For instance, yes I own all of the Mad magazines, but finding #1 was a real chore. When I did, it is yellow and falling apart.
Still ran about $600. 15 years ago.
Your cousin's collection would run into the multiple thousands of dollars.
I read once that the hardest issue to find (of any comic, which Mad started as) is #2.
Why? Because, like a pilot episode on TV, if the first one doesn't make it, there isn't going to BE a #2.
Many people will just forget. So poor #2 has its work cut out for it.
And for the record, I'm in my 40's I REALLY don't "get" 90% of what Mad was parodying in 1952.
Ha ha, yeah,Nixon, ha ha, Eisenhower, Ha ha, McCarthy. Hell, a Truman joke might be in there.
Someone 72 years old like your cousin would understand the "jokes".
By the late 60s, Mad was at its prime.
Everyone understood the parodies.
Plus it was just plain fun.
Thanks for sharing that. I appreciate the great info.
You’re right about the tidbits that could be found.
My cousin was on submarines for over 20 years so he didn’t see many for long periods of time. But they were always put in plastic folders and treated as long term “investments”.
If I was him I would look for a buyer and I told him he’s no spring chicken so he needs to get busy.