Antique Toy Trends and Toy Longevity- Help with Planning and Selling
Antique Toy Trends and Toy Longevity – Help with Planning and Selling
Years ago I stated that toy collecting is like a bell curve. You grow up and that coincides with the bell curve growing. That’s your kid nostalgia that will blossom. Your nostalgia and the toy’s value trending grow as you grow; it lessens as your generation ages out. Toy collecting is like a bell curve and interest will hit a peak, then eventually tail off as time goes on.
This year, 2025, I presented this bell curve concept to the ATCA or Antique Toy Collectors [Club] of America. It was a tough pill to swallow, but my presentation showed that most toys from their generation would have a peak value then erode to modest values.
-50 and 60 year olds are at their peak earnings years, they support their hobby with strong spending, and that corresponds to peak value and demand (the highest part of the bell curve). -So for the ATCA, their nostalgic toys likely peaked in value in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. Values tend to tail off as generational collecting fades.
Exceptions to this generality, though, come with pristine boxed examples. Perfect boxed toys tend to buck the trend and stay expensive. E.g. boxed train sets hold very good value, but it isn’t the same as in the early 1990s. Boxed Lehmann Toys have come back to “reasonable” values, but remain great sellers. Boxed toy examples may still only maintain value if you take into account inflation.
Movies and Comics can smash this trend by reinvigorating the nostalgia. Superman and Batman toys buck this trend, because of fresh merchandise and films. 1950s Batman toys are white hot in desirability. Superman and Batman comics persist and soar to historically high valuations. Space and tin Sci-Fi toys continue rocket up in interest.
Then there is the other 95% of a generation’s toys. These simply “come back to Earth” in value. Prices of the 1980s just don’t matter today, as younger collectors have their own sense of fair value. Condition becomes much more important. Old price guides are just that, OLD. Historic prices are just that, Old and Historic. Throw out data older than the last year. Repeat, use Current data on desirability & pricing, and recognize that things quickly change.
All of this said, collect toys that you Love and that you enjoy, because they make you happy.
When it comes to selling, the world is fickle. Accept that the toys should be adopted out to homes in your lifetime, or with the proper helper. We at AntiqueToys.com and with our affiliate MarzAuctions.com can help. Recognize that trends change and one must get over the “What used to be”. Recognize that that toy for the grandkid may be (accidentally) the highlight of your collection today. Look for that unopened video game; the carded action figure; the mistaken purchase of Pokemon cards that weren’t opened then contact us!
Time marches on. Trending marches on, and the value of toys, truly, needs to include the enjoyment and happiness they give. Value a toy for all the enjoyment that it gives you & unlike beer or wine, there is $omething left after the enjoyment.
Then share this happiness, and plan as you get older. Plan for deaccession or gift. Mentor a young collector. Get past changes in value and monetary discussions. Push past wins, losses, increases and decreases on paper. Reflect on the satisfaction and memories and experiences. Then please get help thinning your collection. The next generation may otherwise throw things away, Pawn for pennies, or mishandle your beloved.
P.S. Consign your toys with us. Also send us your toy catalogs, paperwork, and ephemera for the ATCA and our library please!
Best Regards,
Ed
Email for help selling, comments, and feedback to Toys@AntiqueToys.com
Superman toys fly from bell curves of interest. We love helping with these comic character toys with buying, selling, and auction help.
Tough to find mint boxed Batman Toy. Batman items buck the trend of decreasing interest. New movies & comics help keep interest high! Bam! Pow!