ok, thx for the tips...i suspect the NG mags are worth more than the 'buyer' said, probably low balling you.
when i can get around to it, i might just shove 'em out on ebay as a group buy, see if any takers.
i'm thinking i actually have the first several issues, as i vaguely recall the mag starting up after i'd picked up a Platinum card, sometime around 1990 or so.