Welcome to my Sports Illustrated/TIME magazine blog – Your collector’s guide to the latest hobby updates and insight into what’s trending now.

Really good news for graded magazine collectors – I am seeing more and more graded magazines hitting the public auction sites and more is better!  Many of the new submissions are very high grade or the highest grade to date of that issue.  Ask prices have ranged from $1000 – $5000 and these high grades have had no trouble selling out.  I know of 8 graded mags which closed sales this week with the lowest price going for $2000 and the highest $5000.  I saw no discounting either which is a sure indicator of strong business.  It seems like the hobby has caught up to the underlying movement.   Excitement and prices are following the exact model about which you have been reading here and has been predicted in these blogs.  As you are reading this blog, I’m sure you’re not surprised.  The only question is – did you take the risk?

More good news – we will see more new opportunities to capitalize on the market trend as hobby participation continues to increase.  Specifically, as more submissions become available, and they will, avid collectors will be trying to piece together sets and subsets of the very highest grades and most collectable athletes.  The registry trend WILL follow on the heels of increased demand and will lead to greater demand and higher values for the “set fillers”.   Issues such as Willie Mays’ second, third, and fourth covers will quickly sell out.  Issues like “Thrilla in Manilla” and “Rumble in the Jungle” will become must fills for any Ali collector.  Mantle has three covers in 1956.  Both the second and third covers are significantly more difficult to find in nice condition, over the iconic First cover.  Aaron’s first cover is 1969 but his third cover, the 1974 “715”, is on a par in value with his first.  There are hundreds of these examples if you pay attention and do your homework.  This blog is about educating SI/TIME graded collectors and the message here is “don’t overlook the set filler phenomenon”. 

Now is the time to be scouting these set fillers because next year everyone will be scouting them and you don’t want to be caught in a bidding war.  You can buy them now for cheap compared to what I predict you will pay next year.  Right now, graded collectors are competing for the highest grades.  Be smart.  Think a year ahead.  Buy those set fillers now.  Buy two and sell one next year for a price that will pay for both.

So given the upward hobby progression, it is time, not to consider, but to act by starting and registering your own personal registries.  You’ll be glad you did.

I hope you are enjoying the reads on the history of TIME and SI magazines as well as an insight into relevant magazine collecting.

Great collecting to you and best fortunes with Sports Illustrated/TIME!