Collecting Tips
Collector Inspector : Episode CTI-102 -- More Projects »
Collectibles expert Harry Rinker gives great advice for buying back your childhood toys.People in their late 50s and early 60s remember Hopalong Cassidy. At its peak, this hat (figure A) sold from $275 to $300. It's still valued close to that, but it's actually coming down a little bit at the moment.
The hot toys right now are from the 1960s. Here's a G.I. Joe capsule in its period box from 1966 (figure B). When buying back toys from 1960 (or any year, really), the original box is important. It's also important to make sure all the parts are there so that the unit is complete. This toy in its complete form is nearly as expensive as the Hopalong hat--it's valued at approximately $250.
Even toys from the '70s can get expensive. Here are Darth Vader action figures (figure C). If you find him loose at a garage sale and it's been played with, you might get him for a buck or two, but if you find him on a blister pack--especially one like this one, which is the very first one (the 12 figures on the back of the package indicate it's the first one)-- could pay $150 to $175. So how can this information translate into collecting advice? Here's how it adds up: Buy back your childhood toys when you are in your 20s, and they will be affordable. Wait until your 30s and the expense rises. Wait until your 40s and you're going to have to get a bank loan. What happens if you're in your 50s or 60s? Rinker's advice is advice is simple--think about buying back the childhood toys of your grandchildren.
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