It was 1978 an up to that time I was buying Lionel trains from the older boys in the neighborhood. It was in 1978 while moving a big bookshelf out of my friends house into the garage that changed my life. Upon reentering the room we noticed the bookcase hid a long lost door – to the toy storage “room.” My friend and his younger brother were relatively “well off” and in this room was two of everything GI-Joe from the early to late 1960s.
Fast forward to 1986 after graduating college and moving in with my girlfriend. A multitude of boxes remained in the hallway and she noticed after a few days I wasn’t unpacking them. One day she said “what are in these boxes?” I replied “Oh, they are my toys” while I continued to put away the groceries. Right then and there I knew we had to buy a house.
The house was a three story Victorian with a three story open chestnut stair case leading to a finished attic room. Trying to furnish the house we were at an antique show when I noticed a man reading a magazine name “Antique Toy World.” He refused to let me see the copy but that did not stop me. Up to that time I had been riding my motorcycle around the NY Tri-State area for years stapling posters to telephone poles that said “DIAL 1-800-OLD-TOYS Wanted” and already had a basement and attic full of antique and vintage toys. This was before Antique Road Show and Ebay, and I was visiting several homes a week.
After tracking down the publisher and getting a copy, I went to my first toy show at Agriculture Hall in York, PA, which happened to be the most reputable and largest show on the east coast. Imagine collecting for 10 years – not knowing a world of collecting already existed – and walking into a hall the size of a football field! I still have my first “retail” toy purchase hanging on my wall, a Buck Roger pop gun made by Daisy. Not long after, I was on the front page of the living section in the most popular North Jersey newspaper will the title “Toys in the Attic.”
In 2000 I moved from New Jersey back to the suburbs of NY. There was the dot.com bubble and 911 so from roughly 2000 to 2010 my showcases filled a large room in my new house but my toys remained packed safely away for another time. I knew they were there but I was starting to raise a family and I stopped doing shows with my friends. They were some of the most enjoyable times buying toys, helping each other identify and most times trading since each of us had a different interest, thank God!
Buy then I had an extensive GI-Joe, Captain Action, Aurora Slot Car, Lionel Train and Tonka Truck Collection. It was 2010 and Ebay was becoming very popular, but I was happy I got out before everything went on-line and the toy manufacturers were re-popping everything. I couldn’t complain though because they all call me to source mint examples of the original toys that they wanted to reproduce. I found everything from Dr. Who to Matchbox and couldn’t keep up with the demand, so I got “pricier.” They didn’t care and I’m slightly embarrassed to say I declined offers to send me prototypes of there “new lines” even though they would have been sent free of charge. What did I miss? I don’t remember and what does it matter now?
Well it mattered. It was the late nineties at a GI-Joe convention on the carrier warship “The Intrepid” that I didn’t blink. The isle at the show were so packed with collectors you couldn’t move. They bought anything and everything – it was an amazing experience – but I didn’t have anytime to shop for myself. A friend returned to the table and said “Some guy is selling the prototype GI-Joe right hand used by Hasbro at the 1964 NYC Toy Show launch of GI-Joe.” I don’t remember knocking anyone over but I did buy it from the original Hasbro designer Sam Spears. He was very pleasant and excited to see me beaming with enthusiasm as if I had passed the test and deserved his written authentication which still accompanies “The Hand.” After that I chased the design team at every convention asking them “where’s the foot?” since it was the only other body part cast in lead. I did find the one who saw it last. He said he fished a lot and it probably is at the bottom of the Delaware River!
During the period of 2010 – 2020 my collection expanded into additional categories while focusing on the rare or “like new” examples of some of the most sought after collectibles. From December 2020 through May 2021 it was no secret that collecting-fever had returned and toys from the 80s and 90s were also in high demand. Collecting is cyclic and track with the interests of those who played with the toys from a particular era. Individuals in their mid to late 20s and early 30s are looking for toys produced 20 – 25 years earlier, so today that means the toys of the 80s and 90s. However, those who collect toys from the 60s and 70s are nearing or are retired. They have or had good careers and renewed interest in expanding their collections.
As the collector evolves from pre-marriage to an established career and then to empty nesters and retirement their vintage of toys also evolve in desirability and value. Its recognizing a toys potential and its place in the evolution chain that separates the potential for a significant increase in value, but that doesn’t mean anything or everything is worth buying and putting away. That takes a lot of experience and a deep understanding of what each collectible is to that particular collector community.
There are investment-grade toys to be had but that doesn’t mean its a good investment. People ask me what should I buy or what’s a good investment? Pondering this question every time I’m asked over the past few decades has made me strongly believe one should “Buy What you Know and Buy What You Like and You Will Never Be Disappointed with Your Collection.”
What's a toy worth? 