Toy Old

Toy Collectors In The Money

It is no secret that old toys in the right condition can be worth a fortune. Whist most of us were bashing our toy cars against walls or throwing are action men out of the window, there were a select few who kept their toys neatly in their boxes. You might say that toys are made to be played with, but with news that vintage toys prices are reaching record levels, its hard not to wish you kept a few aside just to look at.

Vectis, one of the biggest toy auction specialists have released figures that show a seven percent increase in the price of vintage toys last year. Private sales aside, there was a massive $12 million spent at auction in 2008 on toys alone. According to Vectis the most expensive items to go under the hammer where Victorian rocking horses, vintage Hornby train sets and a couple of Georgian dolls houses. Those people selling the toys had most often inherited them from their great grandparents or found them hidden away in an attic or shed.

Another person who has noted the rise in toy sale prices is Sam Williams from the Toy Collectors Union. He suggests that because most modern toys are electric, plastic and mass produced, there is no longer the production of higher quality, handmade toys that last a lot longer.This means that the traditional products such as tin and wooden toys are becoming even rarer and thus more valuable. Selling up right now though is not his advice.The toy market will keep on growing in strength he suggests, and unlike other markets there are very rarely any dips.So the advice for now is hang on to those classic rag dolls, Steiff bears and vintage toy car collection because there is more money to be made from them yet. Also, it’s worth checking the attic or the garage as you just might find a gem you didn’t know you had.

Roger Miller “Old Toy Trains” 1967