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 sucker for eccentrics, so I’ll give her a pass.
The Big Flea isn’t really a mecca for toy collectors, but there were definitely some interesting items for sale this weekend. One vendor even had a boxed Kenner Alien for sale — the $400 price tag was too steep for the condition it was in, but just seeing it at this show was encouraging.
And then there was this wood and composition Superman figure just sitting on a table. That $1,650 price tag is legit — this 1940 figure is all original and unrestored, and looked to be in excellent condition. This has been described by some as being the first super hero action figure ever produced. A similar figure with its original box sold at Hake’s a couple of years ago for over $5,000.00! One of these figures will make its way into my collection someday — but not today.
I took a few photos of this toy booth because it shows that there are some real treasures to be found, but this is the vendor who prices his items two to three times what they typically sell for, so I have grown to view his booth as a museum where the toys are wonderful to see, but not for sale.
There are so many tempting toys!
Of course, I couldn’t leave the show empty-handed! Here are the items that came home with me…
The large Joker figure is available at Walmart, but it was too eye-catching to pass up and the price was right. I might take a saw and cut off the body, and do something creative with the awesome sculpted head. The Empire Strikes Back candy box was my favorite find. I don’t usually go for Star Wars items, but I’m a sucker for store displays. I bought a stack of Beatles cards solely to use as trade bait, and there were a dozen Batman trading cards in the pile, so that worked out well. And I also picked up an old DC super hero record case, an item that I’ve wanted for while, so that was a good find for me.
The last item I got was this vintage Spider and the Fly beanie with a bunch of Cracker Jack toys attached. My AJ Renzi Spider-Man bank need a little flair, now I need to find something for the Hulk!
Ooooh,that quick change armor Iron Man!
How much were those Hanna-Barbera characters in the cars?
I didn’t ask, but they’re in one of his glass cabinets, so I’m sure they weren’t cheap.
If that’s who’s “booth” I think it is, he is always a rip off. Just there to show off his collection, and if someone is nice enough to pay three times the price for it, he will gladly part with it.
I’m sure it is the guy you’re thinking of, but I think he actually does sell a lot of stuff — but it’s not to collectors as much as it is to people who remember having an item as a kid. Collectors know the real value of items, but his customers seem to be impulsive buyers, at least from what I have witnessed.