One of the most popular categories of toy collecting is the collection of vintage toys including pull toys, wind-up toys and friction toys. Vintage toys are fun to collect, simple in design and in many cases were well-loved which makes collecting them in mint condition a challenge. Today the toy industry is worth billions of dollars. In fact the United States alone accounts for approximately $21.2 billion in consumer sales each year. Many of us enjoyed playing with toys when we were children and with so many sites dedicated to toy collecting. Finding out if you have an antique, classic or modern toy item tucked away that is worth some money could be the start of a lucrative investment!
Toys are Worth What A Buyer is Willing to Pay. Brigitte Kruse Appraisal Services Present Some of the Most Remarkable Toy Sales
– Set of Barbie Dolls – $161,000
American based toy company Mattel introduced the first Barbie doll at the American International Toy Fair in March 1959. For over 55 years Barbie has featured many different outfits and accessories and has remained an all-time favorite for little girls around the world.
– Pokemon Pikachu Illustrator Card – $150,000
The Pokemon trading card game first appeared in North American in January 1999. The Pikachu Illustrator card is considered one of the rarest cards ever made. Only six of these cards were ever produced and they were awarded as prizes during the Pokemon Card Game Illustration Contest in Japan in 1997.
– Pokemon Pokedex Deluxe – $100,000
Tiger Electronics released a redesign of the Pokemon Pokedex in 2001 and it featured an additional 100 more characters than the original version. Fans of Pokeman were able to sort through 250 Pokemon creatures according to their characteristics along with leaving personalized notes.
– Nintendo World Class Service Set – $95,000
Starting as early as 1988, some stores featured the Nintendo Test Station which was used to diagnose NES hardware and component problems. Fans of this diagnostics machine are eager to find one and will pay top dollar for the privilege of owning one.
– NASCAR Toy Collection – $55,000
NASCAR is a family owned company that was founded in 1947 and fans are eager to collect literally thousands of different cars, trucks, posters, action figures, lunchboxes, souvenir additions and any other sports memorabilia which is NASCAR related.
– Transformers Generation Collection – $40,000
The first generation of Transformer toys was produced jointly by Hasbro in the United States and Takara Tomy toys in Japan. The original generation transformer toys sold between 1984 and 1991 and are renowned for their attention to detail and use of die-cast metal.
– Star Wars Action Figures – $32,000
George Lucas produced a series of movies which were the start of an ever growing franchise that includes books, comics, computer games, lunch boxes, board games, posters and literally hundreds of toys and other memorabilia.
– Hot Wheels Complete Numbered Series Collection – $20,000
Hot Wheels began producing 1:64 scale cars in 1968 and become well-known for its realistic depiction of cars. To date, Hot Wheels is the most popular manufacturer of smaller-scaled car models. Many of the cars available in the Hot Wheels numbered series have different variations and collections that make these cars some of the most sought after on the market.
Rare Toy Collecting Tips
– Try to decide if you want to collect toys that have been opened or toys that are still unopened in their original packaging. Taking a toy out of its package instantly reduces its value by as much as 75%!
– Pace yourself! Don’t try to build up your collection quickly by making up lost time by not starting years earlier. Many toy collectors become disappointed when they learn the ‘rare‘ toys they’ve been buying on Ebay are actually quite common. Do your research first.
– Always inspect the physical condition when buying loose toys. You don’t want to keep damaged toys such as action figures with missing limbs or toys with badly worn-out paint.
– Try to buy toys with their complete accessories. For example, a vintage Star Wars action figure with original accessories today can cost three to ten times more than without (not to mention that a mint one in its original package can cost a hundred times more!)
Antique, Classic & Modern Toy Appraisals in Beverly Hills, Agoura Hills, Palm Springs, Indio & Southern California
If you are interested in finding out whether your collectible toys are worth tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, contact the knowledgeable professionals at Brigitte Kruse Appraisal Services today for a formal appraisal or valuation. Brigitte Kruse has extensive experience working with antique, golden era, classic and modern toys. In addition to onsite appraisals and online valuations, Brigitte is also available for fun and exciting “What’s it Worth” Valuation Parties where you can gather your friends or groups and have your items appraised in a fast moving, party type atmosphere that everyone is sure to enjoy!
