Childhood is a magical moment in time. There were no bills, no deadlines, no politics. There were just games, friends, and most importantly, toys. However, your time with toys does not have to end when you grow up. Some people buy vintage toy collections well into their adulthood. For these people, vintage toys are no different from rare historical artifacts. However, instead of finding these inside an ancient pyramid or an underground cave, they can be in your attic or basement. If you feel like you possess a crucial part of history when you hold a vintage toy, you may have the spirit of a toy collector.
What’s in a Toy?
The Emotion
A collection can be worth millions. However, the value in a collection is not financial, but rather emotional. The same goes for toys. Just like clothes, cars, and old technology, toys can become more valuable over time. People can spend a fortune collecting toys. To the unfamiliar, it may look like an investment. These toy buyers are probably rounding up all these toys so they can resell them once their prices are high enough. However, that could not be further from the truth. Yes, when you buy vintage toys collections, you are investing money, but you do not do so like with stocks. You invest your money in the joy and appreciation of the toys. By having those toys, your past can exist in the present. Thus, you preserve an essential aspect of your life: Your childhood.
The Design
Companies made these old toys for profit, but they also made these toys to bring joy. To do so, these companies had to be creative in their designs—the original G.I. Joe toy line, for example, was revolutionary when it first rolled out. No other toy depicted the details and aesthetics of the military. The soldiers had tactical gear and attachments like in real life, and they were not just smooth blocks of plastic. Each accessory had the details and intricate designs of the real thing. Clothes had folds and contours. Tanks had distinct rivets and layers of armor. To bump up the value, Hasbro even included complementary artwork and information. The action figures would have biographies and the vehicles and weapon system would have blueprints. It was like a miniature version of the real thing. You no longer see that kind of commitment in the toys today.
Patience is Key
Others with ill intentions may want to take advantage of the high value you can put on a toy. You have to be patient if you are on a quest to find an old toy. The internet, however, makes your search easier. For example, if you go online, you will probably find every Star Wars toy that ever existed. Many of them will probably be legit and in good condition. However, the patience you need is not so for your search, but more so for the price. These toys can cost a fortune, but if you are patient, you can find someone selling the toy you want for a reasonable or even cheaper price.
The quest to buy vintage toys collections is both long and exciting. However, nothing beats the feeling of finally possessing the toy you have been hunting. When you do get your toys, care for them like how an archeologist or historian would care for an artifact. For you, these items are more than just playthings. They represent the magic of childhood.
