Collectible Characters from TV, Comics and More
Shrewd advertisers and manufacturers recognized early the power of beloved popular culture figures, both real and fictional, in the selling of products. Collecting opportunities abound, and at a wide variety of vintages and price-points. Young collectors lean towards characters of more recent vintage- Smurfs, Muppets and Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Star Trek, while older aficionados might search for Hopalong Cassidy, Little Orphan Annie, Tom Mix, Roy Rogers, Flash Gordon, or Charlie Mc McCarthy.
Everything from Flashlights to Footwear
Character collectibles come in an almost overwhelming variety of forms, including action figures, games, dolls, puppets, puzzles, books, buttons, dishes, key chains, stuffed animals, bed linens, cookie jars, pens, flashlights, weaponry, models, music boxes, coloring books, posters, lunch boxes, salt & pepper shakers, stickers, glasses, pins, mechanical and battery operated toys, sporting goods, beach towels, and clothing.
Cross-Over Appeal
Character collectibles with cross-over appeal, that is collectibles that fall into two or more collecting categories bring the highest prices. A Charlie McCarthy wind-up toy by Marx will appeal to collectors of Charlie, but also collectors of toys and specifically, collectors of wind-up toys by Marx. A Popeye Lunch box may be sought by collectors of both Popeye and lunch boxes. As is the case with almost any kind of collectible, those items complete with their original packaging bring the highest prices.
Market Trends
Collectors of popular culture should watch the market carefully, especially when investing substantial amounts, and this is true for sellers as well. Those of us who grew up watching Howdy Doody might pay $200 for a pair of fake fur and celluloid ear muffs, but chances are, our sons and daughters won’t. As fans of Flash Gordon, Tom Mix, and Little Orphan Annie die off, memorabilia associated with these American icons of pop culture go unsold in online auctions. A Little Orphan Annie Ovaltine Mug that might have brought $30 or $40 twenty years ago fetches $3.99 on a good day. On the other hand, a Little Orphan Annie Pez dispenser circa 1980’s (without feet) in the original package, brought $185. Star Trek paraphenalia is still strong, as is India Jones related material, and values rise with the release of new films, shows, or books. Values for Peanuts related items rose after the death of its creator, Charles Schulz, and some experts think that Simpsons related material will be the next hot trend.