The Atlantic Monthly Magazine Value Guide

Founded in Boston in 1857 by Moses Dresser Phillips and Francis H. Underwood, The Atlantic Monthly became a premier vessel for 19th-century American intellectualism. These bound volumes are prized by collectors for housing the early works of literary icons like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Harriet Beecher Stowe in their original published format.

What Is The Atlantic Monthly Magazine Worth?

The typical price range for The Atlantic Monthly Magazine is $25 - $40 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The physical condition of the leather binding, specifically looking for minimal cracking or 'red rot' on the spine.
• The inclusion of specific high-profile first appearances of famous essays or poems by transcendentalist authors.
• The completeness of the volume, ensuring all monthly issues and original indices for that period are intact.
• The rarity of the specific volume year, with the earliest issues from the late 1850s often being more sought after.

How to Identify The Atlantic Monthly Magazine?

• Verify the publisher's imprint, which should denote Boston as the primary location of origin.
• Look for the presence of 19th-century literary contributors such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in the table of contents.
• Examine the binding for period-correct materials, typically featuring a combination of leather spines and corners with marbled or cloth boards.
• Check the publication dates to ensure they fall within the magazine's influential 1857-1900 era.

History of The Atlantic Monthly Magazine

The Atlantic Monthly was founded in Boston in 1857 by Moses Dresser Phillips and Francis H. Underwood. It quickly became a leading voice in American literature and political discourse, known for publishing works by influential writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Harriet Beecher Stowe. The magazine has continuously evolved, covering a wide range of topics from politics and science to art and literature, and remains a respected publication today.