As a collectible, magazines have lagged behind books and many other things, and yet magazines offer enjoyment, interest and a collectibility factor that goes beyond many other popular items.

As mentioned in my introduction on our home page, something fascinated me about magazines even before I entered my teens. It has something to do with the way they grab a moment in time and capture it within their pages. And then there are the adverts. They bring back many memories and often a smile as you are reminded of how things were "back then".

People often end up with a collection of magazines because of a hobby, and because that hobby was important to them, the magazines were stored nicely, perhaps even in binders. They remain close to how they were the last time they were read, apart from perhaps some yellowing of the pages. And yet how many people decide it's time to clear out the loft and simply say "this lot has to go". In one hasty move, a lovely collection is trashed, and that is very sad.

There are those of course who will have the same hobby and would love those magazines simply for that reason, but magazines are collectible in their own right. Of course the condition of the magazine is important, and a magazine that is both old and in good condition is likely to appeal to a collector almost irrespective of the subject matter.

It doesn't however follow that only old magazines are collectible, though a more recent publication will generally need to be a First Edition to be of interest. It's a good time to start building a collection because - apart from certain sought-after editions of particular magazines - it is a buyer's market and prices are sensible. A copy of the first issue of Rail Express Magazine (June 1996), said to be "in good condition", was auctioned privately via eBay in March 2007 for £10.99. Trade sellers will tend to charge a little more.

Finding collectible magazines (that is, vintage or first editions) in good condition at under £10 is still quite common, but that also means there probably isn't a goldmine sitting in your loft... not yet anyway. While some magazines have famously sold for hundreds and even thousands, and first editions of most magazines are worth a few pounds if the condition is okay - vintage publications adding to the value - beyond that they are of little value but can be very entertaining all the same.

Prices are, of course, entirely market led. As with the vast majority of collectibles, what it's worth is simply down to what anyone is willing to pay at the time. Some people may be willing to pay a good amount for all sorts of obscure reasons - it was published in the month of their birth; it features their grandfather; it pictures the very guitar they now have sitting proudly in their music room... or it might simply be an important piece in the jigsaw that is a collector's personal collection.

Whether you are inspired by the contents and subject matter of certain publications, or see the magazine as a collectible in its own right, it can certainly be a rewarding hobby. And who knows, it could even become a modest investment for the future. Not that we can guarantee that - take it on first as a hobby, second as an investment, that way you can't go wrong [Kevin O'Byrne - from 2007]