This Popular Mechanics January 1952 Golden Anniversary Issue is the magazine's fiftieth anniversary edition, with a Dave Mink signed cover illustration featuring the Statue of Liberty, industry, aviation, and machinery.
Inside are about 500 pages packed with the kind of material that makes old Popular Mechanics issues fun to sit down with. There are articles, photographs, diagrams, illustrations, building projects, and period advertising in both black and white and color. One project mentioned in this copy explains how to build a radiophone combination.
The advertisements are also a good snapshot of everyday American products, technology, hobbies, automobiles, correspondence schools, tools, and home projects in early 1952.
Details
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Item: Popular Mechanics magazine
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Item Type: Golden Anniversary magazine issue
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Era: January 1952
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Materials: Printed paper
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Color: Yellow, red, green, black, and multicolor cover
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Maker and Mark: Popular Mechanics
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Pattern or Model: Golden Anniversary Issue, Fiftieth Anniversary Issue
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Style: Mid-century technical and popular science magazine
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Dimensions: 9 1/2 inches x 6 1/2 inches x 3/4 inch
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Special Features: About 500 pages, Dave Mink signed cover illustration, black and white and color advertising, photographs, diagrams, articles, illustrations, and projects
Condition Grade: Fair
Positives
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Graded Fair: This is a readable and interesting copy with significant wear from use and age.
- The colorful Golden Anniversary cover remains recognizable and displays well despite the wear.
- The interior retains a large amount of period advertising, photography, technical information, illustrations, and project material.
- Interior pages shown remain readable, with strong printed images and advertising graphics.
Issues / Wear
- The front cover has noticeable edge wear, creasing, small tears, and separation or lifting near the upper edge.
- Some pages are loose.
- Page edges show age toning, handling wear, bends, and small tears.
- The spine and outer edges show rubbing and wear.
- This copy is sold as is because of the loose pages and cover wear.
Condition Grade Key
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Near Fine: Almost perfect. Very minor signs of age only.
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Very Good: Shows light use. Sound and attractive with minor flaws.
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Good: Complete and intact. Noticeable wear consistent with age and use.
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Fair: Shows significant wear. Readable or usable but clearly used.
Collector's Notes
- The January 1952 issue marked Popular Mechanics' fiftieth anniversary, so the magazine looks backward at earlier technological progress while showing readers what seemed new and useful in 1952.
- The mix of machinery, automobiles, aviation, home projects, advertising, science, and practical instructions makes it especially suited to someone collecting mid-century technology or Popular Mechanics material.
- This copy still has its bold Dave Mink cover and a thick run of period pages to explore. The loose pages make it less appealing for a condition focused magazine collector, but the contents remain the real strength here.
- I would choose this copy for the person who wants to read, study, or use the old advertising and technical material rather than someone looking for a crisp archival example.
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Disclaimer
All items are vintage and may show signs of age, wear, or use consistent with their history. Photos show the exact condition of each piece, please review them carefully, as they are part of the description.
Care and Handling:
Handle with clean, dry hands. Store upright, out of direct sunlight, at about 68°F and 40 to 50% relative humidity. Avoid damp areas and extreme temperature swings.
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