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A Walk Down Memory Lane Cleaning out a loved one’s home after they have passed away is simultaneously thrilling and heartbreaking. At one and the same time, you are mourning your loved one’s loss, trying to decide what to keep, getting rid of their belongings, and reliving some of your treasured memories as you come across items long forgotten. Exclusive Gavel handles estate sales on a regular basis, and one of my favorite parts of my job is informing people that the toys they remember fondly from childhood are now quite valuable. Of course, the toys they played with the most are likely more worn and damaged. The more pristine a toy is, the bigger price it will fetch in an estate sale or auction. Toys Galore… Here are five toys you may have played with as a child that now fetch an impressively high price tag. Be forewarned, though – if you are over the age of 40, you may be alarmed to learn that some of these toys are now considered antiques. 1. Barbie – Though Barbie dolls are ubiquitous in little girls’ closets, if you happen to have one of the rare first editions, you could be the owner of an $8,000 doll. You’ll know it’s the right doll if she is either blonde or brunette, has a ponytail, heavy eyeliner, and wears a black and white striped swimsuit, gold earrings, white sunglasses, and open-toed black shoes. Mint dolls will come on a black plastic disc stand. The original doll will have holes in the bottom of her feet to keep her on the stand. 2. Chatty Cathy – The world’s most popular talking doll was produced from 1960 to 1964 and was re-released in 1969 and again between 1998 and 1999. Many of the dolls are now mute, but can still fetch between $300 and $400. Mint dolls that are still in their boxes can go for $600 to $900, and rare black Chatty Cathy dolls can sell for over $1,000. 3. The 1963 GI Joe – The first edition of this doll sat in its original box in its owner’s home in Rhode Island before selling at a Dallas auction for $200,000 in 2009. The sale made it the most expensive action figure ever sold. The buyer, comic book distributor Stephen Geppi said, “This is a piece of Americana that belongs in a museum.” 4. He-Man – This action figure was produced in 1981 as part of a line of “Masters of the Universe” toys which later inspired the movie starring Dolph Lundgren. It was the first successful toy aimed specifically at boys that Mattel produced. A first edition He-Man still in its box is worth close to $2,000 today. 5. Nintendo Stadium Events- The Family Fun Fitness pad was a short-lived Nintendo game, produced in 1988. Think of it as an early version of Wii or Dance Dance Revolution. Because the company quickly ceased production to introduce the Powerpad, the Family Fun pad is the rarest Nintendo game. In 2011, one sold at auction for $22,800. Toys, Art, or Any Other Valuables – Exclusive Gavel Handles Auctions and Estate Sales in the Miami area After going through your loved one’s belongings, the last thing you want to do is set up an estate sale. When Exclusive Gavel handles Miami estate sales, we do an estate appraisal and point out any of the especially valuable items you may have missed – such as one of these toys. Then we will handle the entire sale, including organization, advertising, and the actual operation of the sale. And because we have the experience to accurately valuate the contents of the estate, you can rest assured that we will get you the best possible price. We know the circumstances leading up to an estate sale are never pleasant. But we will work to make the sale itself as pleasant as possible, and possibly alert you to some valuable surprises along the way. For more information visit : http://www.addmysitez.com/real-estate-services/
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