Toy Collectors In The Money

Depending on your toy collection, you could be sitting on an absolute gold mine. Although the majority of us used toys for what they were and pretty much destroyed them, a few clever folk kept theirs in pristine condition. Whilst arguably we had more fun, the collectors have had the last laugh as antique toy prices reach an all time high.

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. Most of the toys that were put up for auction last year had either been inherited or found in a dusty corner of someone’s attic according to Vecitis’ research.

Ted Bowers from the Antique Toys Society has also spoken about the rising price of old toys. 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. Don’t get carried away though he advises.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 cherished rag dolls, Steiff bears and vintage toy car collection because there is more money to be made from them yet