Vintage magazine ads are not just pieces of old paper. They are unique antique advertising campaigns that come from vintage magazines like Post, Life, Look or Good Housekeeping. The year range for these old magazine ads is from around the mid to late 1800s to the 1970s or 80s.

The word "vintage" would normally classify items that are at least 25 years old. However, few strict collectors feel they are not vintage until they are 50 years old or older. Most avid antique ad collectors consider this form of ephemera to be vintage from between the 1800s to the 1980s.

What makes this retro advertising so appealing? The answer to this question depends on the person you ask. Collectors will tell you they hold historical and nostalgic value, especially when they are in excellent condition. Artists will tell you they are perfect for creating various pieces of art.

What are some of the factors that make these vintage magazine ads such collectible paper?

*Historical Significance
*Nostalgic Value
*Rarity of the Print
*The Brand Name Advertised
*Brands No Longer On the Market
*Specific Campaign Catch Phrases
*Each Campaign Was Run Only Once
*The Limited Number of Prints Available

Nostalgic/Historical Importance

Vintage magazine ads carry strong nostalgic and historical importance to many staunch collectors. Most collectors choose to collect specific ads like WWII ads or those from the 50s. World War 2 print ads hold a special significance to history buffs and the people who lived in that era.

Home and Office Decor

Since vintage ads are 10 x 13 they are virtually perfect for matting and framing. Even the 2 page ads that are 10 x 26 are very decorative. They also make great conversation pieces due to the interest in antique advertising. Some ideas for using these ads might include a car dealership, beauty salon, doctor's office and even in the home.

Arts and Crafts

Creative artists and those who are into crafting really like using vintage magazine ad prints for creating various paper crafts and artwork. They use them in collages, scrap booking, decoupage, card making and altered art just to name a few things they do with them. The most common size for these advertising prints is 10 x 13 inches making them just right for many arts and crafts. The 2 most popular ad categories for this venue include Victorian and 1950s advertising art prints.

Unique Gift Ideas

Old magazine adverts make wonderfully unique and affordable gifts. They make the perfect gift for someone who collects antiques. Another great idea for gifting old advertising prints is to give them to people who collect specific memorabilia. Strangely enough, the originals cost less than the reproductions you find at retail stores. You can look on auction websites like Etsy or eBay and see just how cheap they are to buy.

If you are in the market for vintage magazine ads for gifting or collecting purposes make sure the description states they are originals and not reproductions. One more tip for buying these antique pieces of history is to look at the condition rating of the ads. This usually ranges from excellent to poor. Excellent, very good and good are the best for collectors, while fair to poor may be good enough for arts and crafts.

CeLeste Christopher writes about vintage magazine ads at http://www.squidoo.com/collectible-magazine-ads