Toys and Models at Auction
The market for toys and models has grown quickly and some of the prices that are being achieved at auction may surprise you.
In the later 19th Century, an emerging middle class purchased toys of all types and they became more and more prevalent in households. Firstly it involved item such as teddy bears, dolls and tinplate toys.
Moving into the the 20th Century, train sets and die-cast model vehicles became popular. Nowadays, movie related toys and memorabilia are all the rage. There has always been an element of nostalgia to buying toys at auction. Enthusiasts and Collectors are often harking back to their childhood and buying items they could not afford at time. Items by model railway manufacturers like Hornby, Bachmann, Lionel Bros, Tri-ang, Bing and others fetch the highest possible prices at our auctions, as buyers from around the globe, intent on creating full sets and layouts, compete for items.
Dinky and Corgi die-cast toys have been highly collectable for many years, especially with their boxes, however other die-cast vehicles have now started to shine, by makers such as Matchbox.
The market for model constructor kits has also gathered pace recently. We have sold some major collections in our dedicated model kit sales since 2015. Makers including Airfix, Ravelle, Tamiya, Frog, Italari and others are the new names to watch out for on the collecting circuit. The biggest growth market in recent years has to be Star Wars figurines. Some seriously high prices can be acheived for the smallest pieces. Boxes, blister packs and original pieces by Kenner and similar makers are always sort after.
Auction is always the best way to realise the true value of your possessions.
All of our toy auctions offer live online bidding which, together with our extensive worldwide database of collectors, dealers and enthusiasts, ensures that your items have every opportunity to obtain the best possible price. We act as your agent at all times and are here to maximise your return, for which we take a fixed percentage commission.
Please be wary of firms that recommend that you don't sell at auction, but instead, steer you towards selling privately, for a fixed price, to their 'awaiting buyers/collector's'. They themselves are often the ones actually buying the items from you, at a less than generous price, to sell on for a large profit.
Fill out the online toy valuation form below for a free pre-sale estimate or ring 0191 430 3000 to arrange a valuation at our Newcastle salesroom.
Thinking of selling at auction?
Anderson & Garland work hard to achieve the best prices for vendors. Take a look at a few of our highlights below, or try our Sold Lot Search to see more results. It's easy to get a free, no obligation valuation from our experts - simply complete the form below and we'll get back to you within 48 hours.
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