Sell Your Old Essence Magazines
Welcome to SellOldMagazines.com—a trusted destination for those looking to submit vintage magazine collections for review. If you have older issues of Essence magazine, particularly those from before the 1990s, your collection may be eligible for consideration. As a pioneering publication dedicated to African American women, Essence captured generations of cultural, political, and fashion milestones.
We are currently reviewing select Essence magazine collections that meet our general buying criteria.
About Essence Magazine
Founded in 1970, Essence was created to celebrate the lives, voices, and accomplishments of Black women. The magazine quickly gained national significance through its focus on fashion, health, family, relationships, and activism—all from a perspective not widely represented in mainstream media at the time. Its covers and content often featured influential public figures, entertainers, and changemakers in politics, culture, and business.
Submissions of interest may include:
1970s–1980s U.S. Editions
Covers Featuring Prominent Black Women in Arts, Politics, or Media
Issues Highlighting Social Justice, Cultural Commentary, or Community Empowerment
Well-Preserved Collections with Intact Covers and Interiors
Editions with Minimal or No Mailing Labels
What We’re Looking For
We appreciate all seller interest but must apply specific guidelines when reviewing Essence and other publications. Please consider the following before submitting:
Era: We primarily review Essence issues published before the 1990s. More recent magazines are generally not accepted.
Condition: Magazines must be in very good physical condition—free of torn pages, mold, water damage, or heavy markings.
Mailing Labels: We prefer issues without mailing labels, particularly on visually prominent covers.
Quantity: We do not purchase individual magazines. Our focus is on collections of 15 or more issues, boxed for shipment or available for in-person pickup.
Cover or Feature Content: While themes such as civil rights, fashion, and Black excellence may attract attention, no particular content guarantees purchase.
Due to the niche nature of vintage magazine resale, only a small percentage of submitted collections meet the right combination of factors—age, condition, volume, and relevance—for us to move forward.
How to Sell Your Essence Magazine Collection
If your collection aligns with our review criteria, please submit a quote form with several clear photos showing the covers, visible dates, and general condition. If accepted, we’ll follow up with shipping guidelines or schedule a local pickup when appropriate.
We do not appraise or guarantee purchases, but we’re happy to review qualifying collections.
Interested in Submitting a Vintage Essence Collection?
Whether you’re organizing personal archives, downsizing, or managing an estate, we invite you to submit your Essence magazines for review if they meet our outlined criteria. Please note we can only respond to submissions that fit our current buying needs.
Start your submission today by uploading sample images through our quote form. If your collection qualifies, we’ll walk you through the next steps.
SellOldMagazines.com is committed to the responsible handling and thoughtful review of legacy publications—including those that played a vital role in shaping identity, empowerment, and representation.
