A Mars Explorer space car helped send a Milestone Auctions event out of this world with nearly $1.3 million in sales during the 723-lot offering of antique and vintage toys in January. The toy sale was a record for the Willoughby, Ohio, auction house. The all-original and complete Exelo (Japan) battery-operated Mars Explorer space car […]
Kovels Antique Trader Debut Issue – August 2023
Thrifty Threads…Archival Fashion…Lamps and Lighting…Catalin Radios…’70s and ’80s Toys…Magic Memorabilia…John Dillinger & Gangster Memorabilia…Fruit Salad Jewelry…Thrift Shop Tourism…Ceramics Marks…Collector’s Gallery
It’s Terry Kovel’s Birthday! Let’s Celebrate!
Terry Kovel, our own “Grand Dame of Antiques,” is turning 94. Happy Birthday from all your faithful fans and staff!
Here is Terry with the mustache cup that started it all, purchased when she was only 9 years old!
What did Terry like each decade? See her picks below.
Toy Pedal Car, Mogul, Pressed Steel, Spoke Wheels, American National, 1920s. Sold for $1,650 (2016). Photo: Bertoia Auctions
1920s
Terry was only 2 so she didn’t buy anything in this decade but she would have loved riding in this pedal car.
Highlights of the 1920s
After World War I came a period of great economic growth. This was the dawn of the Roaring Twenties and the Jazz Age—both eras of great social change. Prohibition begins as the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution went into effect. The 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote is ratified. Charles Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Pittsburgh’s KDKA becomes the first radio station to broadcast regularly. Classic collectible toys from the 1920s include Tom Tinker Toys, all steel pedal cars, clockwork train sets, 3-wheel velocipedes (early bicycles), Erector Sets, Flossy Flirt dolls, cast iron toy cars, gyroscope spinning tops, and Magic Lanterns.
1930s
Bakelite was popular in the 1930s and Terry had a favorite necklace that was a chain of many colors, just like this bracelet!
Bakelite bangle bracelet, multicolored bowtie pattern, inner diameter 2 1/2 in. by 3/4 in. w., sold for $1,750 (2022). Photo: Ripley Auctions
Highlights of the 1930s
The Empire State Building is completed. Amelia Earhart disappears over the Pacific Ocean during a circumnavigation flight attempt. Orson Welles’ radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds is broadcast. Babe Ruth retires. The very first Superman story appears in Action Comics. The beloved film The Wizard of Oz premieres. Depression Era toys: balsa wood kits, vintage steel toy trucks, planes and airships, Lionel electric train sets, Studebaker farm wagons, Teddy Bears, windup train sets, stereoscopes, stick horses, BB rifles.
1940s
Terry loved her Polaroid instant camera. She took it everywhere.
Polaroid Land Camera, Speedliner, with leather case & more, Model 95A, 1940s, untested, sold for $70 (2022).Photo: eBay, rsxtim20
Highlights of the 1940s
The War. The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), the first programmable electronic computer, is unveiled at the University of Pennsylvania. Department stores begin to sell Tupperware food containers. The Polaroid instant camera is demonstrated. 45 RPM records are introduced. Toys of the 1940s include model airplane kits, Rose O’Neill Kewpie dolls, crystal radio sets, steel Radio Flyer wagons, Tiddlywinks, farmyard sets.
1950s
Terry didn’t buy Holt Howard Pixieware when they were new. But in later decades, it became a favorite. She even built a ledge in the kitchen to hold them all!
Holt Howard Pixie, Cocktail Cherries, estimated value; $90-$100. Photo: A Kovels Reader
Highlights of the 1950s
After the end of World War II and the beginning of the Baby Boom, the 1950s saw a dramatic increase in the amount and variety of now collectible toys. Girls’ options were limited to kitchen sets, baby dolls or fashion dolls. Boys’ items ranged from building sets to cowboys to space travel. Other Baby Boomer-era toys include Alice in Wonderland wristwatches, 1950s Pepsi Cola toy trucks, Howdy Doody’s TV games, Mr. Potato Head, giant Pan-Am Clipper planes, Smokey Bear, Betsy McCall dolls, Dick Tracy Siren Squad Cars, Mickey Mouse phonographs, board games, Revlon fashion dolls, plastic molding machines with Play-Doh.
1960s
Terry couldn’t resist the trolls. She bought them large and small and frequently gave them out as gifts.
Troll, 1960s, sold for $30 (2017). Photo: Kovels.com
Highlights of the 1960s
In the 1960’s, as popular culture became ever more important, toys start to reflect the television, movies and musical influences that children experienced during the decade. While the focus remained on the types available for children in the 1950s, more featured labels associated with popular characters or celebrities like the Flintstones or the Beatles. Other toys include Swinging Popcorn Maker, Flintstones pedal cars, G.I. Joe figures, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, board games, Barbie and Friends, transistorized phonographs, Matchbox Carry Case Car City, Lionel train sets, Hot Wheels car racing sets.
1970s
Terry is still using her transistor radio. In fact you can find it on her desk!
Vintage portable 1970s GE AM/FM Solid State Radio, Model P977E, sold for $40 (2022). Photo: eBay, cfltradingstation
Highlights of the 1970s
In the 1970s, major advances in computer technology started to influence children’s toys during the decade as evident in the simply computerized game of Simon and the development of the Atari computer and gaming system. Popular culture also continued to influence the types that were available, with many youngsters being able to recreate their favorite movies or television shows with matching actions figures and dolls. Barbie dolls & accessories, Atari 400 Home Computer Systems, Easy Bake Ovens, Hot Wheels Track and Cars, Silly Putty, Talky Crissy Dolls, eight-track portable music players, Hoppity Hops, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Simon Says, Charlie’s Angels dolls, Star Ship Enterprise, Pogo Sticks, Foosball.
1980s
Glass dealer friends traveled the world looking for great contemporary glass. Terry acquired a few colorful vases from them. You can find one of Terry’s flower arrangements in her front hall using one of those vases. Of course, the flowers are fresh from her garden!
Contemporary Glass Vase, Pink Flowers, Green Aventurine Ground, Signed, C. Lotton, 1985, 9 in., sold for $950 (2009). Photo: Cincinnati Art Galleries
Highlights of the 1980s
As technology boomed in the 1980s, computerized toys became more advanced and simple robots became highly popular. Video games also became more popular as the decade progressed, and more manufacturers threw their hats into the ring like Nintendo and Sega. Many popular toys were also expensive as the economy thrived during the decade and excess became the name of the game. Collectible items include My Little Pony, Transformers, Star Wars figure sets, Pound Puppies, Legos, Barbies, Weebles, Dukes of Hazzard, Talking Alf, Huggable Glo-Worm, Matchbox cars, Ghostbusters Table-top Pinball, Omnibot 2000, the first Sony CD player, Pac-Man and Frogger tabletop arcade games, Atari 5200, Sega Genesis.
1990s
I don’t know how it started but Terry began a Happy Meal Toy collection. Check out her basement and you can see we ate way too many happy meals!
Inspector Gadget, 1999 Disney McDonald’s Happy Meal Toy, Matthew Broderick, complete, sold for $15 (2022). Photo: eBay, jjsmm70
Highlights of the 1990s
As the economy grew, toys in the 1990s became bigger, more expensive and interactive. Video games and gaming systems continued to advance and handheld devices gained in popularity with the Nintendo Game Boy. The decade saw toy fads in which parents rushed to the stores to pick up the latest item, often getting news coverage for scuffles breaking out in stores and midnight rushers competing for the last toy (Tickle-Me Elmo, Furby, Beanie Babies and others). As parents became more aware of changing gender roles and women’s rights further advanced, gender-neutral toys started to appear in the market. Manufacturers began creating more ethnically diverse toys, especially dolls that featured a variety of skin tones, during the decade. Collectible 1990s toys include Nintendo Game Boys, Tamagotchi virtual reality pets, Tickle Me Elmo, Super Nintendo, Barbie’s Dream House, Polly Pocket Clock, Talking Barney, Teletubbies, Talk ‘N Play Zoe, Sony PlayStations, Furby, Jurassic Park Command Compounds, Teacher Barbie, Sega Saturn CD Game Systems, Nintendo 64 Game Systems, Pokemon Game Boy game.
2020s
Terry’s predictions on what may become top collectibles:
High tech electronic toy robots
Future famous-artist jewelry or ceramics. They can’t make a lot and you need talent to do it. The trick is to predict which artists will become well-known.
Best wishes and Happy Birthday, Terry!
Top Five Toy / Children’s Collectibles That Bring Big Bucks (Hint: One Comic Book is $375,000)
Toys are all fun and games … and can be pricey, especially when it comes to collecting. Nostalgia buying is always big as collectors try to recreate (or enjoy!) their childhood with adult money. Certain toys are more valuable than others. Higher prices often relate to several factors: rarity, condition, popularity and movies. We’ve seen toys and books that relate to movies, including Marvel comic books and the Harry Potter series; others toys are popular completely on their own. Those include Barbie dolls and tin robots. Here are some recent examples.
Photo: GoodHousekeeping.com; Pinterest
Vintage Barbies. A 1959 blonde Barbie, wearing a black and white swimsuit and high heels, sold for $27,450. You can tell if yours is a first edition model by checking for holes in the bottom of her feet — the second edition had solid feet.
Photo: Reuters (via Twitter)
First Edition of children’s books. When movies-meet-literature-meets pop culture: A 1997 first edition of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” with some errors and signed by author J.K. Rowling, was sold in a private sale at Christie’s in London, on June 6. Starting price was $250,000. Another first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” sold for $471,000 in the United States in December 2021. It was a world record price for a 20th-century work of fiction. Only 500 hard copies of the book were printed initially.
Photo: Bertoia Auctions
Metal robots. Battery-operated mechanical robots made in Japan, Germany and the United States became popular after World War II. Almost all were made of plastic and metal. A Japanese-made Machine Man Robot (pictured), one of the rare “Gang of Five” robot series by Masudaya, sold in 2022 for $72,000. In 2021, a tin Bandai Flying Spaceman sold for $55,200.
Photo: Marvel.com
Marvel Comics. If you managed to save your comic book collection from being thrown away by your mother, look at it very carefully. See if you have The Incredible Hulk #1. If you do, it could be worth about $375,000. The comic isn’t that rare, but ones in good condition are few and far between. If you have The Incredible Hulk #1 without faded colors, you have a very rare comic from 1962.
Photo: Hake’s Auctions
Star Wars toys.Star Wars movies and its related toys and books have been popular since the 1970s. Some items are more valuable and collectible than others. Check your collection for a Boba Fett L-slot rocket-firing prototype. It sold in June 2022 for a record-setting $236,000. The 3.75-inch figure prototype was pulled from Kenner’s 1979 Star Wars toy line when the rocket-firing aspect was revealed as a choking hazard.
Vintage Gifts Perfect This Year!
Dear Lee,
It is the time of year to consider what we want to get for friends and families as gifts for the holidays. But this year, it might be more challenging to buy items big and small. I have a friend who decided in the spring to update her living room furniture. She got two recliners right away. The couch and chairs didn’t arrive until mid-October. What do I see as the solution? Antiques stores, flea markets and auctions are filled with wonderful, stylish items that are available instantly or with a few weeks shipping time. This is making people discover something collectors knew already: Vintage and antique furniture, décor, jewelry and even clothes are often high-quality and unique, making them perfect gifts!
These gifts are more thoughtful because they can be bought with the loved one’s personality in mind. Does a dear aunt love costume jewelry? Look for vintage pins, necklaces and rings. Some popular vintage brands are Trifari, Hattie Carnegie, Coco Chanel, Eisenberg, Hobé, Miriam Haskell and Schiaparelli. Look at condition, materials, brand, design and rarity when shopping. Go to Kovels.com to see how to identify real pieces from fakes.
Do any of the children in your life love like cartoons? How about looking for toys from the 1960s and 1970s related to the popular cartoons of that era. Some popular cartoons that would stir nostalgia for adults are Scooby Doo Where Are You?, Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Donald Duck, and, of course, Mickey Mouse or Superman. These toys and games are durable and usually don’t need batteries or assembly—a gift itself during a holiday exchange.
One hot collectible this year makes a perfect gift—vinyl records. Select them for the artist or for the artwork on the album cover. Make sure they are in good, playable condition. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Mamas & Papas, Allman Brothers and Peter Noone are all popular. Old gaming systems, especially Nintendo sets, are great gifts, but watch out! They might be pricey because they are so hot right now. Does the system work and include gaming cartridges?
And of course, you can’t get a better gift for the collector in your family (or yourself!) than our newest book, Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide 2022. The 2022 guide has a record 3,000 color pictures of items sold this year, more than 500 marks to help make dating and identification easier, and 12,500 expert reviewed prices of items sold during the past year. We also write about market trends and include new, hot collectible topics like baseball cards, robots, 1950s to 2000 Scandinavian furniture and early examples of photography. To order: $29.99 plus $4.95 shipping and handling, call 800-303-1996, or go to Kovels.com and select the “Shop Kovels” tab. What a great gift!
As we wind down another year at Kovels, we want to thank all our faithful readers and fellow collectors. Have a wonderful holiday season and here’s to an exciting and fun 2022!
Vintage Popeye Toys: Biceps on Display
Comic book, movie and cartoon star Popeye, the good-natured, sailor with bulging biceps and a love of spinach, turned 91 this year. A recent Rich Penn auction in Iowa brought high prices for mechanical Popeye toys, many with price-adding original boxes. A rare mechanical steel and tin toy of Popeye sitting in a boat, holding […]
List of Toy Makers
This is a list of toy manufacturers with location, dates of operations, and other useful information to help date and value your vintage toy. Manufacturer Location Dates of Operation Toys Made and Other Company Information American Flyer Chicago, Illinois 1910–1966 Trains, airplanes, accessories American National Company Toledo, Ohio 1894–1941 Pedal cars, pressed steel trucks, bicycles, […]
Erector Set
The Erector Set, invented by A.C. Gilbert in 1913, was a collection of steel strips with evenly spaced holes that could be connected with nuts and bolts. Children built models of ferris wheels, bridges, skyscrapers, railways, robots, and more. The sets included gears, wheels, pulleys, motors, and other accessories, and in 1924 parts that would […]