Collecting vintage toys doesn’t always follow a set path. Some collections are created for their monetary value, rarity, or prestige. Others are based on a theme, movies or TV shows, die cast cars, plush toy brands, board games, mechanical toys, and more. And some are simply reminders of the past.
Vintage toys can bring back childhood. As children we played with toys, as adults we might collect them. If it held meaning back then, we probably still have fond memories of those toys now. That’s why collecting vintage toys covers a wide berth, with specialty collector’s clubs for everything from dolls to trucks, blocks to robots.
My favorite collectible toy is a small rubber car made by the Auburn Rubber company in the 1950s. It’s a Triumph TR2 sports car. I’ve owned it for as long as I can remember. It reminds me of my car enthusiast father who passed away when I was very young. He most likely gave it to me.
When my kids were young, I started a collection of wooden toys. I’d pick them up at thrift stores, yard sales, flea markets, and art shows. At one time, I had over a hundred of them stacked on shelves around the house. I’ve since sold off the collection.
Most often collections begin with a fond memory, a favorite plushie, game, doll, or some other beloved toy we cherished. It’s a reminder of a simpler time when we didn’t have the thoughts and worries of being an adult. Sometimes our connections to favorite toys may stem from traumatic times, those memories often spark feelings of security. Something connected to a time or place where we felt safe and unhindered by the world around us. Those reminders can lead us to want to recreate that secure feeling.
The explosion of trading cards, video games, anime, character models, and other toy memorabilia has created a huge market for collectors and those who cater to them. While most of these items are not yet vintage, they can be extremely valuable. Consider that Pokemon is almost 30 years old, and the highest valued card sold in 2022 for over $5 million!
For those collecting contemporary toys, The Toy Collectors Guide has all the information you’ll need on their website here.
America’s Antique Mall has a great article on collecting vintage toys from the 70s, 80s, and 90s here.
For more information on collecting antique toys, check out Antique Toy Collectors of America’s website here.
And for more articles from us here at Vintage Unscripted on collecting click here.
