Enjoy a rise in cover prices

The market in vintage magazines is strong, driven by collectors searching for anything with their favourite celebrity on the cover or by those simply trying to complete a collection.

"There is a big secondary market with a few specialist dealers," says Dennis Ahmet, buyer manager at the Vintage Magazine Shop in London. "Playboy is one of the best sellers."

A first issue of Playboy, issued just over 50 years ago, could be worth at least £6,000 in mint condition.

Magazine covers have a great allure. A photograph of Bo Derek from the cover of the March 1980 Playboy issue fetched $11,950 (£7,110) at the "Playboy at 50" auction of memorabilia held at Christies, New York last month.

Most copies of Playboy itself fetch much less. "A January 1995 Playboy with Drew Barrymore cover is in particular demand at the moment," says Ahmet. "That would sell for £60-£80."