Who says print media is dead? America's first weekly magazine just proved everyone wrong with a sale that's making headlines.
The 101-year old inaugural issue of Time Magazine was presented by Goldin Auctions over the weekend and this particular highest-graded example did not disappoint. The CGC 5.5 unrestored copy went back and forth between bidders 61 times before finishing at $18,300.00 (w/Buyer’s Premium).
This record sale comes as Goldin expands its foray into the category of collectible magazines.
They Say Timing Is Everything
This first issue of Time Magazine lacks any trace of the distinctive red border that would make it instantly recognizable on newsstands across the country for the next century. And yet it reads like you would expect it to read if you picked it up today; a deep dive into the news of the last 7 days. The subject matter is a little different but the medium remains the same.
There are just 32 pages to this landmark first edition, crammed with anecdotes one might still find pleasing; national affairs from a serious perspective, a few light-hearted pokes at America’s foibles, a story about the development of the first helicopter, a movie review for Adam’s Rib, news of a one-cent tax change to cigarettes in Indiana, and the latest figures in German reparation payments. Adorning the cover is the now-obscure former House Speaker Joseph G. Cannon.
The iconic red border would be introduced 4 years later in 1927 and would only be altered 8 further times over the next 4,000+ issues – black borders for the September 11th, 2001 issue & the September 21st & 28th editions in 2020 covering the Coronavirus pandemic, a single green cover was produced for the Earth Day edition from April 28th, 2008, and silver borders for commemorative events such as the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and their ‘Most Influential Photos of All Time’ editions in 2016.
Time After Time
For what it’s worth, Time Magazine is infinitely the most loaded serial for Key Issue hunting on the planet. If something occurred within the last century of existence, then it is documented within the annals of TIME. It has become a journal of humanity, so to speak, with a heavy lean on the American spirit. Of this, TIME Magazine very likely has more ‘first appearances’ in its archives than anything, ever. Anywhere.
There are first glimpses into ideologies, artistry, politics, people and global events; exclusives on scientific achievements, religious movements, and cultural shifts that the general population had no other reliable access to obtaining – aside from picking up a copy of TIME magazine, where else would the American population have heard of a helicopter in 1923?
One of the most infamous aspects of TIME Magazine is their consistency with featuring prominent, potentially controversial individuals on their cover in order to make awareness of them and their significance, which directly relates to their aim of telling news stories through the eyes of people. Up until the 1960’s, the magazine’s cover only depicted a single person.
Some notable individuals with recent sales data who have made the cover of TIME include:
Winston Churchill
Albert Einstein
Jackie Robinson
Marilyn Monroe
John Lennon
Darth Vader
Steve Jobs
Taylor Swift
To this day, Richard Nixon has appeared the most times on the cover, with 55 different features between 1952 and his death in 1994. And as of writing this post, Taylor Swift's 2023 'Person of the Year' Award cover(s) are easily the most sought after by collectors.
Along with its inestimable contribution to the future growth of the American culture, TIME Magazine also coined or popularized such neologisms as 'socialite', 'guesstimate', 'pundit', and 'tycoon' over the decades. It's irreverent early writing style, also known as Timestyle, is largely responsible for universalizing the use of false titles in journalistic writing. In 1939, TIME introduced the names 'World War I' and 'World War II', which would replace the older forms of "First World War' and 'World War No. 2'
On 6 occasions, TIME has released special issues with covers depicting an X across the face of a man or a national symbol. The first TIME magazine with a red X cover was from May 7, 1945, over a hand-drawn Adolf Hitler, just a week after his death. As of 2024, the most recent red X cover is scrawled over the pandemic year of 2020 declaring it as 'The Worst Year Ever'. Only one black X cover has been released to date, and it spans over the flag of Japan, representing the recent surrender of the nation and signalling the end of World War II.
Timeless Wisdom
There is plenty of evidence to suggest that magazines will continue to increase in collectible value as more and more players grab a seat at the table with an eye towards historical significance. In 2025, PSA will introduce comic book and magazine authentication and grading, adding another layer of support alongside their rich history of knowledge to the growing hobby.
For anyone up-to-date with trends in GoCollect's Magazine Price Guide this momentous sale from Goldin Auctions is both exciting and expected. In fact, ask any collector you meet and they'll tell you 'it was only a matter of time'.
