What’s hot and what’s not at auction often surprises but the most astonishing thing for many is discovering their childhood toys are in vogue.
The power of nostalgia is the root cause of this phenomenon. Everyone has memories of their formative years and, when we reach a certain age, we hanker for toys we used to have – or the ones we wished we’d had but never did.
Though children of the 60s, 70s and 80s were not from the super hardy wartime generations, grateful for an orange at Christmas, they were often far from spoilt. One Derby man in his late 50s still laments the fact that his mother bought him a Manchester City school bag from the city’s market hall because it was going cheap. As a lifelong Derby County supporter he was scarred for life! I am sure many will understand his pain.
The good news is his treasured Action Man from the 1970s, which he kept in pristine condition with all accessories and original box, sold for an impressive £180.
Plastic toys dominated then and now. If you’re in your 40s or 50s you probably grew up with a plethora of plastic playthings. Plastic became the dominant material used in manufacturing, especially within the toy industry.
But of course the more toys are played with, the fewer survive in original condition. This creates rarity and value. Therefore, prices can be high for desirable and scarce items.
Iconic brands from the 1980s such as Hasbro, Mattel, Palitoy, Kenner and Galoob brought us Masters of the Universe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Action Force Figures, Star Wars, Transformers, Ghostbusters, The A-Team, My Little Pony, Girls World and Care Bears.
This is just a small selection of the fantastic toys youngsters enjoyed, many linked to films or TV shows. With the intense marketing and merchandising of these products it’s hard to forget their power over us when we were growing up.
The good news is these vintage finds can gain impressive returns under the hammer. For example, a Masters of the Universe Battle Bones carry case commands a £100-£200 estimate and a Dragon Walker £100-£200. Happen to have an Evel Knievel Sidewinder Supercycle? It could fetch £200-£300 or more. Examples in a good, unused condition have surpassed £1,000.
Loved watching the A-Team as a kid? An A-Team Adventure Equipment set could earn you £100-£150. And, of course, if you were a Star Wars fan the sky’s the limit. In Hansons Auctioneers’ April sale a 1977 plastic figure of Darth Vader, a Star Wars toy made by Palitoy, hammered at £460. It was still in its original packaging. In similar vein, assorted Star Wars figures including three bagged Darth Vaders, IG-88s, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, Han Solo, Death Star Drioid and Tusken Raider, plus two Hulk figures, achieved £300 from a £80-£120 guide.
A 1970s blonde bombshell also tossed aside her £60-£80 guide. An unboxed Sasha doll, with no manufacturer marks, sauntered to £460. Other vintage toys to get bids rolling in included some assorted Scalextric, £90, and six boxed Dr Who and the Dalek Rolykins by Marx, £120.
The gaming generation are also buying back their childhoods. The same sale saw a boxed PAL Nintendo Gamecube console, boxed Donkey Kong Jungle Beat Pak and 12 cased Nintendo Gamecube games achieve £250.
Meanwhile, the market for Dinky and Corgi vehicles, railwayana and model steam engines remains as strong as ever. Hansons saw £12,000 achieved for a wonderful Burrell traction engine, built to a high standard. A similar labour of love, a Savage Brothers Little Samson steam traction engine, made £9,500.
Boys’ toys are big business at auction. As well as traction engines, model railways reign supreme as a hobby that will never fade. Consequently, a 5in inch gauge electric Santa Fe locomotive ‘Hank 228C’, ‘Carrie’ carriage and 20 pieces of 5in gauge track, hammered at £1,400.
Still with railwayana, an impressive £360 – well above its £60-£80 guide – was achieved for assorted 00 gauge coaches and rolling stock, including Hattons, Kernow Model Rail Centre Exclusive, Rapido Trains UK, Dapol and Hornby. Bidders also liked a a 5″ scratch-built steam locomotive, ‘T.W. Averill’ 165, built by T H Clark, West Bromwich, which made £320.
It’s good to see Derby’s railway history emerge too. Seven wagon plates including Midland Railway, LMS Derby and others hammered at £70. And I couldn’t help but smile when a pair of British Railway ‘Ladies Room’ and ‘Private’ enamel signs hammered at £160. Nostalgia in all its forms wins at auction!
Toys, railwayana, gaming and live steam lots are invited for auction at Hansons.
For a free valuation call 01283 733988 or email:
Steve Fulford: [email protected]
David Wilson-Turner: [email protected].
