The Nov. 9, 1967, Volume 1, Issue 1 of The Rolling Stone magazine, then in a newspaper tabloid format featuring a front-page photo of John Lennon, came perilously close to being sold at auction.
The state treasurer’s office is given the responsibility of handling unclaimed items in safe deposit boxes, and employee Audrey Moore tracked down Shaff, an Oklahoma City accounting consultant.
“To be honest with you, when I was contacted, I had no recollection of ever doing it,” said Shaff, 48, a youngster when The Rolling Stone’s first issue came off the press.
He usually likes to collect first-edition signed books by certain authors and said he bought the magazine perhaps 13 years ago through the eBay online auction and shopping site. He apparently placed the shrink-wrapped publication in a safe deposit box along with some commemorative coin sets and some old canceled stock certificates.
Reunited six weeks ago
Shaff, got the magazine and other items about six weeks ago as the treasurer’s office was preparing for Thursday’s auction of items abandoned in safe deposit boxes. The treasurer’s office received items from Shaff’s safe deposit box in 2003 and displayed the magazine in 2005 when it was promoting an auction that year; it wasn’t sold then because the treasurer’s office wanted to continue to search for the owner.
Shaff is making sure he doesn’t lose track again of his vintage Rolling Stone, which he’s been told is worth “a few hundred dollars.” He is storing it in a display case at his office.
He said he “most likely” will pass the magazine to his children.
“If my kids show an interest in things like that, I will,” Shaff said.
“Other than that, I will probably take it to the grave with me.”

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