Better Homes And Gardens Magazine July Issue

How to Find Back Issues of Magazines

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Maybe you long to flip through the pages of the fashion magazine you loved as a teen, or maybe a sports magazine from 1997 has one of the best football players of all time on the cover and you want to add it to your collection. There are many reasons you might want to get your hands on old magazines. If you're not sure where to start, here are some helpful tips for finding back issues of your favorite magazines.

Magazine Publishers

If you're willing to pay for the magazine and shipping, the magazine's publisher may still have back issues on hand, but there's usually a limit to how far back the issues go. If you have a current issue, information for ordering back issues may be listed in the front or back along with other editorial and corporate information. If not, visit the website for the magazine or its publisher. An internet submission form with email address or phone number is usually available for inquiries. If the website doesn't mention back issues, contact customer service by phone or email. If you're merely looking for an article in an issue that isn't too old, the article may still be available on the magazine's website.

Local Library

If you just want to read or look at a back issue and not collect it, make a trip to your local community library. Libraries at local high schools, colleges or universities may also be options if they allow non-students to browse their materials. Libraries often have physical copies of magazine back issues on hand for a certain period of time, and microfilm copies may be available for older copies. If the library you choose subscribes to services like LexisNexis or EBSCO, it may also provide access to certain magazines and academic journals through these systems.

eBay, Etsy, Amazon and AbeBooks

If you want to own the magazine in question, viewing it a library isn't the answer. Many third-party sellers list back issues of magazines for sale online. The auction site eBay has an entire category dedicated to the sale of old magazines, and you can sort them by price, year, subject, language, magazine name and more. For older magazines, try Etsy, which is a common source of vintage items. Amazon and AbeBooks.com are also excellent sources for finding back issues of magazines, but it's important to remember that prices can range from very cheap to very expensive if the magazine is viewed as a desirable collectible.

Google Books

Despite the name, Google Books doesn't just give you access to the books it has in its database. You can also find hundreds of magazines listed here. Simply visit Books.google.com and check out the magazine section. The results are listed in alphabetical order along with the date(s) available. Keep in mind that it's a random selection of magazines, so you never know what you might find. Click on titles that interest you to read through all or most of the issue. You can also save it to your own Google library. Unfortunately, this doesn't put a physical copy of the magazine in your hands, but you can access these back issues for reading any time.

Garage Sales, Estate Sales and Antique Shops

Last but not least, if you can't find magazine back issues through any of the above mentioned methods, you may have to get out and pound the pavement in your community. Start with stores where you can buy vintage or second-hand items and look for old magazines. Stop at local garage sales and estate sales, and check out your local antique shops, thrift stores and consignment shops. One of the most exciting things about looking for back issues this way is you can stumble across a lot of other unexpected treasures while you're looking. Old magazines are also typically cheaper in these types of venues.