Kennedy – (January 20, 1961), 3/5

Does that 3 surprise you? After all, for many JFK may have a more powerful emotional response than any other President on this list, the result of the aura of Camelot itself, but JFK collectors of mainstream magazine cover appearances aren’t as many as you might think. No items are more overvalued by non-collectors than JFK assassination issues. Why’s that? Every one saved them, they’re still around in abundance, and there is weak demand from those who don’t have them. It will be interesting to see if demand again rises as the mass population ages and these start finding the garbage in greater abundance as estates are cleared. For now, you’ll find someone willing to pay more for his 1961 Time Man of the Year appearance than you will for any of the assassination issues. The grade of 3 is based completely on what demand does exist and not the always disappointing expected value for one of our more historically beloved Presidents. Average price of period cover: $10.

Lyndon B Johnson September 26 1966 — Lyndon B Johnson - September 26, 1966

Lyndon B. Johnson – (November 22, 1963, January 20, 1965), 2/5

There are a lot cooler things to collect from the 1960’s than Lyndon Baines Johnson. More people will directly collect Vietnam related covers than Johnson and the Great Society doesn’t come close to matching the Great Depression for collectors. Johnson did manage to get into the Time Man of the Year group twice, 1964 and 1967, but those are more likely collected by a Man of the Year collector than a Johnson collector. In fact, the main reason to collect LBJ is simply because he was a President. Average price of period cover: $8-$10.

Richard Nixon April 20 1970 — Richard Nixon - April 20, 1970

Richard Nixon – (January 20, 1969, 1973), 4/5

I’ll reiterate, that rating is based on how well Nixon items sell, not pure value. A Nixon collection is a cheap collection, but Nixon always sells. Unlike Johnson, who is overshadowed by Vietnam, Nixon is associated with it, collections often more clearly involve the man and the event. And then there’s Watergate. Time Man of the Year in 1971 and again as co-Man of the Year with Henry Kissinger the following year, perhaps the recent release of the critically popular Frost/Nixon (2008) gives him even more legs. Average price of period cover: $6-$10.

Gerald Ford November 10 1975 — Gerald Ford - November 10, 1975

Gerald Ford – (August 9, 1974), 1/5

Yes, he was President, no, he was never elected President, and so a Ford collection is most likely sought by the Presidential completest or University of Michigan alumni who likes football. Average price of period cover: $4-$6, maybe $8 if you’re patient. Betty Ford might be a better seller.

Jimmy Carter June 21 1976 — Jimmy Carter - June 21, 1976

Jimmy Carter – (January 20, 1977), 2/5

Carter’s collectibility has been enhanced by his continuing to make his presence known even today. Like Johnson, Carter is overshadowed by events covered during his period, the most popular collecting niche being items focused on the Middle East and especially the Iran-Hostage crisis. Still, Carter is recent enough to still have a great many ardent supporters. That said, with Ford as a dividing line, with Carter we come recent enough into history where the strength of his market is dictated mostly by political ideology. Put another way, there aren’t a lot of Republicans collecting Carter. Average price of period cover: $6-$8.

Ronald Reagan January 28 1985 — Ronald Reagan - January 28, 1985

Ronald Reagan – (January 20, 1981, January 20 and 21, 1985), 4/5

Yes Reagan sells, no, he doesn’t carry tremendous value, not as President. The Ronald Reagan collectibles to have, no surprise, are the ones from his time in Hollywood earlier in the century. Discarding movie collectibles, Reagan scores higher than Carter because 1) He was a two-termer; 2) Possibly due to the timing of the hostage release he comes to office transcending the Middle East in the eyes of collectors; 3) Cold War; 4) Affable personality. I find the average prices I’ve put on each of these Presidential collectibles to create, by no mistake, a Democratic market: a collection anybody can afford to make.

George Bush January 7 1991 — George Bush - January 7, 1991

But if I were to tab any of them for future growth in value it would be Reagan. Previous Presidential legacies have already peaked, his is still growing. Time Man of the Year in 1980 and co-Man of the Year in 1983 with the Soviet Union’s Yuri Andropov. Average price of period cover: about $8.

George Bush – (January 20, 1989), 2/5

A Carter for Republicans. Transcended once again by collectors of the Middle East and especially the first Gulf War. 1990 Time Man of the Year (The Two George Bushes). Average price of period cover: $5-$6.

Bill Clinton January 4, 1993 — Bill Clinton - January 4, 1993

Bill Clinton – (January 20, 1993, 1997), 2/5

It will be some time before the value goes up, but I expect Clinton to rise to a 3 sometime soon as history grows more distant and people who voted for him grow more fond of him as time passes. A Hillary Clinton inauguration today probably would have already had a 3 by his name from me. A good question is, what will people collect? More Middle East covers no doubt, but do they collect the President or the latter term scandal? It could work for demand in Clinton either way as we’ve seen with Nixon. Time Man of the Year in 1992 and another co-Man of the Year in 1998 with Kenneth Starr. Average price of period cover: $4-$5.

George W Bush December 25 2000 — George W. Bush - December 25, 2000

George W. Bush – (January 20, 2001, 2005), 1/5

This guy isn’t very popular. I think it’s pretty easy to see that even if something happens to make him more collectible, he will always be overshadowed by 9/11 with collectors. From the perspective of the collecting world, that ain’t his fault. Time Person of the Year in 2000 and 2004. Average price of period cover: $4-$5.

Barack Obama – (January 20, 2009), 5/5

Oh, did I say Reagan had the most potential with future collectors? Well, if I did it’s only because I can’t imagine this guy getting any hotter than he is right now.

Barack Obama December 29 2008 — Barack Obama - December 29, 2008

Well, that’s not entirely true, the frenzy surrounding post-Election Day newspapers was unlike anything I’d ever seen. You could pay, what 50 cents for paper that morning, run a 1-day auction on eBay and turn it into up to $200 the next day. But then half that the following day. Quartered the next. Now you’d be lucky to get 2 or 3 times your initial investment.

But I tell you what. I’ll be buying some extra papers tomorrow. Most obvious statement ever made: by virtue of becoming the first African-American President of the United States Barack Obama will have collecting power forever even if he doesn’t do a thing.

Beyond that, right now he has a popularity with collectors around the world unlike any other President I can recall. Add a dose of healthy personality and he’s gold right now. Time Person of the Year, 2008. Average price of period cover: $5-$20, though technically he’s yet to actually appear on a magazine cover as President.

There you have it. I hope you enjoy today’s inauguration regardless of your political affiliation. Because no matter who comes to office you can be sure they’ll always find themselves on a lot of magazine covers and someone will always be there to collect them.