How to Buy Antique Toys

Tips for buying antique toys

1. Choose your area of interest. Almost any toy that is over 10 years old and still in reasonable condition will qualify as an ‘antique toy’. Toys are available in almost any material that you care to name like wood, glass, tin, tin plate, plastics and so on. Wood and tin are more durable than glass or some of the plastics, and antique toys made from wood and metals are usually in better condition than those made from tin, glass and other breakable materials.
2. Once you have zeroed in on the type of material that interests you, it is time to choose the type of a toy you want to collect. Basic types include stationary toys like soldiers and moving toys like cars and engines and even toys that can be wound-up and that perform some movements like the cymbal-banging monkey, the mechanized robot, and so on.
3. Basic collecting themes or options are as varied as there are stars in the universe. Almost any toy that has survived two to three decades automatically becomes an antique. Still, some antiques are valued for special reasons including things like: representing famous cartoon and film characters or animated cartoon characters, being rare and limited edition toys that were only available for a short time, toys that commemorated any event in history – the reasons are endless! Start with anything that catches your fancy or that pleases you and then branch out as a specialist when you have a better perspective of what holds value in the market.
4. You will have to contend with minor damage in the form of dents and chipping of the toys when you buy an antique. However, do remember that a toy that is in mint condition, or very good condition with minimal damage will always be better valued than one that is in not-so-good condition. The ideal collector’s dream is a toy in mint condition with the original packaging intact!
5. You can find antique toys at specialized online toy collecting Web sites, garage sales, flea markets -- practically anywhere you may care to look! It may be a good idea to scour the local garage sales and flea markets initially before you go to the specialized auction houses dealing in antiques. Many a time you can find a collectable antique toy in reasonably good condition at a neighborhood garage sale.

Caution

Do not pay a big price for any toy that someone tells you is valuable or antique. If you are convinced about the seller’s honesty, get it evaluated by a specialized toy appaiser or an antique-toy dealer before you commit to the purchase.

Where to buy antique toys

You can buy antique toys from auction houses, antique toy dealers and other toy collecting community resources on the Web. Try these links for some good choices--

Online Toy Store

Gasoline Alley Antiques has a large selection of antique toys in various categories.

Rubylane is a wonderful place to start. It offers a wide selection of antique and vintage toys of all types.

American Toys is the premium resource website for toy collectors in the USA.