# What to do with old National Geographic maps **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 5, 2021, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-old-national-geographic-maps/937209 "2021-03-05T00:32:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-old-national-geographic-maps/937209/1 "2021-03-05T00:32:42Z")
Over the years (since the 1950’s) our family accumulated about 100 maps that came a few times a year along with the monthly National Geographic magazine. Besides areas of the world, there are maps of the Moon and the stellar sky. What should I do with them? I don’t want to throw them out - they are such superb examples of cartography over the years. Of course - many are obsolete. Is there a collector’s market? Would a library accept them? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-old-national-geographic-maps/937209/2 "2021-03-05T00:38:34Z")
Yes, a library may take them, and schools also may. I’m a library bookstore volunteer, and the maps sell better than the magazines themselves, especially if they’re in the shrinkwrap. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-old-national-geographic-maps/937209/3 "2021-03-05T05:10:34Z")
I gave a large set of the maps to an elementary school teacher a few years ago. She used them to decorate her classroom and to initiate conversations about the areas depicted. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-old-national-geographic-maps/937209/4 "2021-03-05T16:59:44Z")
If you want to pick out a few at random and sent them _gratis_ to a collector, PM me. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-old-national-geographic-maps/937209/5 "2021-03-05T21:33:44Z")
Oh wow, this sounds familiar. I’ve got around 75 of them, including a few from the 1920s and 1930s. Was very surprised that they are not listed on Amazon (at least last time I checked). I imagine you could sell them on eBay, though. Like you, I couldn’t bear to toss them out! ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-old-national-geographic-maps/937209/6 "2021-03-05T21:57:25Z")
It looks like you can sell them on Ebay > **[national geographic maps for sale | eBay](https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=national%20geographic%20maps&ssPageName=GSTL)** > > Get the best deals for national geographic maps at eBay.com. We have a great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on many items! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-old-national-geographic-maps/937209/7 "2021-03-07T19:11:56Z")
Hint: What did you do with the National Geographics that the maps came in? Though we had a neighbor that had half his garage dedicated to stacks of yellow-spined magazines. He finally had a pack of scouts come over and haul them to the recycling center… maybe that’s where the maps will go eventually (and I say this as a lover of vintage maps… but I’m de-cluttering, just gave some to Goodwill). Though, if you can sell them or ship 'em all to HeyHomie, give it a shot! ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2021, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-old-national-geographic-maps/937209/8 "2021-03-09T17:08:35Z")
Definitely sell them on eBay. I am a collector of those maps and filled out my collection that way. There’s money to be had.