Selling decades-long model railway magazine collection

Westcountrylass

Hi, my Dad was a lifelong steam railway enthusiast and after he passed away last year we’d love to sell his collections of model railway magazines, full sets, decades-long. No idea what value they might be but think best to sell than just give away. I’m looking for ideas on where we’d find potential buyers, whether eBay or a more specialist marketplace, perhaps?

Hoenir

There's plenty listed on Ebay. Might need some time spent determining which if any have real value. 

soolin

I have a railway enthusiast in the family- unfortunately it is extremely rare for a magazine to be worth anything. We donated several hundred to various preserved railways , they tend to have a box in the shop or in the ticket hall telling people to help themselves and perhaps consider leaving a small donation. 

Have a look through ebay sold listings though just in case you have anything interesting - but check completed/sold and not listed prices.

When the preserved railways stopped accepting them we were forced to start putting them in the recycling bins- but even then be careful as many have good quality glossy pages and aren't always accepted as just paper recycling.

p00hsticks

My OH is a model rail enthusiast so occasionally we go to model rail exhibitions, and you often see bundles of these magazines either on sale for really low prices or offered for free. 

in_my_wellies

My husband was a life long collector of railway magazines (full years sets from about 1952), annuals (1952 - 1980s) and books. Around 4000 when he died. It took me a long while to list them all on ebay but there was quite a good market and 95% sold within the year. That was in 2012. I was lucky to time it right. 

I recently decided to have a clear out of the final last few and the bottom has fallen out of the market. A set of 12 is now on sale for what I was getting for each magazine.

The generation who enjoyed these magazines are no longer with us and the next generation don't want them. 

km1500

I think you've hit the nail on the head about the reason why the bottom has fallen out of the market

a similar thing can be seen in stamp collecting where collections of stamps are simply not selling for much  because there are no stamp collectors around anymore

Hoenir

Teddy bears, toy soldiers. model cars, football programmes. Were all highly collectable at one time. In general there's a far greater supply than demand.