A new generation of toy collectors has had a dramatic impact on the auction world this year as nostalgia for our childhood and youth surges through the decades.
There comes a time in everyone’s life when they look back and right now gamers from the 1990s and 2000s want to buy the games and consoles that brought them joy in years gone by.
They’re the new kids on the bidding block. That doesn’t mean the likes of Dinky vehicles, diecast models, railway sets, Steiff teddies and antique dolls are not in demand. They most certainly are and make up a major section of our toy sales.
But there is room for everything in a toy auction and the market is ever-changing. It moves with the times as a new generation with cash to spare looks to buy back a little happiness.
Toy collectables blend old and new beautifully, as does our toy department. It’s led by David Wilson-Turner, a savvy 23-year-old with seven years under his belt at Hansons, and Steve Fulford, a vintage 63-year-old who once ran a toy museum and is moved to tears by a toy that touches his heart.They are a formidable team, passionate and hugely knowledgeable.
Neither has been surprised by the desire to collect video games and consoles. After all, both have witnessed the frantic demand for Star Wars toys bought for pennies in the late 1970s and early 80s and now selling for hundreds of pounds.
The demand for retro Gameboy, Sega Mega Drive or Nintendo items was noted in June 2020. We witnessed a flurry of strong prices for vintage video games, gaming consoles and equipment – results we’d never witnessed on that scale before.
For example, lot 3122, a quantity of video games including Sega, Nintendo and Xbox made £660. Then there was lot 3168, another large mix of video games, including Sega, Dreamcast and PlayStation along with a PS1 console and Dreamcast arcade stick. It made £560.
Lot 4173, unused Sega Genesis Nomad Console in original packaging. Sold for £360.
The sheer vastness of the gaming empire could eclipse Star Wars. As David points out, in a world where millions play games online and many pay just to watch people play those games, it’s a market set to grow.
But it will never be all-dominating because what we like to play with in our formative years varies as widely as our personalities. Diversity is the name of the game when it comes to the toy market.
Take our September sales. The top-selling item was lot 4141, a collection of assorted Star Wars figures which made £500. It was closely followed by lot 4134, more Star Wars Figures and weapons, £480, and lot 4140, a boxed Meccano Star Wars Ben Kenobi figure, sold for £480.
But then we leapt back in time to the early 20th century with lot 4322, a beautifully-made Ayres of London rocking horse which galloped to £420.
The gaming generation was in the hot seat again when lot 4173 went under the hammer, an unused Sega Genesis Nomad Console in original packaging. It was contested to £360. In addition, lot 4176, a Mario Kart 64, Nintendo 64, boxed game, red strip sealed, reached £270.
But it was back to 1927 for lot 4251, a rare German-made Schuco fully-jointed teddy which made £270. Meanwhile lot 4230, an early 20th century bisque head doll, reached £260
And we can never forget Derby’s railway heritage. The engineering city near our Derbyshire headquarters is famous for train-making. Consequently, we sell many model trains and railway sets and welcome consignments. In September, lot 4121, a set of assorted railway locomotives, sold for £250. Finally, in 10th place was lot 4217, a Sega ‘Monaco’ One Arm Bandit which made £250.
Steve Fulford enjoys watching a multitude of items from the last 100 years excite buyers but if he had to pick a favourite toy decade it would be the 1960s. In his opinion, the 1950s/60s were the heyday of toy manufacturing in the UK and items made then have stood the test of time.
Think Barbie, born in 1959, Sindy, 1962, Action Man, who parachuted down in 1964, Thunderbirds who rocketed into our lives in 1965 and Star Wars toys, 1977. TV and film releases, such as Star Wars, drive demand and reignite interest in later generations thanks to remakes and reruns.
Ultimately, nostalgia fuels desirability but people have to be here to generate it. Some pre-Second World War Dinky toys are not in such strong demand because many of those who played with them are sadly no longer with us. But the toys remain and will always be collectable.
Amid all the changes and new trends we witness one thing is certain. The importance of toys in our lives, and the collectables market, will never diminish.
Toys of any kind, trains sets, consoles or video games to sell? Entries are invited until November 7 for our November 23-24 Toys, Gaming and Trains Auction. Free valuations are available at Hansons, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire, DE65 6SL, Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm, Saturday, 9am-noon. Alternatively, email: [email protected].
