How to Sell Your Vintage Gay Magazines
If you've got a stash of vintage gay magazines and you're wondering what to do with them, you're in the right place. Gay Vintage UK buys them. Single issues, small bundles, whole collections. This guide covers what we buy, how to sell to us, and what you can expect to be paid.
Who buys old gay magazines?
Honest answer: not many people. Charity shops won't take them. General secondhand book dealers don't understand them and will lowball you or turn you away. eBay tends to ban sellers
We're different. Gay Vintage UK is the UK's only dedicated online shop for vintage gay magazines, photobooks and DVDs. We know exactly what a 1970s issue of Vulcan is worth, why early Drummer matters, and which German titles collectors are hunting for. That knowledge means a fair offer, not a guess.
What we buy
We're interested in most vintage gay titles, including:
UK titles: Him, Vulcan, Zipper, Gay Times, QX, Attitude and more. Pre-1990s issues are especially wanted.
American titles: Drummer, Honcho, Mandate, Blueboy, physique magazines and studio publications from Colt, Falcon and Titan.
German and European titles: Du & Ich, Kerle, BEAR, DON, ADONIS, Männer and other continental publications.
Photobooks: Bruno Gmünder, Taschen and other publishers of gay art photography.
DVDs: Vintage gay adult DVDs
Vintage gay porn magazines are our core stock, so don't be shy about what's in the box. We've seen it all and we buy most of it.
Condition matters, but don't bin anything
The better the condition, the better the offer. But don't throw anything away before asking. Even well-read copies of scarce titles have value, and some magazines are rare enough that condition barely matters.
A rough guide:
- Near mint: looks unread. Top money.
- Very good: minor shelf wear, complete. Strong offers.
- Good: creases, spine wear, but intact. Still worth selling.
- Poor: damp, missing pages, heavy damage. Usually a pass, but ask anyway if the title is scarce.
If you want a sense of values first, read our guide on what your vintage gay magazines are worth.
How selling to us works
- Email us. Send a few photos to sell@stevehill.net. A shot of the covers spread out on the floor is fine. Phone photos are fine.
- Tell us what you know. Titles, rough dates, how many, general condition. Don't worry if you're not sure. The photos do most of the work.
- Get an offer. We'll come back with a price, usually within a day or two.
- Get paid. We pay by PayPal or bank transfer once the magazines arrive and match the description. No waiting for items to sell, no fees, no hassle.
We buy outright. This is not a consignment arrangement where you wait months for your money.
Complete discretion, no judgement
We understand these collections are personal. Every enquiry is handled discreetly. Payments come from a neutral business name, and we never share your details. Many of our best collections come from people clearing a late partner's or relative's belongings, and we handle those conversations with care.
Found gay magazines in a house clearance?
It happens more often than you'd think. You're clearing a parent's, partner's or relative's home and you find a collection of gay magazines nobody knew about. Or you run a house clearance business and you've uncovered boxes of vintage adult material you'd normally send to the tip.
Don't bin them. Vintage gay magazines are collectible, and a box that looks like junk can be worth hundreds of pounds. Pre-1990s titles, leather and fetish magazines like Drummer, and European publications are all in demand.
For families: we handle these situations with complete discretion and no judgement. You don't need to know what any of it is. Photograph the covers, email us, and we'll identify everything and make an offer. If the collection belonged to someone recently passed, we're happy to work at your pace. Some families take comfort in knowing significant items can be preserved at the Bishopsgate Institute's LGBTQ+ archive rather than destroyed.
Some magazines end up in the archive
Here's something most dealers can't offer. Gay Vintage UK donates pristine and historically significant magazines to the Bishopsgate Institute in London, home to one of the UK's most important LGBTQ+ archives. Selling to us means part of your collection could be preserved for future generations, not just sold on.
Ready to sell?
Email photos of your collection to sell@stevehill.net and we'll take it from there. No obligation, no pressure, and every email gets a reply.