Home >> Collecting >> Other Collecting

How to Collect Old Newspapers

Collecting old newspapers is a fascinating way to connect to our history and heritage. Flea markets and antique shows can be a good place to start, as these venues usually showcase a variety of vendors who specialize in paper memorabilia, known as "ephemera." Their inventory often includes old editions of newspapers. Going through stacks and boxes of newspapers may seem overwhelming at first, but there are ways to streamline the process and narrow down the search to find exactly what you're looking for.

Instructions

- 1
  
  Popular newspapers such as this "Illustrated London News" are prized by collectors.
  
  Identify your area of interest. Collectors who are interested in sports history often concentrate on collecting sports editions, while other collectors may focus on newspapers carrying news of important historic events.
- 2
  
  Newspapers usually aren't saved, so desirable issues can be rare.
  
  Condense your search to the era you're most interested in. Many collectors specialize in newspapers from the Victorian era, while others focus on newspapers from the early 1900s or the years of the Great Depression. Some collectors also like to concentrate on one particular geographic area, such as a country or continent, and will collect newspapers only from that locale.
- 3
  
  Minimal creasing in old newspapers is expected and doesn't affect value.
  
  Learn to judge condition. Newspapers are folded before circulation, so some creasing is expected. Faded print, tears and rips in the folds and excessive browning will all affect value. Don't pay top prices for newspapers in poor condition, unless you're willing to sacrifice condition in order to obtain a particular prized issue.
- 4
  
  Vivid black print and glossy white paper may indicate a replica.
  
  Train your eye to spot replicas. While it's usually easy to identify souvenir newspapers reprinted for nostalgic purposes, some unscrupulous dealers deliberately "age" replica newspapers by staining them with tea and coffee, or leaving them outside to get weathered by the elements.

Other Collecting