Everyone has favorite collectible toys that evoke fond memories of childhood. From Fisher Price Little People to Thomas the Tank Engines, almost everyone saves at least a few toys. What do you have safely tucked away in your attic?
What makes a toy collectible?
A toy doesn’t have to be an antique to be a collectible, although many collectible toys are indeed antiques. The term antique is used for items that are at least 100 years old, and vintage is used for items more than 25 years old. Toys are collectible simply because many people want them. Perhaps they remind you of your childhood, they are unique in some way, or maybe they are rare. Whatever the reason, toys are a favorite among collectors from all walks of life.
Categories of Collectible Toys
Toys really haven’t changed much through the ages. Children have played with dolls, marbles, and games for centuries and, not surprisingly, these are often the items most eagerly sought by collectors.
Action Figures
Action figures are usually not much more than 60 years old. They may portray movie heroes, comic book heroes, or be some other type of figure. Popular figures include:
- Star Wars
- GI Joe
- Batman
- Superman
- X-Men
- Indiana Jones
- Transformers
Action figures, like most collectible toys, are worth the most if they are in the original box and have never been played with.
Cars
Those little Matchbox cars that you played with as a kid are increasingly sought after by collectors. Made from die cast metal, many of these cars are rare because children play with them until they fall apart. Some of the most collectible are:
- Monkeemobile: the 1967 Pontiac GTO from the Monkees television show
- Munster Koach: the replica of the car used by the Munsters on the show of the same name
- Matchbox 1957 red and green dump truck
- Hot Wheels 1968 Beatnik Bandit
Dolls
There are many types of dolls available for the collector, from antique to contemporary.
Antique dolls come in many types, sizes, and materials.
- Wax or wax over dolls are made either from wax poured into a mold or melted wax poured over papier mache. They have been made since the late 1700s and are very delicate.
- China dolls were made between 1840 and 1880. They have glazed china heads and are usually identified by their hairstyle.
- Parian dolls are similar to those made in China, but the heads are left unglazed.
- Bisque dolls were produced in France and Germany from the 1840s until after World War I.
- French bebes were an innovation because they were the first dolls to be made that looked like children. These dolls were quite expensive to purchase new when they were introduced into the market, and they remain some of the most expensive dolls to collect.
- Dolly-faced dolls were made in the 1890s and were cheap copies of the French bebe doll.
Popular manufacturers of antique dolls included Jumeau, Bru, Steiner, Kestner, and Simon and Halbig.
Vintage and contemporary collectible dolls include:
- Barbie
- American Girls
- Strawberry Shortcake
- Raggedy Ann
- Madame Alexander
- Lee Middleton
Dolls in their original clothing with all the accessories and in the original packaging are usually more valuable than a doll on its own.
Dollhouses
Dollhouses are another fun collectible that can be either antique or contemporary. Antique doll houses often have beautiful lithography and details. Many contemporary collectible dollhouses are not made for play at all but are replicas of beautiful Victorian houses complete with painstakingly detailed furniture made to scale.
Games
Children have been playing games since the beginning of time. Collectors may collect complete game sets or only the colorful game boards. The latter are often used as wall decor because of their unique designs. Antique game manufacturers include W. & S.B. Ives Company (1850s), Milton Bradley, McLoughlin Brothers (1860s), and Parker Brothers (1880s).
Train Sets
Antique and contemporary train sets are favorites among collectors. Manufacturers include:
- Lionel
- Thomas the Tank
- Atlas
- Bachman
- Kato
Trains come in a variety of sizes and one is not necessarily more valuable than the other.
Evaluating Your Toys
Toys will always be worth more if they are in the box and have never been played with. Look at your collectible toy and evaluate it with a critical eye. Are there many scratches? Missing pieces? Compare your collectibles to those for sale on eBay and other collectible sites to get an idea of the value of your collectible. Other sites that may help are:
- Kovels
- Price Miner
- Instappraisal.com
- What’s It Worth To You
Collectors Clubs
Many collectors like to enjoy their hobby with others. Whatever type of toy you like to collect; odds are there is a club for it. A benefit to belonging to a collector club is that you can learn how to care for your chosen collectible as well as what the values of your toys are. Check out your local newspaper, phone book, public library or town hall bulletin boards for collector clubs near you.
There are also many Internet sites dedicated to collectible toys. Here is just a small sampling of the toy clubs and collector’s sites available on the web today:
- Antique Toys
- Lionel Train Collectors
- Transformers Club
- G.I. Joe Club
Choose Items You Love
It’s best to buy the items you love rather than choose items for investment value. Collectibles come and go; the Beanie Babies craze in the 1980s is a good example. People paid hundreds of dollars for Beanie Babies believing that they would continue to go up in value. Many of these collectibles can be found in your local thrift shop today for pennies. Collecting what you love means that the items will always be valuable to you.
