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How to Find Old National Geographic Photos

Framed photographs from "National Geographic" magazine can be powerful and beautiful. Famous photos such as the June 1985 cover with the 12-year-old Afghan girl Sharbat Gula by Steve McCurry are memorable images that deserve to be framed and viewed often to remind the world of the plights of others. According to R. Michael Jackson, lecturer and Ph.D. scholar in the Department of Communications of the University of New Hampshire, "'National Geographic' Editor in Chief William L. Allen calls The Afghan Girl 'the most famous picture in our magazine's 114-year history.'" Her haunting portrait, along with her story of being an orphaned refugee in Pakistan, led the magazine on a search to find her in 2002. "This is the face that so captivated not only 'National Geographic' readers but also anyone who saw her image around the world," says Boyd Matson who is the host of the Geographic's "Explorer" TV show, which aired the story about Gula being found.

To locate McCurry's famous "National Geographic" photo, all you have to do is an Internet search and you will find her. But for other "National Geographic" photos, you will have to do a little more work to seek them out.

Instructions

- 1
  Go to the "National Geographic" website to buy reproductions of old photos directly. Prints of your favorite photos can be ordered off the "store" page of the magazine's website. The magazine has separated photographs into groups based on their most popular images.
- 2
  Check online stock photo agencies such as Corbis for photos by "National Geographic" photographers. These agencies can be expensive. They will sell you high resolution digital files of old photos from which you can make prints, or they will make prints for you. However, in addition to the cost of buying the digital or printed photo, you may have to pay them for the copyright usage rights. For home use, such as framing a "National Geographic" photo from the magazine or using one for a scrapbooking project, it is cheaper to look for old issues of the magazine and simply cut out the photos.
- 3
  Search eBay for vintage "National Geographic" magazines with photos in them. Often a dealer will sell issues that are missing covers or interior pages for much lower prices, so you can cut out photos without feeling guilty that you are breaking up complete magazines.
- 4
  Attend local book sales, garage sales, estate sales, church sales or your public library. These sales often include boxes of "National Geographic" magazines at very reasonable prices.
- 5
  Search for online magazine sources. Many bookstores or antique dealers have websites devoted solely to selling magazines. These sellers will most likely not have newer issues but will concentrate on selling the older, rarer issues, which may be more expensive.
- 6
  Place an ad in your local newspaper for "National Geographic" magazines. Many people who are retiring and downsizing their homes are looking to sell their collections of "National Geographic." You should be able to get them for a very good price.
- 7
  Check with your local Salvation Army thrift shop and other rummage shops. Many of these businesses now have sections that include old issues of magazines.
- 8
  Announce at your church or related social group that you are looking for old "National Geographic" magazines.

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