For each of us there is one thing that heralds the start of Christmas – whether it was the opening of the first window of the advent calendar today, or the carol concert from King’s College Cambridge on December 24.
For me, big kid as I am, it’s our Christmas toy sale. And it seems I am not alone.
We all remember the childhood excitement of waking up on Christmas morning to see what Santa had delivered.
And this is exactly what bidders are trying to recreate in the saleroom.
The good news is many of the toys in high demand in our youth are still sought after today.
Take Meccano, which topped many young boys’ wish-list in bygone years.
During the 1920s and 1930s Meccano Ltd was the biggest toy manufacturer in Britain with manufacturing bases in Argentina, France, Germany, the US and Spain.
It was invented by the legendary toy designer, Liverpool-born Frank Hornby (1863-1936) a bookkeeper who was good with his hands and looking for a diversion from his ledgers.
To amuse his two young sons he came up with a toy crane made out of perforated metal strips held together with nuts and bolts.
The toy was patented by Hornby in 1901 as ‘Mechanics Made Easy’ with the first sets going on sale a year later.
It became known as Meccano in 1907 and went on to take the toy world by storm.
At its peak the Meccano system consisted of more 300 designs and inspired a generation of boys to take up technical careers.
Today Meccano sets that cost pounds can sell for hundreds.
We are lucky to have one in this Wednesday’s toy sale.
Decades later in 1963 it was the girls taking centre stage when Pedigree launched Sindy as a rival to the American Barbie.
She soon became a best seller with her stylish outfits as sought after (then and now) as the original doll.
The most coveted Sindy costumes have sewn-in labels printed ‘Genuine Sindy Made in England’ or less commonly ‘Genuine Sindy’.
Serious collectors look for details, such as painted flat metal poppers on her outfits and, on the doll, the less common side parting in her hair.
Sindy production moved to Hong Kong in 1965, so the rarest and therefore most valuable dolls date from 1963-1965.
An original, boxed Sindy doll in great condition can make up to £500 at auction.
Three years after Sindy hit the shelves, Action Man was released in the UK, a replica of the 1964 American GI Joe figure, the first action figure released exclusively for boys.
Made by Palitoy, the military clad hero was a big hit and topped many boys’ Christmas lists until it was discontinued in 1984 due to the emergence of the Star Wars.
Today they can sell for thousands especially the Palitoy versions before the manufacturing went to Hasbro in 1984.
Look out for Talking Commander (1970-1973), Action Man Eagle Eyes (1973-1984) and Action Man Atomic Man (1974-1984).
If there’s one thing guaranteed to put a smile on the everyone’s face, it’s a Space Hopper.
It was invented in 1968 by Italian designer Aquilino Cosani, who called it the Pon-Pon. Soon after it bounced into the UK with a smiling kangaroo face printed on the front, becoming an instant hit.
By the 2000s an adult version was made to satisfy the growing nostalgia for the hopping craze. But original ones form the ‘70s can sell for hugely inflated prices, if you will forgive the pun.
If you are having a Christmas clear out, dismiss nothing – whether it’s an old toy or game, lurking in a box in the attic.
The chances are it will be treasure to someone and worth far more than you imagine.
Auction Details
Auction: Derby December Diecast, Model Railway, Live Steam & Collectable Toys Auction
Auction date: 4th December 2025 | 9:30am
Location: Hansons’ Derbyshire Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
