Kolonial Post Aug 1937 Magazine

Collectors of paper ephemera and historical periodicals often encounter German magazines from the 1930s, and the Kolonial Post Aug 1937 issue is a compelling—if sensitive—artifact. It sits at the intersection of pre-war European politics, colonial lobbying, and print culture. This guide focuses on how to identify an authentic August 1937 issue, evaluate condition with period-specific nuances, and establish fair market value without over- or underestimating its significance.

Note on sensitive content: This periodical may include propaganda and symbols associated with Germany’s regime in 1937. Collect for historical and scholarly purposes, present responsibly, and be aware of local laws regarding display and sale.

Historical Context and Publication Overview

Kolonial Post was a German-language periodical concerned with colonial affairs, diasporic communities, trade, and advocacy. The August 1937 issue appears in a moment when colonial discourse in Germany intertwined with nationalist agendas. Typical content for such an issue may include:

• Editorials advocating for colonial policy or reporting on overseas communities.
• Photographic spreads, maps, and charts.
• Advertisements for travel, shipping lines, agricultural products, cartographic suppliers, and photographic equipment.
• Reports on exhibitions, colonial societies, and lectures.

For any specific issue, confirm:

• The exact title on the masthead (e.g., “Kolonial-Post” vs “Kolonial Post”), as punctuation and hyphenation can vary.
• The issue designation: month “August 1937,” often with volume and issue numbers.
• Imprint details: publisher, place of printing (commonly a major German city), editor-in-chief, and subscription info. These details are typically on the inside front cover or the final pages.
• Cover price in Reichsmarks/Pfennigs, if printed; many 1930s German magazines listed it near the masthead or bottom edge.

A legitimate August 1937 issue will align with this framework. If you find discrepancies like modern fonts, ambiguous publisher lines, or a different release cadence, investigate further before concluding authenticity.

Physical Characteristics and Identification

German periodicals of the late 1930s share a cluster of physical attributes that can guide identification and detection of later reprints.

Format and dimensions:

• Common formats range from roughly 27–31 cm tall and 19–23 cm wide (roughly A4-ish but often slightly narrower or taller). Variance occurs between printers.
• Pagination typically runs 24–64 pages for a monthly magazine, although special features or supplements can push it higher.

Paper and printing:

• Paper: Wood-pulp stock with medium to high acidity. Expect toning (yellowing/browning) from the edges inward, especially on newsprint-like interior pages. Coated stock may appear in photo sections or the cover.
• Printing: Letterpress text with halftone images is standard; photo-heavy features may use gravure or coated inserts. Image dots in halftones should appear uniform; ink spread should be consistent with period presses.
• Odor: A slightly sour, lignin-rich aroma is normal for period paper.

Binding and cover:

• Binding: Often two rust-prone wire staples along the spine. Staple position should be consistent across issues from the same volume.
• Cover: Softcover, often on slightly thicker, smoother paper than the interior. Cover art might include photographs, illustrations, or formal typographic layouts.
• Spine: Generally flat, with no glued square spine unless the page count is high or later bound for library runs.

Masthead, colophon, and ephemera:

• Masthead: Look for period typefaces and orthographical features consistent with the 1930s. The masthead layout often repeats across consecutive issues.
• Colophon: Printer name, print run notes, and copyright details sometimes appear at the foot of the last page or inside back cover.
• Inserts: Fold-out maps, event flyers, or membership forms may have been included in some issues. Missing inserts can reduce value.

Ownership and distribution traces:

• Address labels from mailed subscriptions (paper or gummed labels) on the back cover are common. Legitimate period labels often use serif type and purple/black ink.
• Library stamps, accession numbers, or small embossed blind stamps indicate institutional provenance.
• Dealer pencil marks inside the cover are normal in the secondary market.

Condition Grading Specifics for 1930s German Magazines

Grading periodicals demands sensitivity to the medium’s fragility. Use a grading description alongside a brief defects list.

Near Fine (NF):

• Clean cover with strong color, minimal toning, tight staples with only slight oxidation, supple pages, no losses or tears.
• Very light edge wear only. No writing, or a discreet owner’s name in pencil.

Very Good (VG):

• Even toning, minor creasing, small closed tears (<1 cm) at the edges, modest staple rust with faint migration to paper.
• Light soil or offsetting. Ads and inserts present. A neat subscription label may be present.

Good (G):

• Noticeable browning, several small tears or chips, a short spine split, flattenable corner creases, spotting or foxing.
• Moderate staple rust with haloing; half-tones still legible; possibly one small loss not affecting text.

Fair (F):

• Detached or nearly detached cover, larger chips or tears, missing small corner of a page, significant foxing or moisture tide marks.
• Torn or missing insert(s), heavy spine wear. Still complete enough to read and attribute.

Poor (P):

• Fragile, missing pages or cover, heavy staining or mold, severe brittleness. Usually of reference interest only or as a placeholder copy.

Specific defects to scrutinize:

• Staple corrosion: Check for orange-brown migration rings. If staples are replaced, verify period-correct gauge and placement.
• Paper embrittlement: Attempt a gentle page turn at the upper outer corner. Flaking indicates advanced degradation.
• Color strike: Compare front and back cover saturation; sun-fade often leaves a pronounced difference.
• Repairs: Look for pressure-sensitive tape (shiny, yellowed), archival mending tissue (matte, feathered edges), or glue shadows.

Document all observed defects with clear, objective terms. If you’re preparing for appraisal or sale, photograph the front, back, spine, staples, and any notable defects or inserts.

Rarity, Demand, and Value Drivers

Determining value for the Kolonial Post Aug 1937 issue depends on multiple converging factors.

Rarity:

• Print runs for specialized periodicals were typically modest relative to mass-market magazines, and survival rates are low due to wartime disruptions and the fragility of acidic paper.
• Complete, unbound, and untrimmed copies are scarcer than library-bound volumes; however, single-issue sales favor original wraps.

Demand:

• Collectors of German historical periodicals, propaganda studies, colonial history, and regional studies may pursue this issue.
• Researchers value issues with primary-source content: policy statements, maps, statistical tables, and photographic documentation.

Issue-specific drivers:

• Notable cover art or a headline tied to a key event or exposition can elevate interest.
• Presence of a fold-out map, photographic portfolio, or conference report (if this issue included one) raises desirability—provided the insert is intact.
• An association copy (e.g., stamped or inscribed by a colonial society official, academic, or journalist) can carry a premium if provenance is verifiable.

Condition and completeness:

• Original staples, covers, and all pages present are paramount. Missing covers or inserts suppress value sharply.
• Clean, unmarked interiors with minimal toning can command multiples of average prices in this niche.

Ethical and legal context:

• Content may contain symbols restricted in some jurisdictions and platforms. This can affect where and how you sell the item, which influences liquidity and pricing.

Authentication and Provenance

Avoid the two common pitfalls: misdated issues and later reproductions.

Steps to authenticate:

• Cross-verify the issue month and year with the volume/issue numbering printed on the masthead or table of contents.
• Examine typography: Pre-digital letterpress shows slight bite into the paper and occasional ink variance at serifs. Photocopy-like uniformity suggests a later reproduction.
• Inspect paper: 1930s wood-pulp paper fluoresces weakly or not at all under UV light; modern papers can fluoresce brightly due to optical brighteners.
• Check staples: Period staples may show uniform rusting and are slightly softer steel. Bright, galvanized-looking staples are suspect unless explained by a professional conservation.
• Smell and feel: Period paper has a dry, slightly brittle feel and distinct lignin odor; modern reprints feel smoother and more flexible.

Provenance indicators:

• Subscription labels with period addresses, postal rate markings, or routing numbers.
• Library stamps with acquisition dates in the late 1930s or 1940s.
• Dealer or auction notations referencing early sales or catalog numbers.

If uncertain, consult a paper conservator or an experienced books-and-ephemera appraiser familiar with German periodicals. Their report can substantiate a higher valuation and reassure cautious buyers.

Market Outlook and Appraisal Strategy

Pricing varies by geography, completeness, and the presence of research-worthy content. As a working range for an authentic August 1937 copy:

• Reading/reference copies (Fair to Good, with defects or missing small pieces): modest two-figure sums are typical.
• Collectible copies (Strong VG to NF, complete with inserts and original staples): higher two figures to low three figures in specialized markets.
• Association copies or exceptional examples (NF, notable provenance, scarce inserts): potentially mid three figures, depending on demand at the time of sale.

These ranges are directional. To refine them, use a comparables approach:

• Survey recent sales of the same title and adjacent months.
• Compare to analogous German colonial or policy periodicals from 1936–1938 with similar page counts and production quality.
• Weight condition and completeness heavily; adjust downward for repairs with non-archival tape or missing components.

Selling venues and strategy:

• Specialized dealers and auctions attract the right audience and can validate attributions in their listings.
• Well-written descriptions with accurate condition notes, page counts, and a defects list outperform vague listings.
• Clear images of the cover, masthead, staples, and any inserts increase buyer confidence.

Care and conservation:

• Store flat in an acid-free folder within a buffered enclosure; avoid tight-fitting plastic that traps humidity.
• Keep away from sunlight and fluctuating temperatures; target 18–21°C with 40–50% relative humidity.
• Avoid removing staples or performing amateur deacidification. Professional conservators can mitigate brittleness and stabilize rust migration as needed.

Practical Checklist: Kolonial Post Aug 1937 Appraisal

• Verify title, month/year, and volume/issue numbers on the masthead.
• Record cover price (if present) and printer/publisher details from the colophon.
• Count pages and confirm presence of all inserts or fold-outs.
• Inspect staples for placement and period-appropriate corrosion.
• Grade condition using a standard scale; note all defects objectively.
• Test paper behavior gently (flexibility, edge brittleness); do not crack folds.
• Check for library stamps, subscription labels, or owner marks; document provenance.
• Look under UV for optical brighteners (potential red flag for modern paper).
• Photograph cover, spine, staples, notable defects, and any maps/inserts.
• Compare to recent sales of the same or similar 1930s German periodicals to set a price.

FAQ

Q: Is it safe to remove rusted staples to prevent further damage? A: Not without training. Removing staples can cause page tears and misalignment. If rust migration is active, a conservator can extract or encapsulate staples and stabilize affected paper.

Q: How much does a missing fold-out or advertisement section affect value? A: Missing inserts typically reduce value by 30–60%, depending on the insert’s importance. If the absent component is a key map or photo portfolio, the reduction can be greater.

Q: I found a library-bound volume containing the August 1937 issue. Is it collectible? A: Yes for research value, but individual market value is usually lower than a complete issue in original wraps. Trimming during binding and loss of covers are common detractors.

Q: What if the issue contains prohibited symbols in my country? A: Know local regulations. In some jurisdictions, sale or public display requires context or is restricted. This can limit selling venues and affect pricing.

Q: Are modern facsimiles common for this title? A: Full facsimiles are less common than for mass-market magazines, but partial reproductions or scanned printouts do circulate. Validate paper, printing method, and masthead details to rule out later copies.