Fact |
1888 The mission statement was clear from the beginning: "to
increase and diffuse geographic knowledge" - Vol. 1 #1 October 1888 |
| Fiction |
1888 "Alexander Graham Bell organized the National Geographic
Society" While he was an original member (one of 165 listed in Vol.1 #1), son-in-law
to the Founder (Gardiner Green Hubbard), and an interested scientific mind, he did
not organize the Society. Hubbard and five others signed the invitation sent
out in Jan 1888 to attend the founding meeting. Of the 33 who attended, Bell
was not one of them. (see the Jan 1988 issue) |
Fact |
Bell was, however, the single most important person involved
after Hubbard's passing. He rescued the Society and made the magazine the success that it
became. Much is due to his influence and in his cooperation with Gilbert H. Grosvenor (his
son-in-law) whom he was able to get installed as managing editor of the lagging magazine.
(see Sept. 1988) |
| Fact |
1889
The first map supplement was Oct., 1889. It was the Asheville
District map and was a US Geologic Survey Map. (see the map section) |
| Fact |
1903
The first Pictorial Supplement was "Wrangell Mtn." in the Nov.
1903 issue. |
| Fiction |
"The National Geographic Society is the most profitable publishing
empire in the world." |
| Fact |
The National Geographic Society is a
non-profit organization and the largest and most successful scientific educational
organization in the world. It's receipts that are in excess of expenses go into a
deferred capital fund which finances things like the new Headquarters building (cash
expense of $35 Million) and exploration. |
Fact |
The best way to remove and re-insert a magazine in a bookcase or slipcover
is to slide the two adjacent issues out part way. They mark the place and form a
protective "guide in" for the issue being replaced. |
| Fiction |
The best way to store and protect older issues is in the original paper
mailer it came in. Issues found stored "as unopened" are the most valuable
of any. |
Fact |
Clear Mylar or acid free paper are the type materials which will not
deteriorate older paper collectibles. It is best to store magazines and any mailer
they came in seperatly. Use extreme caution when inserting any issues into even ample
sized envelopes as damage can result from "scuffing" fragile spines or cover
edges. Avoid excessively tight "baggies" or comic book bags. |
| Fiction |
The practice of binding issues, so popular in early collecting, is
responsible for the largest number of high quality and the most valuable sets of National
Geographics found. |
Fact |
Almost all bound sets of NG's are without the covers, advertisements, and
maps. This can result in devaluation of as much as 90% as compared to fine single copy
sets of the same years. While good bound sets are useful for content, they tend to
have cover differences over a long run of years, could be missing pages, maps, ads, and
the delightful covers. All collectors prize single issue copies and the spines and
covers are the single most important factor in grading. When maps were included in a bound
set, they were re-folded (to fit into the trimmed issues) which is far from the quality of
a map taken carefully from a single issue. |
| Fiction |
It's always best to store maps and supplements with the issue to keep
track of them and to have them available when using the issue. |
Fact |
Maps and supplements cause "bulging" of an issue which results
in permanent distortion of the "mint" issue. The only exception to this is
in early issues where (generally thinner) maps were "tipped in" (glued in a
small corner spot) to the front inside of issues. It is best when a collector
desires to keep a tipped in supplement with the issue which avoids the damage caused by
removing the glue spot. One should allow ample storage space for such thicker issue. |
Fiction |
If all the National Geographic issues stored across the nation were
brought to California, there would be serious risk of fault line fracture. This could
cause a large portion of the State to sink into the Pacific Ocean. |
| Fiction
These bound single articles
are a real find.. a great collectible.
Click on Pic to
Enlarge |
 (many great magazines were sacrificed for these school aids which were
popular in many school libraries). |
(many great magazines were sacrificed for these school aids which were
popular in many school libraries).
