'OO7' Magazine Selling For Big Buck$ on eBay

I’m taking the liberty of anointing myself the resident maniac collector here at CBn. I will periodically give first hand “reports” from the bloody battlefields of eBay and the dealer’s tables at conventions. The world of Bond collecting is constantly in flux, and what was yesterday’s trash is today’s hot collectible (and visa-versa). First up, I’d like to report on the surprising state of the “fanzine” (fan specific publications, typically put out by a fan club) and, in particular, the longest running and most well known James Bond fanzine; ‘OO7’ Magazine, published by the James Bond International Fan Club.

I’ve always collected fanzines not so much for their “collectible” value, but because I love reading them. I think fanzines capture the mood of fandom at a specific time better than anything else. I love reading about how “For Your Eyes Only will definitely be Roger Moore’s last Bond as he will be too old to make another” (‘OO7’ Magazine #5), and how Sean Connery will return in Octopussy… as the villain! (‘OO7’ Magazine #9). LOL. Makes you view current fan “wisdom” with healthy skepticism and with a bit of irony. Read your fanzines and you will discover that “the past predicts the future.”

Anyway, like I said, I collect fanzines for the love… but little did I realize that my fanzine collection is becoming, pound for pound, one of the more valuable collectibles inside my Bond “vault.” In 2001 I found an issue of ‘OO7’ #5 (the oldest issue I own) on eBay for $2.00. Just take a look at what some back issues of ‘OO7’ Magazine (and not even very rare ones that that!) have been selling for on eBay lately.

‘OO7’ Magazine #11 — $186.86
‘OO7’ Magazine #10 — $107.68
‘OO7’ Magazine #16 — $102.59
‘OO7’ Magazine #26 — $89.77
‘OO7’ Magazine #25 — $87.94
‘OO7’ Magazine #21 — $75.11
‘OO7’ Magazine #12 — $74.79
‘OO7’ Magazine #19 — $67.78
‘OO7’ Magazine #13 — $65.95
‘OO7’ Magazine #15 — $56.79
‘OO7’ Magazine #22 — $56.79
‘OO7’ Magazine #07 — $55.82
‘OO7’ Magazine #39 — $47.63
‘OO7’ Magazine #18 — $37.36

Even the club newsletter, ‘OO7’ Extra, has been fetching big bucks:
‘OO7’ Extra #1 — $78.78
‘OO7’ Extra #2 — $47.63
‘OO7’ Extra #3 — $56.79
‘OO7’ Extra #4 — $32.06

Why is this? Maybe the successful revival of the JBIFC has made people suddenly aware of this publication. Seeing as they’ve just published ‘OO7’ #42, of course people are going to flock to eBay to find back issues. Also, with the rise of the internet, I think fanzines are now seen as clearly on the way out; but that they are as unique and as illustrative of a time (and film) as any original movie program, and therefore now very collectible.

So is your issue of ‘OO7’ #X now WORTH X-amount of dollars? Maybe. A collectible is only “worth” what someone is willing to pay. Depending on the circumstances (and auctions in particular are very unpredictable) what sells for $200 one day can sell for $2.00 the next. While I’ve highlighted the big-ticket sales here, there are some issues of 007 sitting on eBay with no bids. It’s a mysterious world in that way.

Oh, guess who the sucker was who paid almost $200 for issue #11? 😉 Yep.

If you’d like to continue this discussion join me here in the CBn forums.