Unique Opportunity to Obtain Perhaps the Only Complete TIME Magazine COVER Collection in the World beginning with the first issue on March 3, 1923 until January 5, 2009 – more than 4564 Covers (Original Covers of U.S. Subjects) now being offered for the FIRST time. The collection is in excellent and good condition encased in special binders and plastic sheets. Preceding each year is an index indicating date, subject and notable person(s) identified with year born / year died and the number of times each individual has been previously featured either personally or referred to in the past. There are currently eleven binders weighing approx. 125 lbs or 55 kgs.

This probably represents the first time ever that a journalistic history of one of the most well recognized and prestigious news publication’s covers are being made available accompanied by an extensive categorization of the cover contents referred to here as The Compendium.

The collection is in Zurich, Switzerland and Viewing can be arranged by contacting the seller at: timecovercollection@gmail.com. Excerpts of the Compendium will also be available for viewing. The Compendium comprises about 3000 pages and is available on disks.

PRICE: US$ 1,500,000.

This is probably the first time ever that an historical overview of one of America’s leading journalistic empire is being offered in such a comprehensive manner. Thus, the rationale for the price that is underscored by having the highest bidder completing the purchase receive the COMPENDIUM consisting of all cover subjects, events and people (>2900) having been featured. This project has been an on-going effort for the past 40 years and consists essentially of four parts:

1) The Chronicle (584 pgs) listing each issue chronologically indicating subject or person with years born/died and number of times having appeared or referred to along with a brief description of the subject or the individual’s notoriety, established either previously, currently and occasionally referring to the future as appropriate

2) Alphabetical Index (288 pgs) providing dates of all issues for a given subject or person(s) with an extensive cross referencing with multiple entries based upon the theme of each issue. Dates born/died are complete with month/day/year as well as place of birth and age upon death. (Such data is about 98% complete.) A unique feature includes indicating the age upon death in one of two columns: on the left are those who achieved their notoriety outside the U.S. (e.g. Picasso), on the right, those that were born in the U.S. or as non-U.S. born achieving their notoriety primarily or exclusively while in the U.S. (e.g. Henry Kissinger)

3) Subject Headings with about 480 categories for countries, and topics of general interest [American behavior, Artists, Baseball, Computers, Internet, Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, etc), Popular Music & Jazz, Nobel Prize Winners, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Sex, Space Exploration, United Kingdom (UK Citizens, UK Politicians & Military & UK Behavior), Vietnam War Women, etc.]. A sub-section includes a list of people having appeared four times or more (=121).

4) Listing of issues for each Day of the Year on 366 pages.

Sub-sections include the following:

a) For People U.S. Born: Year Born & State (54 pgs): Individuals are listed according to the year born, indicating U.S. State and date of first or only issue having appeared. Total born = 1833 [86% male, 14% female].

b) For People U.S. Born: Year Died & State (36 pgs): The number dying each year and their average age for that year is noted. “Man/Woman or Person(s) of the Year” is also indicated. For the state of New York, California and Illinois born in cities in New York City, Los Angeles & San Francisco and Chicago respectively are marked. For each year a total number including male and female and average age are tabulated. A separate listing is made for each state of the Union indicating Living/Died, Male/Female, Afro-Americans, Military, Senators/Representatives/Governors, Vice-President/President with Party affiliations & Persons of the Year.

c) For All People (U.S. & non-U.S. Born): Year Born & Birthplace (85 pgs) indicates number of people: Total = 2952 (86% Male, 14% Female), and whether number of U.S. Born (64%) or non-U.S. Born (36%). Countries of origin are tabulated.

d) For All People (U.S. & non-U.S. Born): Year Died & Birthplace (57 pgs). This listing includes stating the number of times the person has been featured and indicates the last issue appeared as well as indicating whether U.S. or non-U.S. born. For each year the average age for U.S. Born and non-U.S. Born is tabulated.

e) Names & Age Tabulation when deceased of U.S. Born (including U.S. States) & non-U.S. Born (including countries) – Each Group is divided into those having reached 90 – 94 years of age, 95 – 99 years and at or above 100 years. To date (October 2008) 141 people born in the U.S. have reached the age of 90 or above; for non-U.S. born 68 have done so.

It is noted that there are a dozen or so individuals each from China and the Soviet Union for which birth/death dates and birthplaces that could only be obtained from persons in Beijing and Vladivostok known to the author. Also, some individuals’ families or institutions were directly contacted to provide such information not being available anywhere including the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

A continuous update made every year or two will be followed-up and made available to the purchaser at no additional cost as long as the seller is alive and capable.

The written material has no copy-right and is an option that the purchaser may wish to obtain.

The people, events and circumstances appearing reflect current interests, and often, future concerns or trends. Prominent artists and photographers prepare the cover-pictures highlighting the selected main theme of the week.

In the beginning individuals dominated the covers. Increasingly over the years, events, things, trends and social issues began to appear. The evolution of the media and the public’s thirst for information is clearly depicted by TIME’s careful choice of cover issues, which culminates in its MAN/PERSON(s) OF THE YEAR selection.

Going through the covers is like visiting a gallery with pictures of the people and main events marking a specific period – a historical record, which at the same time provides much of the background vital to understanding our times. Hence the interest shown not only by historians, but also by the many who have wished to procure a copy of one or more particular issue(s).

Given the difficulties involved in going through more than 4000 copies, the COMPENDIUM was conceived to help finding covers related to a person, a specific topic, or simply, what issue appeared on a specific date, e.g. one’s birth date.

The Compendium’s principle component is The Chronicle listing the dates and names of the persons featured (and frequency selected), and the topics of all issues, together with a brief explanation of their relevance in days bygone, current interest or focus on future trends. The text is taken from TIME magazine and standard references such as The Columbia Encyclopedia, Webster’s New Biographical Dictionary, The Macmillan Encyclopedia, The Movie Guide, Actors & Actresses as well as The International Herald Tribune and The Economist.

The second part is an Alphabetical Index providing the dates of all issues for a given person or subject and multiple entries for a given issue, e.g. Crisis in Congress listed under Crisis and Congress, Sex with 65 and Dwight D. Eisenhower with 19 entries providing an extensive cross-reference. For individuals, year of birth and death are shown, in the expanded version month, day and birthplace are indicated.

The 3rd and 4th sections respectively are a Subject Heading (each country, prominent statesmen, sports, popular music, women, etc.) and a Listing of issues for Each Day of the Year are included to further facilitate research.

Currently the entire Compendium consists of more than 3000 pages, 3000 individuals and concludes currently with the January 2, 2006 issue, but the compilation continues to the present day and is constantly being updated.

Detailed Project Description of the TIME Magazine Cover Compendium

The several sections of the Compendium require a more detailed description of the Cover people, subjects, events and trends appearing from March 3, 1923 to January 2, 2006 or 4280 issues featuring 2790 people. (Only the U.S. domestic issues are included.)

The segments include the following:

The Chronicle preceded by an Alphabetical Index (non-extended) with 169 pages. Non-extended because it only states the years born and if deceased died (not month or day nor birthplace), date(s) of each issue appear, indicating those who have appeared four (4) or more times and for those issues without people only briefly refer to primary key words pertinent to the cover subject, event or trend. The Chronicle itself (566 pages) lists chronologically each issue and show the years born and died (for those deceased) for individuals when initially featured and the number of appearances when subsequently shown either alone or with others. A brief narrative follows taken from either TIME itself or elsewhere highlighting past, present and or combined occasionally with future circumstances.

An Extended Alphabetical Index (240 pages) records the exact dates (month/day/year) of birth, death and birthplace as well as age of those died within the period covered as well as for historical figures featured. Dates in bold indicate Person(s) or Non-persons (e.g. The Computer, Planet) of the Year. A distinction is made for persons being U.S. born along with those foreign born but achieving their notoriety primarily in the U.S and are included together in the right column in terms of their age. A special sub-group of people (indicated by “+”) were featured only to highlight a subject, event or trend and whose personal details are often limited. Middle names are provided as they frequently facilitated locating them on the Internet. Also, each individual and an occasional subject appearing multiple times and those people appearing four (4) times or more are specifically noted. Both indexes have extensive cross referencing, e.g. “Crisis in Congress” would be listed under “Crisis…” and “Congress, Crisis in” or as with “Chinese Spy Scandal” listed as such but also under “Spy Scandal, Chinese” and “Scandal, Chinese Spy.” Of course ages are provided if deceased by end of 2006 but deaths are regularly updated and recorded as e.g. 2007.

A Subject Headings Index (1601 pages) comprising 294 topics (excluding People appearing on 4 occasions or more) covering 53 countries and regional areas. People from non-U.S. countries and achieving notoriety outside the U.S. will be listed under their respective countries. Examples of Headings include: AIDS, baseball, children, death, natural disasters, environment, etc.

TIME Magazine Cover People – Appearing at Least on 4 issues (226 pages) including a total of 104 People: 53 Americans and 51 non-Americans with Richard M. Nixon leading the group featured alone, with others or being the primary subject due to the Watergate Scandal for a grand total of 66 times. These issues make up 1223 of the 4280 or nearly 29% of all the TIME issues.

A listing for issues on Each Day of the Year (366 pages) providing a chance for everyone being one in seven for an issue appearing on his/her date of birth – it was on mine – May 18, 1936 with Republican Kansas Gov. Alfred M. Landon being featured. This section may serve as a guide for assessing similar coverage for specific periods of the year, e.g. holidays, anniversaries, pre-election, election, etc.

Year of Birth & Birthplace (72 pages) – All 2790 People: Men = 86% & Women = 14%, U.S. Born = 61% & non-U.S. Born = 35%, 4% Unknown.

U.S. Born in U.S. States – Year Died (34 pages): Total = 1163: Men = 92 & Women = 8%. This also includes the Average Age per year.

Year of Death & Birthplace (54 pages) – 1918 People or 69% of all featured: Men = 1756 or 92% & Women = 162 or 8%. (Also includes the number and date of last issue appeared and shows whether U.S. born or non-U.S. born.)

Listing of U.S. Born in Individual U.S. States (80 pages): Includes number for Men & Women, Living & Died, Age if deceased, Afro-Americans, Military, Person(s) of the Year, Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Senators, Governors, Representatives and their Party affiliations and if out-of-state positions. For New York, California & Illinois indications are made if born in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco or Chicago and total numbers tabulated accordingly.

TRIVIA Segment (53 pages) including 16 topics with Cover Listing of issue dates and number of Caricatures, People wearing Glasses or Hats, with Beards or Mustaches, smoking Cigarettes, Cigars or Pipes, Women wearing Pearl Necklaces, covers displaying the U.S. Flag or portions thereof, Telephones, Pens & Pencils, TV or Computer Screens.

This quirky phenomenon jogged an entire cascade of recall of the endless American passion to decipher all happenings into numbers and permutations. The most benign and convoluting pursuit relates to the traditional American sports of baseball, football and basketball with ice hockey, tennis and especially golf getting on the bandwagon of an ever expanding statistical analytical mania. Then there’s World Cup stats for skiing, ski-jumping, motorcycle races for a wide range of cubic centimeters, and so on to virtually include every competitive activity. Will synchronized swimming be next? To reinforce the athletic importance in our daily conversation, the entertainment industry introduces ever more “sporty” expressions. How often have you heard, “how many times has he scored?” (referring to encounters with the opposite sex) or “three strikes and you’re out” or “slam-dunking” your point to get across a message. For the bizarre appraisal, how about “that’s from left field.” Note the use of “an end-run” to avoid conflict in troubled times. Isn’t this an ingenious way for men to bond and exclude females? And for emphasis, many commercials are set in the men’s locker room. Are these places where bank loans fetch attention? Michael Jordan’s jersey sells everywhere, but without the number”23” there’s no real sale—it’s not considered authentic.

TV coverage is laden with splashes of performance statistics that could be confused with space station status reports. It’s reached the point where we men are lost without our women to fetch the beer since we wouldn’t want to miss the next panel of numbers. These would provide soul-searching insight why the favorite is off and the tabloid account of a 3 a.m. disco might have accounted for his losing to an unknown.

Now for more serious events such as the Gulf War I. CNN was virtually convulsed tabulating the number of scud missiles that targeted Israel as in whether it was now number 33 or 34, and of these, how many were partially or completely destroyed by anti-missiles. As a few splashed in the water, commentators were breathless to learn from their crouching on-site reporters whether the latest was the third or fourth. Interviewing locals on the number of loved ones lost and at what hospital they were being treated for how long was bizarre. What did we expect them to say and were they keeping score cards on misery? Do the reporters get overtime for these inane questions? The incessant queries as to exactly how many were injured or dead, or how many were children involved – whether it was 42 or, due to another report, 43 or even 44, took up critical reporting time denying insight into bigger issues such as whether evacuation procedures were in place or if noxious gases or even germ warfare was in progress. Of course, in due time most was covered. The point is only that attention to “numbers” was disproportional approaching the upper end of the Richter Scale Status for Trivia. The bombardment of numbers numbs the nervous system. To wallow on people’s misery and response to catastrophic happenings qualifies for Tales from the Crypt.

Further back in time that was so disturbing to me was the reporting of the Vietnam War. Aside from the human aspects – and they were often placed aside – the Viet Cong body counts made by speedy U.S. jets often gave comfort to the American public because on a certain 7-day period the average weekly count had been exceeded by 32% for the month and 23% above the average for the past three months! If one didn’t pay enough attention, one might have thought the report was coming from the New York Stock Exchange.
At the time, I lived in a city where a company resided that provided the landing gears for the U.S. combat jets. Each time one or more was shot down, the stock price rose and many of the locals “cheered” for their stock holdings in this company.

The latest fad tossed about in the media is the number of homicides by different age groups. Some cities report dramatic falls in killings and even robbery. One omitted explanation might be due to a drop in potential victims as eventually more are apt to escape to what they believe as more peaceful surroundings. Now it appears that killings continue throughout the nation, but are scattered reaching the smallest hamlet. And how reliable is the accounting?

On a grander scale of numbing numbers are the reports of genocide and refugees in the Balkan and African communities. However tragic, such statistics obliterate a sense of awareness and comprehension. We hear of tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands and eventually millions. Will the American press shy away from numbers due to downsizing their foreign correspondent staff? Or lack of computer capacity for body counts?

Anyway, Joe Blow in Nowhere, U.S.A. is too busy securing his home and purchasing guns to protect himself. He doesn’t believe the numbers how safe he is. There is something absolute about a number and especially when your own number is up. And then it’s 100%.

To regulate or not is also a query being thundered across the media and legal institutions. Governments and civil liberty groupings of all shades are battling their viewpoints, but unclear to my still earthly mind is how can cyberspace be controlled? Or how secure is confidential information, free from mischievous hackers? Since mobile phone mania is pandemic, and eaves dropping have become a sport and are as easy as switching on the power source.

The terminology is mind-boggling. Exposure should really commence in-utero sometime during the mid-trimester. Teenagers hacking into the National Defense Command Units serve as a basis for the next disaster movie – “The Unintentional Terrorist.” If incompetence and mismanagement is as widespread as recent revelations indicate, then WW III has already begun only the enemy is within. The human internal self destructive switch has been “on” for some time and venues like the Internet will only accelerate the obvious. Next time the comet Hale-Bopp passes more of us sensing this Planet is doomed will want to hop aboard. What proof do we have that we can arrive at a Higher Level? Now where is that web site for Heaven’s Gate? Does anyone out there know the password to enter the space ship? I wonder what their new web site address is.

How utterly convenient it is that the perpetrators “appear” from some extreme radical, fanatical or extreme right-wing element within U.S. society. The presumed culprits renting a truck as routine as apple pie without changing license plates, leaving behind a so-called diary, etc…with more evidence to link him and others to the bomb site. More frenzy for the media virtually leaving the O.J. defense favoring a yet again another conspiracy frame-up and LAPD-cover-up of incompetence reeling behind in the smoke and mud of the latest splash in media’s muddy waters.

Today’s journalists and so-called investigative TV reporters are the real judges knowingly or otherwise manipulating, distorting and grabbing at every trivial straw just to catch a few more viewers. This greedy screening phenomenon overwhelms the every increasing dysfunctional dys-literate (able to read but not comprehend) population.

Now let’s turn on the “Conspiracy Channel” and consider another scenario for the Oklahoma City bombing. Suppose the attack was indeed the doings of one of the fanatical Middle Eastern elements as many initial “knee-jerk” commentators blurted out to national and local audiences throughout the USA and the world. And suppose behind the scene investigations actually found out that this was the case. Potential Bad Boys would not be difficult to identify being either those from Teheran, Baghdad or Tripoli. “Satin” has many enemies. But consider the consequences if the USA where to identify the source of such an atrocity by “foreign elements.” There wouldn’t be enough H-bombs around to satisfy the public. The hate, anger and frustration syndrome would become epidemic knowing no limits. After all, remember the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to expedite the Vietnam involvement. Even Arkansas’ Fulbright went along with the entire U.S. Senate.

Iraq’s Saddam Hussein was essential to counterbalancing the importance of an ever strengthening Iran. Gaddafi had done what he could do to counter the takeover of his country by extreme Islamic fundamentalists. Is it not better to keep those well known enemies in power playing them one off against each other than to totally take one or more out of the picture replacing them with unknowns with unknown intentions? Have not the British been doing this for centuries? Divide and conquer or whatever.

Microwave Mania was what I heard about in my earlier years. However, more rational consultants informed me how limited this is in what is termed as cooking. And what about reports on the diffusion of organic plastic molecules into what is being ultimately invading our body tissues? My daily 24 hour brain tumors can’t take much more of all these precautions. They say to just place the food in the drawer and zap it for a few minutes and presto a lovely so and so would emerge. Truth is that much of what was inserted had hot, warm and cold spots making whatever it was a disgusting experience. Another period of zapping often resulted in an object suitable for the French revolution, not their cuisine contributions, but that 1789. Sandwiches were always available as a backup, but after 15 days of ham and cheese varieties, the taste buds on holiday or into coma.

Only in retrospect did I realize that more people were living on their own and somehow coping with their internal environmental world of nutrition. After becoming bored with consuming pre-cooked grilled chicken, take-away pizzas, Chinese, etc., I thought it best to seek out a more diverse but balanced menu.

Although I enjoyed frequent gourmet meals as a business venue, much of it began tasting as if it came from the same kitchen and cooking gear regardless of city or country. Of course this is an exaggeration, but the printed menus looked astoundingly similar on close inspection and learning that the chefs often had been subjected to similar cooking schools throughout Europe gave me the impression of undeclared syndicate that was just very much upscale from McDonalds – especially the prices. Until recently, much of this was a tax deductible item depending upon which country your company paid their taxes. The only exception to the conveyor belt type kitchen was my penchant for the spicy oriental varieties, but many of these places were not swanky or meaty enough for the occasion for professional carnivorous executives.

I consider plastic airline food for the very frequent flyer nauseating and unhealthy for a variety of reasons – too numerous to expound upon here. Arriving on a homeward bound flight often after shops are closed left me with three options: 1) consume the plastic food served by Valium smiling flight attendants, 2) visit a local restaurant but a large suitcase, shoulder bag and 49 kg attaché full of company documents made that awkward, 3) guess what can be found in my kitchenette cupboard such as an uninviting can of ravioli. The last option was to simply open a can of tuna, eat straight from the container and fall asleep in front of the tube.

Unaware of a silent (for me at least) revolution, the marketing experts were beginning and obviously succeeding in bringing an ever imaginative array of meals frozen in convenient packages at reasonable prices. These items easily competed with whatever a busy woman of today can manage to place before her boyfriend, fiancée or husband. What woman has the time, inclination or energy to prepare a decent meal as in the past? Both genders are much too preoccupied with many time consuming activities (not to even mention children and animals). Its become rare indeed to find a couple who relish and have or make the time to prepare a proper meal as a ritual for friends, lovers or family. The virtual disappearance of the latter as a unit is in part due to the elimination of food preparation as an integral act of togetherness and bonding.

Now to update my progress. I’ve bonded with my local supermarket frozen food section where even oriental concoctions are spicy for my palate. My freezer essentially serves as another orderly file cabinet. I pay attention to package dates, ingredients and above all the simple instructions. As a backup I continue to take my once-a-day multiple and vitamin tablet.

As I’m observing from a slight distance beyond middle age, I notice that current courtship may have taken on a new twist. It appears increasingly obsolete to spend hours preparing a special meal for close friends and loved ones. Take-outs still and continue to infringe upon this aspect of our lives. The savvy are those that know their way around the frozen food sections. Modern women no longer can nor are they able to impress their prey with specially and individually prepared meals. They have been compelled to simply their efforts and found the battle-field leveled since many men have become interested and capable of being impressed with commercials and the ease with which nutritious food can be made available.

So, a word of caution for you women of today. The traditional kitchen is no longer a viable snare to harness your beau. The latter no longer appears to be accessible as he once was. Maybe he would not even be worth it anyway as more and more have become unappreciative for such special gestures not having being raised under more traditional values. Female nurturing has taken a back seat to a variety of commitments and male recognition and appreciation of this basic biological trait has declined in parallel thanks in part to your local frozen food department. Bon appetite! Now where did I place those new multi-strength vitamins since I’m too tired to wait to defrost that lovely curry laced salmon package?

Regarding Thomas Friedman’s illuminating article “Hijacking democracy” (Views, July 15) on how Middle Eastern societies have failed at democracy, the flipside of his argument might be that materialistic Western forces, by subjugating and exploiting the Middle East for their own objectives, have also hijacked “democratic principles.”

The nondemocratic colonial powers clearly illustrated unbridled ruthlessness and control and supported puppet-like regimes to the detriment of their Arab and Muslim societies. The colonized cultures have learned well.

The cruelty shown by the West is rarely mentioned or explained in the media. As long as materialism remains the primary pursuit of life, there will never be peace between East and West.

Religions have always been hijacked by governments to establish and further their agendas. This continues on both sides today as it has for ages.

Paul Krugman certainly did more than scratch the surface on what might ail Americans as compared with the citizens of other industrial nations (”America’s sick society,” Views, May 6). After being involved with clinical research on a worldwide basis for 30 years, I know that the fundamental difference is that each patient in America is viewed as a profit center.

Health care in the United States is largely a sort of privilege, whereas in Europe it is considered a fundamental right, regardless of one’s economic status. Furthermore, an excessively litigious society compels the widespread use of laboratory procedures often simply to satisfy potential legal problems.

I strongly recommend that Silvio Berlusconi take his dispute with the Italian election outcome to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Being a close supporter of President George W. Bush will certainly seal a positive outcome for the current Italian leader’s future.

“Fictionalization” has become a main-stay in political strategy and should be taught as a major subject in schools.

Rich brilliantly summarized a few of the egregious efforts by both political parties including the hopelessness of the Democrats efforts to diminish Samuel Alito’s credibility.

The Democrats don’t recruit organizations with the necessary sophistication, as the Republicans have. They would flunk “Truthiness 101 with a teacher’s comment: too amateurish.