Vintage Toys Worth Money
Vintage toys can be worth a lot of money, especially if they are in pristine condition. A mint condition doll from the American Girl series, for example, can go for thousands of dollars. Rare versions of classic toys like the Stretch Armstrong or Lionel train set can also sell for a substantial sum.
Colorforms
Designed to foster imagination and creative thinking, Colorforms are “stick-on” shapes that can be moved around on graphic backgrounds. As children re-arranged them, they created new scenes and scenarios that were limited only by the child’s imagination.
While ’90s toys might have been considered disposable at the time, many are now worth big bucks. A pristine Game Boy from 1989 could fetch up to $125,000, while rare Red Line Hot Wheels can go for as much as $15,000. Even the ’90s girl band sensation the Spice Girls can be worth thousands when their rare collection of dolls is found in great condition.
Other toys worth keeping an eye on include a mint-condition Batman: The Animated Series action figure and the first-ever Super Soaker, which can now sell for $500 or more. Rare Barbie dolls, Steiff bears and Madame Alexander dolls are also in high demand. Collectors also keep an eye out for factory errors, such as extra parts or upside down paint jobs, which can make a toy more valuable.
Playmobil
The plastic figurines known as Playmobil weren’t the most exciting toys ever, but they were versatile and sturdy. They encouraged children’s imagination by giving them just enough parts to build a world around them. Hans Beck of Zirmdorf, Germany, who started the company in 1974, called this creative freedom “fingerspitzengefuhl.”
Although Playmobil is no longer as popular as Lego—who has licensing deals with Star Wars and SpongeBob and makes a toy based on every movie you can imagine—it’s still going strong. Its most recent figure, a Martin Luther statue to mark the 500th anniversary of his Reformation, has already sold out.
The toys you might have stashed in the attic or tucked away in your kids’ rooms could be worth some serious cash. To be most valuable, however, a toy needs to be complete and in its original packaging. For example, a Luke Skywalker from 1978 with the double-telescoping light saber can be worth up to $25,000, according to Vintage Action Figures.
Trailblazer Train Set
As America grew from desolate wilderness to bustling cities, Trailblazer train sets helped spearhead the progress. This prewar set includes a 4-6-0 steam locomotive, gondola single-dome tank car and wood caboose. A full set in excellent condition can sell for more than $2,000.
Collectors value Lionel trains based on their age, with prewar sets commanding higher prices than post-war models. They also look for sets that appear to have never been used. One example of a valuable Lionel train set is the model 408E, which came in apple green, mojave and orange. These rare colors are harder to find and can fetch a price of up to $2,000, according to auction site Liveauctioneers.
Garbage Pail Kids, those wildly popular collectible cards schoolkids loved in the 1980s, can go for a lot of money today. A rare “Adam Bomb” card recently sold for $3,624 on eBay. The same is true for rare Pokemon trading cards, which can be worth thousands if they’re in good condition.
Talkboy
When it comes to high-tech gadgets, the 90s was where it was at. The Talkboy was a cassette recorder that could be used to play back and manipulate audio, proving that you didn’t need a smartphone or even a desktop computer to have fun with technology.
Originally designed as a non-functional prop for Home Alone 2: Lost in New York for Macaulay Culkin’s character to use when outwitting adults, director John Hughes and Tiger Electronics collaborated to release a fully working retail version. The recorder was a hit and eventually led to a pink model called the Deluxe Talkgirl in 1995.
The ’90s was also notable for the rise of franchise toys that were based on popular characters and movies, such as the Power Rangers. If you have a mint condition Rare Red Power Ranger, you can expect to get up to $2,000. Even if you don’t own any of these classic toys, it might be worth poking around your basement or attic to see what you can dig up. You may be surprised at what you find.
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