While it only survived for twelve issues, Flair magazine, published by Fleur Cowles Meyer, still has a dedicated following because it is sought after by collectors in several niches including magazines, design, decorating, and fashion.
Although the magazine was short lived, with twelve monthly issues dating from February 1950 to January 1951, it’s popularity both then and today is based upon it’s innovative design and production quality, its superb coverage of the arts, and its discovery of many artists and writers well before they became famous.
It’s publication was short lived, because of the high cost of production due to the high quality of the magazine and some of it’s innovative features.
One of the magazines distinctions was that each issue had a die-cut cover that revealed something on the other side of the cover. The picture accompanying this article is part of the cover from the July 1951 issue. Looking through the binoculars on the cover, the reader saw a woman on the beach.
Issues of the magazine occasionally show up in antique shops/malls, estate sales, and flea markets, but it’s popularity is well enough known that when you do find examples they are often priced pretty close to what they sell for on eBay.
However, like so many things in the collector market, Flair magazines are an area where knowing a little bit more about them then most sellers do, can occasionally put a nice piece of change in your pocket.
The March 1950 issue, featuring a map of Spain on the cover, contains a four page article written by well known artist Salvador Dali titled “The Gypsy Angels Of Spain”. The article is illustrated with four drawings by Dali and the article title is in hand lettering created by him also. This issue, when offered on eBay, regularly brings between $200 and $300 when properly described.
To get those kind of prices it’s mandatory that you include “Salvador Dali” in your headline so it will appear in searches done by collectors of his works. Leave out his name in the headline, and it’s usually just another $25 - $40 magazine.
This issue also contained a folded in booklet titled “Portraits” by Saul Steinberg. Steinberg was a well-known cartoonist and illustrator for The New Yorker magazine and if the booklet is still present that will often add a little to the magazines value if you include his name in your headline also.
At least some other issues contained folded in booklets by Steinberg also and the presence of the booklet will add some value to the issues. The September 1950 issue about New York City, for example, contained a booklet by Steinberg titled “The City”. It’s possible all issues contained these booklets by Steinberg but many subscribers removed them.
You will ocassionally find issues of Flair magazine in shops priced in the $5 to $7 range. When you do I recommend you pick up any issue at that price as long as it’s in good condition.
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