THIS PAGE INCLUDES THE  COLLECTOR PROFILE, INFO, & PICS

NG SALE EXPERIENCE OF 8/27/97

After two days trying to figure out how to get through to the 800 sale number, I lucked out and got Kathy with whom I had a delightful (low stress) buying spree. While I'm sure I missed one issue and some of the quality issues initially avail., there is more avail. than the serious collector can afford in this era even at fair prices. I have not gotten the stuff of course, but my impression is that the prices are lower than their initial estimate. (Example) Excellent (highest grade they give) Aug. 1899 with map for $160. They said this would be the $30 to $200 range, and I've seen "scalpers get the $200 without the map. They claimed to have a computer inventory to eliminate the sale of a particular issue twice, and promised to FAITHFULLY PULL THE GRADES AS PROMISED and pay attention to their claim of a map included. Kathy was nice enough to check the inventory several times to validate stated promise.

UPDATE (a) 10/5/97

I received (19) #'s which were designed to improve my collection. I've gotten 9 old maps, moved completeness back to June 1905, gotten older issues in Vol's VII - X, have at least one issue of every format, and upgraded an issue in one case. NG had called me to request an issue (3/06) downgrade to my initial order which did fall below my quality preference but was fairly priced at $17.50. I did have one issue in 1903 come without the map that was supposed to be in it. They are sending me a correction to that. All in all, even though they have some inconsistencies in their grading practices, I felt I got good value. Usually an item was better than expected. I just wish there were enough in the budget to get older #'s.

108 YEAR CD-ROM SET REVIEW (I also have the Maps on CD which at first look seem quite professional- see below)

For the first time ever, NG has now made avail. a search engine built into the 108 Yr. CD Rom set (avail. some places as low as $99) which covers up to 1996 and HAS THE ADVERTISEMENTS LISTED BY SUBJECT as well as articles by various references! It is a great asset to me to help folks looking for certain issues and for my own research. In addition, you get every cover, page and pic for 108 yrs. of NG's. Maps are listed (see Map Inventory on this web also), but they are not avail. to view on the CD's. (No supplemental maps or pictorials are included, but are indexed. This is going to be a future project according to NG sources.)

One thing I've always wished I had time for is to research the NGS advertisements so I could electronically catalog a product or technology from start to finish. Well, guess what? For you antique collectors and advertisement buffs, it is done in this search engine! One may pull up info by categories (3) one of which is ad's. Spot checks indicate that this set will surpass the 100 yr. Index and it's supplements in every way.

Naturally, as with any PC Monitor, (I have a really good Sony 17") one always wishes that Zoom to text and back would work as well as one's eyes reading a Magazine. But if you are trying to eliminate the need to have a "hard copy set" (original collection) then you will miss the comfort, portability, and convenience of reading single issues anyway. My initial reaction, as with all other NGS material, is WOW! this is sharp. Most issues can be Zoomed for detail unavailable to the casual magazine reader even with magnification. I can read much text W/O zoom, but some captions and credits (small print) are not readable under any zoom. It turns out, that some text in various time periods is difficult. Various detailed drawings are not viewable, and overall this is a valuable tool for many, but not a complete replacement of a set. A quality graphics program (Adobe Photo Shop) can load and edit any of the pages on the CD and even save them to your hard drive. It's my experience that you will only get fractured pixels at zooms past the normal zoom on the CD program. But one can try loading a problem text to view it in detail. ON the CD, the folder is "Images".

One can print out search results or any page or picture. The results are not photo quality since any scan process for storage or transmittal must be a compromise for file size vs. viewing. In the case of the search results, one must print a hard copy and then do optical character recognition to have the results in a file to send electronically.

MAPS CD-ROM SET REVIEW

The Maps CD's are equally impressive. They did even better with them on scan, zoom, navigate, etc. What's lacking, ofcourse, is the total perspective and instant scan that's afforded by the "eyeball of a real map" - one can print them out, but it would time and cost prohibitave to do many, and they have to be pasted in sections. Both sets are valuable tools for search and locate to prevent collectible handeling (or when one just does not have the item - like the 1888-1893 maps). I'm missing only 5 maps/pictorials back to 1893, but  keep them mint with careful (limited) handeling.

The following are the Collector Profiles! (You may Submit for Publication Here!

Charlie Gannon:  I first began a collection in the mid '70s, but got really serious about six years ago. Since then I have been basically out of control.  Center piece of my collection is a complete original bound set. I also have a loose set that is complete from mid 1905. A bound 1964 reprint set collects dust on a top shelf.(only kidding about the dust) With the exception of some of the recent books, I have a complete set of book publications. The set includes most cover variations and printings. Technical publications and joint publications are also fun to collect. Article reprints are my most favorite collectible with globes a close second. The collection consists of promo brochures, catalogs, membership ephemera, videos, rolled and framed pictorials, public service books, educational items, balloon items etc. etc. I set no limits on the collection. If it pretains to the Society, I collect it. The more obscure, the better. I have a employee's handbook from 1958, a 25 year employment certificate from the 40's, a   Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. Explorer Balloon Bookmark from the original fabric and a hall sign from HQ for Hubbard Hall (no I did not lift it). I enjoy talking with other collectors, but it seems there are only a few who care to discuss their collections or collecting. I also enjoy sharing information about items. With Roger Nathan's book the last guide to to be published, there is a real need for a dissemination of collectibles info not listed in Buxbaum's or Roger's books.  Anyone can feel free to email or call me for info or discussion about collecting NGS. I will also consider any items offered, especially globes or article reprints. Good collecting, all. Charlie Gannon. gannon@netdirect.net Charlie will join the Major Collector Archive with this profile (ed.)

Major Collectors Archived:

Ron Choquette E-mail: rchoque@infomatch.com

Richard T, Kennedy E-mail richard_kennedy@ci.des-moines.wa.us

This  collector profile is dedicated to Roger Nathan, Collector and Author of  "Collectibles of the National Geographic Society".  Roger has been active in National Geographic endeavors for many years and has had a profound influence on collectors as well as the Society's collector support.  I had the pleasure of visiting Roger and viewing his collection a few years ago.  At that time,  he signed his book for me which is shown below.  Roger has been an objective observer of NG history, and his book remains a key research tool for the early collectibles. E-mail Roger at:   roger@waterw.com

                          CLICK ON THESE IMAGES TO ENLARGE
              Roger's Book - Spine (L)       and the signed Frontice (R) 

Click to John Carey

The page was last updated: Monday, January 29, 2007

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