Original WW2 Collectible US Newspapers

Finding Original WW2 Collectible Newspapers

If you are both a World War II history buff as well as a collector of artifacts from World War II, finding a rare WW2 newspaper can be a thrill. Using eBay to search for prime examples of VE Day newspapers, ones with the headline 'Hitler is Dead' for sale, or newspapers with the joyful headline 'War is Over' allows you to search through worldwide listings for original WW2 newspapers. Understanding the value of collectible newspapers as well as the ways to store them is critical to preserving your collection for generations to come.

Reprints versus original prints

During some of the most epic events of World War II, several newspapers issued not only original daily prints of headlines that become highly sought-after in the days following the events, but the newspapers issued reprints of the famous headlines immediately following and in subsequent years, selling the reprints as souvenirs. While the original printing runs are the most valuable, even reprints that were sold in the days following the events have a lesser collectible value. Several major WW2 newspaper headlines were thus reprinted in the days following these events:

• Pearl Harbor
• D-Day
• VE Day
• Hitler is Dead
• War is Over

Determining factors that contribute to affordable WW2 newspaper values

With any collectible newspaper, there are several factors that contribute to an increased value of the piece, including:

• Magnitude or importance of the historic event reported.
• Visual appeal or display impact of the newspaper; those with vivid images, striking mastheads, and eye-catching headlines are highly valued.
• Overall availability or lack therefore of; those newspapers that are hard to find or rare will fetch a higher value.
• Overall condition of the newspaper, including tears, bends and folds, water or dirt stains, and smudging of the ink.

Beyond WW2 event reporting, what other features should be considered when buying preowned WW2 newspapers for sale used?

The epic and historic headlines of events in WWII as reported in newspapers are a critical feature for value, but other factors and features of WW2 newspapers should also be considered when building a collection, including:

• War correspondents - You may wish to collect newspapers that feature the regular columns or reporting from front line war correspondents.
• British newspapers - These WW2 newspapers are also valuable and offer the British perspective as reported throughout WWII.
• Advertisements - Different government campaigns and commercial advertisements printed in WW2 newspapers make for a unique collection.