Collecting Disney Toys, Action Figures & Comics
Collecting Disney Toys, Action Figures & Comics
When you think of Disney, you conjure up images that encapsulate the magic of childhood — from the imaginative cartoons and colorful characters, to those terrific Disney action figures you played with.
For most of us, the appeal of Disney harkens back to our childhood, when Disney characters became our friends and companions throughout hours of playtime. Whether you played with Disney action figures or stuffed animals, or dressed like Mickey Mouse or one of the Disney princesses for Halloween, it’s a good bet that Disney movies and toys played a part in your growing up.
For those who collect toys, Disney items also mean a good investment; many of the Disney figures, cells from cartoons and commemorative edition items created for the collectibles market have gone up in price by hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Disney collectors have discovered ways to make their love for Disney pay off dividends, while still enjoying the excitement of hunting down — and finding — that rare collector’s item.
The best way to start collecting Disney memorabilia is to do your homework and find out how to evaluate your collection. The Walt Disney Company marked items differently over a period of decades, which can make it difficult for a novice collector to guess the year of manufacture. In addition, the market has been flooded with “knock-off” Disney merchandise which wasn’t made by Disney at all.
Finally, Disney has issued a number of official commemorative and replica pieces which are reproductions of items marketed from as long ago as the 1930s, so collectors need to know whether the Mickey Mouse watch they just purchased is an original made by the Ingersoll company (and, depending on condition, worth thousands of dollars) or an official licensed replica made in the 1990s.
When it comes to purchasing from online sources such as eBay, make sure you buy from a reputable dealer with a high rating. Good photographs, as well as informative descriptions, will help you determine whether or not the dealer knows his merchandise, and will also help educate you as to what you’re getting.
As for price, make sure that you’re buying something you’d really enjoy owning. Resale value depends on a lot of factors, including market demand and economic climate, and sometimes things go down in price not because they’re worth less to collectors, but because the buying market is weak due to consumer budgetary restraints.
Collector books offer a vast amount of information about identifying and evaluating Disney memorabilia, so the wise collector seeks out the most reputable books—as well as online sources—to learn about their collection.
Nothing beats Disney toys when it comes to play value. Disney action figures are always a hot item on every child’s gift list. In recent years, Disney cartoons have produced a huge number of action figures that have proven to be extremely popular with children, from princess figures for the girls to hero and creature figures for the boys.
In the end, it’s best to collect what you enjoy — whether it’s an action figure you recall fondly from your childhood, or a Disney comic book or plush animal from your favorite Disney cartoon. Chances are if it’s something you truly treasure, then your children will too. After all, Disney items were meant to be cherished — and loved — for generations.
