Oh! Step over to the "Cottage Garden" forum on GW, esp. on the "Conversation" side - we discuss Victoria magazine many times on Thursday Tea day. Some are new to Victoria and might be very interested to see just how beautiful the early issues were.

I have a complete collection, acquired 98% by subscription since the premier issue in 1987. I also began again with the new publications.

Try listing them on Freecycle for your town. Someone is bound to want them. (It would be good to post the approximate date range for the magazines.) Just be sure to ask responders for a pickup plan to avoid the no-shows, and warn people that you'll move on to the next person if they don't follow through or at least let you know they couldn't make it.

You could also post them on Craigslist, but I prefer Freecycle because people have to pre-register in order to see the messages, which helps to weed out some of the flakes, and the Freecycle members are more local because you have to register for each town's Freecycle list. (If someone has to drive a long way, there's a much greater chance that they won't make it.) CL is good if you want to reach a wider audience or if you want to post a come-and-get-it ad, which isn't allowed on Freecycle. (Driving around looking for stuff that may not be there tends to waste gas.)

I hate to do just a curbside pickup as I really want someone that gets them to appreciate them as they truly are beautiful. I was thinking maybe a scrapbooker might enjoy them, or as schoolhouse says, someone that may be collecting them and are missing a few months or years. I will do what schoolhouse says and head over for tea to see what I find there.

How about your local library? Ours has a used books for sale section that includes free or 25 cent magazines.

We have an area at our town library, where you can drop off your magazines and people can take them- for free.

The library is a good idea. Giving them to scrapbookers.... "shudder". If you have five years worth, you have a collector's dream.

Lynn, I'm not sure if you read my suggestion to use Freecycle closely -- Freecycle is NOT curbside pickup (and is not even allowed). I've found appreciative homes for a wide range of items and met many nice people (including a few in my neighborhood) this way.

Another idea would be to ask your local historical society if any of their members would like to take them.

What I do with magazines is bring them to doctor appointments. I've also dropped them at hospitals; old age homes are great too.

If you have a school close by the art department may like them or for the teachers lounge.

If the magazines were left in a doctor's office or teacher's lounge, I bet they would all disappear by the end of the day; I can see somebody walking out with the whole stack tucked under their arm (I would as long as I could get past the receptionist!). But I know what you mean by placing them on Ebay being a bit of a hassel but I just now looked and one web site seller is offering certain back issues for $12.95 - $14.95. It just depends upon finding that right customer.

As for the historical society, Victoria isn't a vintage mag. It began publication in 1987 and ended in 2003, then began again in 2007(?).

You could try Craig's List.

Schoolhouse, I suggested historical societies because many historical society members live in antique houses and are passionate about learning about life in the era in which their homes were built and about decorating their homes appropriately for the period. For that matter, if Lynn is willing to post her zip code on the Old House forum, I'll bet she'd find someone who would be delighted to take them.

I'm sure that the magazines would be read in a doctor's office, but I doubt they'd be treasured and preserved. Every time I find an interesting magazine to read in a waiting home, it seems that someone has torn out the last page because of something they wanted on the other side. (I know, I should find doctors with better reading material and/or considerate patients.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Old House Forum

Hello, I would like the Victoria magazines if you still have them.

I love the magazines and they would be treasured and appreciated very much.

My e-mail is barb.stopinski@hp.com

Thanks,
Barb

I have a near complete collection of the original Victoria magazine, in perfect condition. imlive in the Bay area and would love to share them with someone who would appreciate them.