Q: I have come across an old copy of a magazine called the Illustrated London News, dated 1859. It is in quite good condition, though a few pages are loose. Is it worth anything?

Mr M

A. Old magazines are always very interesting to browse through, but seldom of significant value. The reason is that most were printed in tens of thousands, and copies filed in public libraries, so examples are not uncommon. Most old magazines are normally priced at £3-£8 each around the collectors fairs, though certain ones can fetch more. A 1912 magazine normally worth just £5, for instance, would be worth at least £75 if the cover featured the loss of the Titanic, which sank that year.