Tuesday, October 20, 2009

National Geographic Classic


One of the oldest books I own is the September 1932 issue of National Geographic Magazine. I got it from a bookstore which bought and sold used books in California.

The reason I purchased this magazine was because it carried an article on Shanghai. This article was written at a time when Britons, French and Americans still ruled part of the Chinese city. I have been fascinated by the “Old Shanghai” after watching some Hong Kong TV dramas, such as Chow Yun Fat’s The Bund (上海灘). You know, in Old Shanghai, a gangster could commit a crime in the International Settlement (jointly run by the Brits, Americans, Japanese and Chinese) and escaped into the French Settlement.

This same issue also has an article on Macao (Macau), yet another Chinese enclave ruled by a Western power, in this case the Portuguese. As you would expect, the magazine is loaded with tons of high quality photos.

If you are interested in this issue of National Geographic, I can let go mine at RM100

31 comments:

  1. wow, ur collection is wide~

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  2. Wow, the magazine is slightly older than my mum...

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  3. You should keep this issue instead of selling it. Don't you want to keep those collection of high quality photos?

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  4. kikey
    No lah... Just this one.

    Grass
    That's where the value is, LOL...

    Mei Ting
    I do want to keep it. But if someone offers RM100...

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  5. Where was I in the year 1932? Nowhere, haha!

    Can keep and pass to future generations as family treasure liao, khengsiong. =p

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  6. I didn't know National Geographic already existed in 1932. But I think this book is a priceless antique treasure. Wouldn't you want to keep it for your future generations?

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  7. Rm100...errrr....like abit expensive...gip discount can? hahahah!

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  8. The pages still not yellowish?

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  9. Holy smoke! So you are an avid collector too bro? 1932? :0

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  10. wenn
    Haha...

    Shingo, Autumn Bell
    So you think I should keep it?

    Elaine Tam
    This is treasure lah...

    day-dreamer
    Welcome back. No I wasn't born yet.

    Leon
    No the pages aren't yellowish yet.

    tekkaus
    No exactly a collector. It's just that I like some of the articles in this issue.

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  11. 据说旧书有灵魂的。。。哈哈。。。

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  12. 好书一本咧,值得珍藏!

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  13. Wooo, this is a valuable issue!

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  14. 花木兰
    不怕啦。。。

    christine
    係啊!

    Pete
    Yes, absolutely valuable.

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  15. wah.. you sell so cheap ah.!!
    I got one published on 27 Sept 1979.. Jonathan's birthday。。。 priceless..hahah

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  16. Don't sell it for that cheap! I converted it to our currency, and believe me, for a collector's item that I really think has great value--100RM is not worth it.

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  17. You might be interested in the book, "The Painter from Shanghai" by Jennifer Cody Epstein, set in the early 20th century. I found it fascinating.

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  18. 彬天雪谛, Baoru
    So, I should not sell it?

    keeyit
    What do you mean by informative?

    Peter
    Thanks. But I think all we could find in the market in the re-prints.

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  19. u should keep it :P who knows 30 years later is 2k?

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  20. 很有歷史價值的一本雜誌哦~

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  21. You probably could get a higher price for it on eBay.

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  22. I'd rather keep it than sell if i were you... Books like these are priceless...

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  23. Keep it, don't sell first. 100 decades later can sell rm2 million, but rm2 million then is equivalent to rm2 now, wahahaha... :)

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  24. xin
    If I want to make money now?

    Happysurfer
    Ah... that's a good idea. Thanks!

    kyh
    Thanks for your opinion.

    Neo
    I won't be here 100 decades later.

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  25. wow... impressive!!
    u even wrapped up the mag ^_^

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  26. I have it too! I'm selling mine for 99 RMB ;-)

    National Geographic magazines are popular here in Canada and it's quite easy to find very old editions in garage sales.

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  27. 迷迭香
    Of course I wrap it - for protection ^^

    Zhu
    99 RMB? Cheaper than the price I quote here.

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  28. Keep it, one day it will be worth much more - to you.

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  29. Martin
    Thanks for your advice :)

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