I love a pretty vintage magazine rack. I think they come in handy for a load of things and they also look really really good as a vintage home decor piece. Here is mine that I picked up years ago and holds all my vintage magazines, ads etc (oh I need to dust my floor hahaha!).
The history of magazine racks is frankly..unknown. I have searched everywhere to see who started making them, when, how the idea came to be (it’s obvious but I wanted to read about it) and I came up with nothing! So very odd. Something that has been in most people’s homes at one time or another does not even get a wikipedia entry!
So if any of my readers can fill in the gaps on this, that would be greatly appreciated (comment below).
As for today, I wanted to show off a few of my favorite vintage magazine racks from the mid century (I did find one’s that said they were from the early 1900s, so that gives us a bit of insight on how long they have been around) that you can buy right now (as of time of post). Plus I managed to find some vintage catalog pages showcasing styles you could buy and take home in that same time period.
Let’s see what I found!
NOTE! Vintage Shopping for your own magazine rack? I have put together an updated monthly Etsy favourite collection featuring mid-century magazine racks you can purchase (start January 29th,2024). Happy Shopping!
Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Note: If the item you link that is listed below is no longer available, don’t stress! Just search Etsy or eBay for other like items. They have 1000’s and 1000’s of items being added daily!
Mid Century Magazine Racks
Pictured in this 1955 Spiegal Christmas Catalog are 2 magazine racks. One is a “casually modern “wrought iron and brass” version (Around $27 today). The other is the “New Italian Trend” (would cost around $63 today). Both are really fantastic but I would probably go with the less expensive one if I had to chose.
The photo is from a past post I did called “Decor ideas from the homes of the 1950s“. This awesome vintage snapshot features a wooden magazine rack, sitting under the side table to the left of the photo.
Isn’t this living room and our lovely lady amazing?!
Okay this one is NOT Mid Century but it’s to pretty not to share! A 1930s Norman Bel Geddes vintage chrome magazine rack with a bakelite handle (Avail HERE).
Who was Norman Bel Geddes? He was an American theatrical and industrial designer. Bel Geddes opened an industrial-design studio in 1927, and designed a wide range of commercial products, from cocktail shakers to commemorative medallions to radio cabinets. His designs extended to unrealized futuristic concepts (like the below magazine holder, then I’m not sure truly holds much).
Source: eBay
Smart Home Accessories included things like cup and saucer set AND smoker magazine stands seen in the bottom of this 1957 vintage sears catalog page.
If you like wicker & green in your home, then look no further then this beauty of a mid century magazine rack (1950s). (Avail HERE)
Source: Etsy
Mid Century Modern brass coloured vintage wire magazine rack from the 1960s (Avail as of July 13th, 2022 HERE).
Source: Etsy
Absolutely gorgeous German Mid Century magazine rack & table.
This elegant 1950s magazine holder has a brass frame and table top of black-painted perforated metal mesh. The table is foldable for storage and is from Germany. Love it (avail HERE)!
Source: Etsy
If you love that mid century / atomic style of design then this kitschy 1960s magazine rack is for you (avail HERE)!
Source: Etsy
Another smoker stand and magazine racks but this time for a 1957 Simpson-Sears Canada Christmas Catalog.
Beautiful magazine rack or newspaper holder made of full brass in Italy during the 1950s (avail HERE).
Source: Etsy
1950s vintage solid black metal magazine rack with decorative rattan detail on the handle and all 4 corners (avail HERE).
Source: Etsy
1959 Sears Christmas Wish Book, catalog page featuring a vintage brass plated metal magazine rack.
Here is a similar version of the holder pictured above I found on Etsy. Vintage Hammer Brass Magazine Rack from the 1960s.
Source: Etsy
A wonderful mid century modern (1960s) vintage find! This brass magazine rack with a wood handle. The basket of the rack is open with leaft detail, a performated metal base and scrolled feet and scrolled metal along the top (Avail HERE).
Source: Etsy
Extraordinary 1960s Bamboo Magazine and Magazine Stand. LOVE THIS! (Avail HERE)
Source: Etsy
Question time! Do you own a magazine rack? Do you store what it was meant for inside or do you use it for something else. Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
Thanks for stopping by friends!
Liz
We always had a magazine rack when I was a kid. I don’t own one now, the magazines seem to just clutter any flat surface!
That is why you need one! to clear off those surfaces 🙂 I remember every home I ever went into, had a magazine rack when I was growing up. Not so much anymore and some people truly should lol!
Thanks for dropping by!
Liz
I actually found one last summer at the thrift shop. It’s gold with black “treillis” sides, with a handle and wheels, kind of a fancy wheelbarrow. I’ll send you a picture of it.
Love the great ads in this post! Fantastic! We use a basket to stash all our magazines, mostly they’re just catalogs. I like the brass magazine racks, those are nice. I love the atomic ashtrays too. A lot of people won’t collect smoking items because they think it’s gross, but too bad! 😀