Old TV Guides are a collector favorite, with such cover issues as Lucy's Baby, Superman, Elvis Presley, Howdy Doody, Walt Disney, Zorro and Batman worth big bucks.

TV Guide magazine has been an American publishing institution since 1953. Search attics, basements, garage sales, flea markets, etc. for old TV Guides, and maybe you can come up with the most valuable issues – from Lucy's Baby to Howdy Doody to Elvis Presley and beyond.

TV Guide History

TV Guide was the brainchild of Walter Annenberg (1908-2002). Inheriting the family publishing business from his father, Annenberg set out to establish a national television magazine that would feature program listings for each city, along with TV-related articles and columns.

Annenberg and his Triangle Publications, Inc. soon realized their dream, with the first issue of national TV Guide debuting on April 3, 1953. Initially distributed in only ten metropolitan areas – New York City, Boston, Washington-Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Davenport (Iowa), Wilkes-Barre (Pennsylvania) – TV Guide quickly expanded its publishing wings, eventually becoming one of the most widely-read magazines in the United States.

Top Ten: TV Guide's Most Valuable Covers

Although there is some debate on the subject, the following TV Guide editions are often recognized as the most popular and valuable in the field.

1. April 3, 1953, Lucy's $50,000,000 Baby

This is Vol. 1, No. 1 featuring Lucille Ball and her new baby, Desiderio Alberto Arnaz IV – Desi Arnaz Jr. – on the cover. TV Guide printed 1,560,000 copies of this premiere edition, with individual copies selling for 15 cents each at the newsstand. Find one of these Lucy "babies" in near mint condition and it could be worth nearly $2,000.

2. September 25, 1953, George Reeves as Superman

This "Man and Superman" issue features TV's Man of Steel, George Reeves, gracing the cover. A near mint example could sell for as much as $1,000.

3. September 8, 1956, Elvis Presley

The King of Rock 'n' Roll, whose Part One in his life story is featured inside, graces the cover of this beauty. Elvis fans love this TV Guide, sometimes shelling out $300-$350 for a near pristine edition.

4. June 25, 1954, Howdy Doody & Buffalo Bob Smith

The two principal stars – the former a marionette, the latter a real live person – from the iconic TV children's show Howdy Doody (1947-60) adorn the cover. Examples in top condition can sell for around $250.

5. April 26, 1958, Guy Williams as Zorro

The famous masked avenger from Walt Disney's Zorro (1957-59) – as photographed by Dave Preston – makes his famous Z mark on the cover. The value for a near mint copy ranges from $200-$250.

6. July 17, 1954, Roy Rogers

The star of NBC-TV's The Roy Rogers Show (1951-57) appears on the cover. TV Western buffs love this one, with examples in top condition sometimes hitting the $200 mark.

7. October 23, 1954, Walt Disney & Friends

The famed animator appears on the cover with some of his studio friends – Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, et al. An edition in near mint is valued at around $150-$175.

8. March 4, 1967, Star Trek

William Shatner (Captain Kirk) and Leonard Nimoy (Spock) get the cover treatment for NBC-TV's sci-fi classic, Star Trek (1966-69). Some issues in outstanding condition have been known to sell for as much as $175.

9. March 26, 1966, Adam West as Batman

Famed illustrator Roy Lichtenstein illustrated this cover featuring Adam West from ABC-TV's Batman (1966-68). POW! This one can go for as much as $170 in top condition.

10. May 30, 1959, Steve McQueen from Wanted - Dead or Alive

McQueen, as bounty hunter Josh Randall, gives a tip of the cowboy hat from his 1958-61 TV Western series. Cool McQueen fans dig this issue, sometimes shelling out $120 or more for an example in near mint condition.

Other $100-Plus TV Guide Issues

When found in top condition – preferably without a mailing label attached – these TV Guide issues can also bring $100 or more: July 17, 1953 (Lucy and Desi); August 14, 1954 (Martin & Lewis); May 21, 1955 (Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows of The Honeymooners); August 27, 1955 (Groucho Marx); October 1, 1955 (Mickey Mouse Club); June 13, 1964 (Fred Flintstone), among others.

Source

• TV Guide the Official Collectors Guide: Celebrating an Icon, edited by Stephen F. Hofer (Bangzoom Publishers, 2006).