Most old newspapers aren't valuable — the famous front pages people saved (the moon landing, JFK, 9/11) were kept by millions, and reprints flood the market. Genuine value lives in original papers a century or more old, like the Titanic sinking or the Lincoln assassination. But don't throw your stack out: bring it all. I check for the genuinely scarce ones, and loose paper and newspaper all add up. You don't have to know which is which — that's my job.
Published June 2026 · By Josh Eldred, New Mexico Literacy Project · Free pickup: 702-496-4214
The famous-front-page myth
Almost everyone has a bundle of newspapers saved for a big day — the 1969 moon landing, the Kennedy assassination, a Super Bowl, Princess Diana, 9/11 — tucked away on the theory that they'll be worth a fortune someday. Here's the hard truth: they usually aren't. The reason is simple supply and demand. Millions of people had the same idea and saved the same papers, so the supply is enormous and the demand is small. A pristine moon-landing newspaper is a wonderful keepsake, but it is not a rare object.
Which newspapers actually have value
Real newspaper value concentrates at the very old end:
Century-plus originals of major events. Genuine original issues reporting the sinking of the Titanic, World War I, or — going further back — the Lincoln assassination and Civil War can carry real value, especially in sound condition. The older and the more historically pivotal, the better.
Pre-1900 papers generally, early territorial and frontier newspapers, and issues with significant local or regional history are of interest to collectors and archives.
The condition and originality test. Value requires a genuine original in decent shape — not a brittle scrap, and definitely not a reprint.
Loose paper, clippings, the whole pile — it all adds up
This is the part people don't expect: I'll take more than just the saved front pages. Loose newspaper, clippings, stacks of old papers, the random paper that accumulates in a garage or an estate — bring it. It genuinely all adds up, and mixing it in with a book donation costs you nothing. You don't have to separate the "good" paper from the rest; hand me the lot and let me sort it.
I take old newspapers
Saved front pages, bundles, clippings, loose newsprint — any amount, any condition — free pickup anywhere in the Albuquerque metro, especially alongside a book donation. I check for genuinely collectible issues, keep anything historically useful, and responsibly handle the rest. Clearing an estate? The newspapers and clippings often sit right next to the books (see what to do with books after someone dies) — send it all together.
Frequently asked questions
Are old newspapers worth anything?
Most aren't — saved modern front pages were kept by millions. Real value is in century-plus originals (Titanic, Lincoln assassination) in good condition; reprints are worthless.
Is my moon-landing or JFK newspaper valuable?
Probably not much — too many were saved. But don't toss it; bring the stack and I'll spot anything genuinely scarce.
Where can I get rid of old newspapers in Albuquerque?
I take newspapers, clippings, and loose paper with free pickup — you sort nothing, and it all adds up. Call or text 702-496-4214.
Cite This Guide
Eldred, J. (June 2026). What to Do With Old Newspapers. New Mexico Literacy Project.
https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/what-to-do-with-old-newspapers
Licensed under CC BY 4.0.