Nostalgia is a comfort blanket that cloaks us all, and happy memories have fuelled a record-breaking start to the auction year.
Toys from our formative years are in demand like never before with items from the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s very much in vogue. If they’re boxed and in good condition all the better.
We’re seeing specialist toy sales rocket to unprecedented heights as new generations come along with money to spare to buy back their childhoods.
Consequently, Hansons’ two-day January 24-25 toy sale was a record breaker. Almost 900 lots achieved a selling rate of 99.2%. The sale raised a hammer total of £87,562 – a new record for Hansons’ toy department.
Collectors’ passions came to the fore to enrich the auctions. Day one hosted 400 lots in The Glyn Porter Diecast Model collection. It realised just shy of £40,000, a phenomenal result. Single-owner collections amassed with care and dedication over many years gain the respect and interest of bidders.
Glyn’s Ferraris proved to be particularly sought after. Lot 101, a 1:18 scale model of a Ferrari 312P Berlinetta Rennsport-Coupe, raced to £820 from a £500-£800 guide. In addition, lot 3, a 1:18 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO, Targa Florio 1962, made £680 and lot 100, a 1:18 scale model of a Ferrari 312P Spyder Sebring Rennversion, 1969, achieved £620.
Day two of the auction was equally impressive raising just shy of £50,000, and, once again, Hansons had a single-owner collection to thank. An impressive array of Dinky vehicles raised a hammer total of more than £25,000.
The top five items were dominated by railwayana, live steam and vintage vehicles. For example, lot 854, a scratch-built traction engine, M.D. Goodall, Marchington, Staffs, soared to £2,800. Lot 853, a Markie ploughing team and plough, which included a live steam Markie ARJ-2255, Burrell Road locomotive traction engine with two wheel water trailer, made £2,750. Meanwhile lot 852, a wonderful scratch built 0-6-0 tank locomotive, made from brass, copper and steel, circa 1980, sold for £1,200.
All manner of vehicles came to the fore in other sought-after lots which included number 695, vintage boxed French Dinky toys. This Fourgon Peugeot J7 Depannage Autoroutes play set included a vehicle, figures, cones and signs. It soared to £1,050.
Then there was lot 730, a mighty assortment of boxed Matchbox Lesney vehicles including Fire Truck 9, Saladin Armoured Car 67, Mercedes Coach 68, Fire Chief’s Car 59, Standard Jeep 72, Grit Spreading Truck 70, Claas Combine Harvester 65, Volkswagen 1600 TL 67, Dodge Dumper Truck 48, Ice Cream Van 47, Mercedes-Benz Coupe 53, Ford Zodiac MK IV 53, Cadillac Ambulance 54, Land Rover Fire Truck 57 and Rolls-Royce Phantom. It made £620.
So if a spring clear-out is beckoning, don’t discount any vintage toys taking up space in the loft, garage or under the bed. They could be more valuable than you ever imagined.
Hanson is inviting entries for a Toys and Models Auction on March 14 and a Specialist Toys and Models Auction on April 27.
However, these sales are not just about diecast models and railwayana. The world’s love of toys is broad covering many decades and preferences. There is room for everything from early Star Wars figures or 1970s Raleigh Choppers to that vintage Action Man gathering dust in the loft.
Action Man toys, made by Palitoy from 1966 onwards, can exceed £200 for a good boxed example in original condition. Meanwhile even a battered and bruised Raleigh Chopper can sell for £250 while examples in good condition can achieve hammer prices in excess of £1,000.
Another major area of growth in the toy sector is being fuelled by the gaming community – and with 2.69 billion gamers worldwide this one will grow and grow! Think Gameboy, Sega Mega Drive or Nintendo. Look out for retro games, vintage gaming consoles and trading cards.
In our January sale lot 877, an unsealed, boxed Nintendo 64 (N64), Super Mario 64 PAL Version game, 1996, CIB, made in Japan, made £200 from a top estimate of £150. And lot 872, a large collection of assorted English and Japanese Pokemon cards, mostly Wizards of the Coast era including Japanese Neo Premium File; Base Set Charizard, Venusaur and Blastoise; Meowth Game Boy Promo, soared to £620.
To book a free toy, railwayana or gaming valuation contact Head of Toys David Wilson-Turner: [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
