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"Hemmings Motor News" (HMN) reports that several automotive literature dealers are turning to reprint literature for customer sales. Although reprints may be more profitable for them to sell than original literature, they are doing collectors a disservice. Collectors want to be able to sell their literature for a profit when they no longer want it just as a collector car can be sold at a profit. Reprints have no resale value. Even if they are useful for information, they are not collectible.

An additional problem presents itself when "HMN" states that the reprints are exactly like the originals. This means they could be passed off as originals. Not by the honest dealers who initially sell them, but by buyers who offer them for re-sale on, possibly an auction website such as eBay ("buyer beware"), or who take them to swapmeets for resale. That makes them counterfeits and collectors need to be wary!

There is no reason to buy reprints when originals are available at reasonable prices. McLellan's Automotive History, with 44 years of experience in evaluating, purchasing and selling automotive literature, does not sell reprints or reproductions. With over 100,000 items available online, all with photographs and detailed descriptions, you will never have to turn to a reprint for any reason — not with 600 new items added to their inventory every month. Original literature, in excellent condition ensures you literature at a fair price and an investment which is better than the stock and real estate markets in the long term.

For additional information on reprint literature, the following articles will be of interest: