As mentioned in my last post, winter is the time of year that I tend to reorganize my collection. There's just something about this time of year that makes me reassess what interests me, and what I want to see on the shelves. Of course, vintage Batman toys are my primary focus, but over the past few years, I have really focused on Marvel Comics items from the 60's and … [Read more...] about The evolution of a collection
Toys
Rare Action Figures up for Bid at Heritage Auction
A prominent collector and Dubai resident is auctioning the world’s rarest Star Wars action figure prototypes next month, a 33-piece collection which is estimated to sell for as much as $360,000. The owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, pursued only the rarest examples of the toys released in the late 1970s at the beginning of Star Wars mania. Officially titled “The Dubai … [Read more...] about Rare Action Figures up for Bid at Heritage Auction
A final visit to Geppi’s Entertainment Museum
Yesterday afternoon, I braved a monsoon, flash floods, and falling trees on the Beltway, to make it to Geppi's Entertainment Museum in Baltimore one final time. Last week, it was announced that Steve Geppi, founder of Diamond Comic Distributors, had decided to donate a large portion of his massive pop culture collection to the Library of Congress, and as a result, Geppi's … [Read more...] about A final visit to Geppi’s Entertainment Museum
My Top 10 favorite items in the Hake’s auction
The latest Hake's catalog arrived recently, and as usual, it is overflowing with incredible pop culture collectibles. I usually take a few hours to pore over every page, leaving a rainbow of post-it notes sticking out from the pages, tagging items that I want to research and add to my watch list. I have winnowed the rainbow down to the top ten items that I am excited to watch … [Read more...] about My Top 10 favorite items in the Hake’s auction
A few super hero finds at this weekend’s DC Big Flea
The DC Big Flea held before Christmas always seems to be the busiest show of the year, and this time around was no exception. When you can't find a parking space, you know the aisles are going to be crowded with antique hunters. I saw a woman pushing a double stroller, and did a double take when I realized she was pushing around two very spoiled pups rather than children. I'm a … [Read more...] about A few super hero finds at this weekend’s DC Big Flea
This Dr. Zaius bank just got a little more rare
We've all done it -- the shameful act that can elicit shrieks of terror and uncontrollable sobbing. Yes, I'm talking about that moment when tragedy strikes and we accidentally destroy a prized possession in our collection. It might be an item falling off a shelf and smashing to bits on the ground far below, or clumsy fingers losing an important, but tiny piece in the shag … [Read more...] about This Dr. Zaius bank just got a little more rare
Bosch is one of us!
Have you seen this? Titus Welliver, an actor who has appeared in tons of TV shows and movies, including Amazon's Bosch series (which is excellent), is one of us -- he collects pop culture toys and figures, especially those produced by Sideshow Toys. Welliver is "a collector, then an actor, in that order." The man in black is my new hero. … [Read more...] about Bosch is one of us!
Upgrade acquired!
I've never been a mint-condition collector, not because I don't like toys that are in pristine condition and in their original packaging, but because those items tend to be astronomically more expensive and difficult to find. Plus, in collecting vintage toys, knowing that the items were played with at some point and have a history to them, is appealing to me, but sometimes you … [Read more...] about Upgrade acquired!