Collectable Toys at Christmas.

Christmas is synonymous with giving and receiving the latest toys and gadgets, many generations of children have spent countless hours sat at the kitchen table or sprawled out on the living room floor, pen in hand, scouring the catalogues from retailers such as Hamleys, Tri-ang, Argos, Toys ‘R Us and more recently Smyths, circling that all important toy; and of course a shopping trip at Christmas time wouldn’t be the same without a peak in the toy shop window at their Christmas displays and all of that years delights.

Each childhood era has had its own ‘must have toy,’ even before large corporate companies and heavy merchandising, children would have the latest toy on their Christmas list. From Rocking horses and wooden dolls to the latest model train set, building blocks, model cars and toy soldiers. 

At Vectis Auctions, it can be like Christmas every day! Opening that box to reveal a toy from your childhood, and we have experts aged from their twenties to those in their sixties and all ages in between, so there is always someone to appreciate the toy, no matter the era.

Toys can be cherished items that hold sentimental value and bring back childhood memories. And for some, collecting toys becomes a lifelong hobby. Over time the toys on that Christmas list have changed, as has technology, however the magical feeling and the anticipation of receiving the latest toy will remain. Many adults are just as happy to add collectable toys to their Christmas list too, as they continue to search for the toy they never had, or replace the one that was inevitably handed down to siblings, cousins, and charity shops.

There are some toys that have stood the test of time, Lego for instance might be perceived as a relatively modern toy, however being released in the 1930s it has been a popular Christmas gift for over 90 years. Adapting to the market and embracing technology the brand has continued to be at the top of many Christmas lists. With not only building blocks, the Lego wheel was introduced in the early 1960s changing the way in which children played, they were no longer building static items, they had the ability to move and play, building instructions for sets were also introduced. By the 70s they had introduced larger blocks for smaller children, themes such as Lego Technic, castles, pirates and space as well as the minifigure to compliment the sets. Lego was marketed to both boys and girls and had a parent’s seal of approval too due to the educational aspects; over the years they have joined franchises, created new genres, and remained a highly sought after toy for children and adults alike. There is a huge collectable market for Lego, with new sets just as popular as old, as Lego continue to retire their sets, it creates an instant demand, much quicker than most collectable toys. There is also value in loose and unboxed models which are regularly auctioned at Vectis.

This rare Sealed Lego Star Wars Cloud City Set 10123 - recently reached £4,650 at auction. It was available to buy in the shops between 2003 and 2005 and contains 4 minifigures unique to this set.

Meanwhile seven sealed sets from the 1980s sold for £700.

The early 1900s also saw the introduction of Toy Soldiers, made by Britains and numerous other manufacturers, these tiny model figures were the original action figures. Many sets were imported from France and Germany, and by 1939 Britains had over two and half thousand pieces available in their catalogue. These figures and accessories were highly popular due to the British Empire and the various “small wars” happening at the time, allowing children to recreate their own battles.

                                                      A Display Set from Britains for Gamages, featuring Types of the Indian Army from the 1930s achieved an incredible £6,600 in January 2023.

Action figures are a Christmas gift which have remained a constant request. In 1966 Action Man was released in the UK, a replica of the 1964 American GI Joe figure, the first action figure released exclusively for boys. Action Man was a big hit and was at the top of many boys’ Christmas lists until it was discontinued in 1984 due to the emergence of the Star Wars franchise and subsequent smaller action figures.

There have been a number of Action Man re-releases with 30^th, 40^th, and 50^th Anniversary releases.

The 40^th being the closest in design to the original, and provoking nostalgia and therefore demand.

The 30^th Anniversary sets, from 1993 to 2006 were directed much more at a fantasy, all action hero market, with a large selection of outfits, accessories and features. 

Action Man and GI Joe remain a firm favourite of boys and men alike and although they have spawned a number of replica figures, non are more iconic and distinctive than the originals.

When it comes to girls, Barbie and Sindy are the toys you would immediately think of, and rightly so as they have earned their status as a favourite on the Christmas list. It might not be so well known that Barbie was released before Sindy. Sindy was released in the UK four years after Barbie in 1963, she was marketed as the girl next door, whereas Barbie was always very fashionable and glamourous.

However, American Barbie is still very popular having recently been made into a movie and with dolls still being released. There are, of course, a number of other items that made it to the top of many girls’ lists during the 80s and 90s, My Little Pony, Sylvaninan Families, Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears to name a few. These might not appear in collecting circles quite as predominantly as Barbie and Sindy, but there is still an interest in re-owning these items. My Little Pony made a recent come back in 2003 and 2010 and has been brought back to the forefront once again. The original release of My Little Pony in 1982 saw six variations produced, unofficially titled Generation 1 (G1) by collectors, these were Snuzzle, Butterscotch, Blue Belle, Minty, Blossom, and Cotton Candy and were instantly recognisable by their bright colours and imagery.

My Little Pony, Sylvanian Families, Barbie and Sindy are all regularly up for auction at Vectis, with Barbie and Sindy proving more popular with our buyers, perhaps it’s still a little too early for the others just yet?

This Dream Glow Barbie is an iconic 1985 Barbie, who sold at auction for £80, notice her price stickers reducing her from £12.99 to £8.00,

and a boxed 1970s Walking Sindy sold for £820!

In the late 1970s Star Wars was the movie of the century and defined the collecting habits of children and adults alike for many years, with each movie a new must-have toy was released. This was one of the first times merchandise had been so mass produced with the franchise on almost anything you could see. People started to create collections, with a new addition every Birthday and Christmas, although it was impossible to own it all! Star Wars is one of the biggest and most iconic collectable genres sold at Vectis, with prices regularly achieving five figures!

As we moved in to the 1980s and 90s the world was changing and the toy of choice was more technology based, with the introduction of electronic games consoles. Think Atari, Commodore, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, and the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985. Although “only” 40 something years old these toys are now becoming more collectable, as the children from this generation ages, has more disposable income and a hankering for nostalgia, these toys are becoming much more sought after.  

Toys have always been a significant part of our childhood, but for some, the love for toys doesn't always end with childhood. Collecting toys has become a popular hobby for people of all ages, allowing them to relive their favourite moments, create lasting memories and replace those lost treasures. Many of our experts at Vectis are collectors themselves, and all have the same philosophy when it comes to collecting, collect what you love!

Perhaps you have a loft full of hidden treasures? Did you store away your childhood toys, either for nostalgia or perhaps to share with a future generation? Perhaps its time to see if your frugality could earn you some money?  

Vectis are actively looking for good quality collections to be included into future sales as well as entries for any of their existing or new genres. Our sales team can be reached on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Best known for being the largest specialist toy auction house in the UK, Teesside based Vectis are expanding into the wider collectables market with new areas of interest now including trading cards, retro gaming and sports memorabilia.

Vectis Auctions Limited, Fleck Way, Thornaby TS17 9JZ.