Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (2024)

By Caroline LowbridgeBBC News

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (1)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (2)Laura Kate Shippert

Laura Kate Shippert has paid hundreds of pounds for a single Blythe doll

Ask yourself which toys are most collectible: train sets, die-cast cars, and - it almost goes without saying - Star Wars figures. The most obsessively collected examples tend to have one thing in common - they were originally marketed at boys.

While these toys aren't collected exclusively by men, women are less likely to have vast collections of them. So which vintage toys are women seeking out?

Blythe

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (3)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (4)Laura Kate Shippert

Blythe pondered on the mysteries of Stonehenge during her visit to the famous stone circle

Thanks to her peculiarly oversized head and bulging eyes that change colour with the pull of a string, not many girls wanted to play with Blythe when she was introduced in 1972.

But Blythe has become strangely popular in recent years and original dolls now sell for between £500 and £2,000, depending on their condition.

"They were only released for a year," says Laura Kate Shippert, one of the organisers of BlytheCon UK, which was held in Bristol earlier this month. "They failed terribly; people thought they were a bit freaky and scary."

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (5)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (6)Laura Kate Shippert

This Blythe doll was lucky enough to see Notre-Dame before the devastating fire

Their popularity in recent years was sparked by a book called This is Blythe, in which photographer Gina Garan featured the dolls artfully posed like real fashion models. Others then started picking up second-hand Blythe dolls - which were relatively cheap at the time - dressing them in glamorous outfits and photographing them in exotic locations.

The renewed interest has led to new Blythe dolls being produced, known in the community as "Neo Blythes" - and these are pretty valuable too.

"They are anywhere from £100 to £400 new, then after a while some become more popular and harder to find, and the prices will fluctuate," says Laura Kate.

She has 17 Blythe dolls, but only one is an original from 1972. She paid £400 for it about 10 years ago, which was "a steal" even at the time.

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (7)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (8)Laura Kate Shippert

This Blythe opted for a classic tourist pose in front of the Eiffel Tower

Laura Kate considers her own collection to be quite small compared to other people's.

"I know someone who owns like 40 of them and I think 'but you could own a house'," she says. "If that's what makes her happy and that's what she wants to spend her money on, she's an adult, she can make her choices. It's not cocaine."

My Little Pony

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (9)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (10)Martina Foster

Martina Foster (right) is known in the pony community as Sparkler, her favourite My Little Pony

The My Little Pony phenomenon began when the toys were launched in 1982. About 150 million ponies were reportedly sold in the 1980s, with their popularity boosted by an animated TV series. Actor Danny DeVito even lent his voice to the 1986 film My Little Pony: The Movie.

Martina Foster loves My Little Pony so much she has a "pony room" in her house filled with somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 of them, worth between £10,000 and £15,000.

Martina was seven years old when she was given her first one - a pony called Tootsie printed with lollipop "cutie marks". She rediscovered them while searching eBay as a student, then got her old ones out of the loft.

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (11)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (12)Martina Foster

These two ponies enjoyed prancing in the sun on a day out at the river

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (13)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (14)Martina Foster

Dressing up as a pony is encouraged at UK PonyCon, but attendees are not permitted to wear real metal horseshoes

"I thought, 'I'll buy the ones that I always wanted, just for fun'," she says. "Then you get sucked into it."

Martina says the market fluctuates but rare ones in good condition can now fetch thousands of pounds. The most she has spent is a £200 for a pony called Rapunzel - "a bargain" because it is now worth about £500.

Martina is vice chairman of this year's UK PonyCon, which is being held in Nottingham this weekend. As well as attracting collectors of the original toys, the convention attracts fans of the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic animated series, which launched in 2010.

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (15)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (16)Getty Images

My Little Pony was originally launched in 1982 by Hasbro and has been revived three times since then

While My Little Pony was marketed towards girls in the 1980s, many fans of the animated series are adult men.

"It is fairly watchable even for grown-ups," says Martina. "You can watch it as an adult and there are some witty things in it and in the end it's all about friendship and accepting other people."

Pippa

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (17)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (18)Heather Swann

Heather Swann photographs her dolls and posts photos online

Pippa was marketed as "the pocket money fashion doll" when she was sold in the 1970s, but Vectis Auctions has sold Pippa dolls for as much as £1,400 in recent years. She and her friends are much shorter than normal fashion dolls at only 6.5 inches (16.5cm) tall, which meant production costs were low.

Heather Swann started collecting them about 20 years ago after picking one up in a charity shop for 50p. She wanted to collect them as a way of recapturing her childhood.

"Isn't that why people collect toys?" she says.

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (19)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (20)Heather Swann

Heather has about 50 Pippa dolls, made by Leicestershire toymaker Palitoy

After Heather's charity shop find she started buying more dolls through eBay.

"They were much cheaper then, as ladies of a certain age were just beginning to find them," she says. "Unfortunately they are now becoming expensive and many collectors are after them."

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (21)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (22)Heather Swann

Heather says Pippa dolls are becoming more expensive

Heather describes her collection of about 50 dolls as "medium size", as many women have hundreds. She has seen individual dolls sell for hundreds of pounds but the most she has ever spent is £40.

"I don't tend to buy the expensive dolls, I now just look out for the ones which need a transformation," she says. "I enjoy the process of restoring them."

Care Bears

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (23)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (24)Jennifer Hawkins

Jennifer Hawkins's 200 Care Bears take up so much space in her house she bought a bunk-bed for them

Care Bears were originally painted in 1981 to appear on greetings cards, before the characters were turned into soft toys in 1983. A television series followed, as did books, a plethora of merchandise, multiple LPs and a film in 1985 for which Carole King was persuaded to write and perform songs for the soundtrack.

Jennifer Hawkins loves Care Bears so much she had her favourite one, Bedtime Bear, tattooed on her arm.

"I was looking around earlier and I think I've got something Care Bears-related in every room, except my bathroom," says Jennifer, who lives in Gloucester with about 200 Care Bears.

"But they make me happy so I'm quite happy to have them everywhere. I like the cuteness, I like having the little faces to talk to, I like the fact that they represent different feelings."

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (25)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (26)Jennifer Hawkins

Jennifer spent £140 on this 25th anniversary edition of Bedtime Bear

Jennifer got one of her favourites - called Beanie - "as a comfort" when her grandfather died the day after her 14th birthday.

"He [Beanie] comes pretty much everywhere with me now," she says.

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (27)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (28)Jennifer Hawkins

Jennifer had a tattoo of Bedtime Bear sitting on a cloud

She estimates her collection is worth "a few thousand". The most she spent on an individual bear was £140, which was a 25th anniversary version of Bedtime Bear, and resisted the temptation to spend £500 on an original 1980s Bedtime Bear that was still in the box.

"Unfortunately I can't afford to spend a month's rent on one bear," she says. "That's definitely a bit too much."

Barbie and Sindy

Barbie was launched in 1959 and swiftly became a cultural icon, gathering fans among each new generation of girls.

Linda Richardson was not one of them. When her mother gave her Barbies, she chopped their heads off.

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (29)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (30)Linda Richardson

Most of Linda's dolls are NRFB - "never removed from box"

"My passion was always cowboys and Indians and motorbikes and all that stuff," says Linda, who lives in Cumbria. But she now has an "obsession" with dolls and has more than 500, worth about £35,000 at a "conservative estimate".

Her passion was ignited 15 years ago on a trip to buy presents for her son.

"I saw these Native American Indians and they happened to be Barbies and that just set it off, really," she says.

She did not buy the dolls at the time but started researching Barbie online and "found a whole new world".

Most of the ones she buys are aimed at collectors, rather than the typical Barbie dolls made for children. She keeps them protected behind glass doors in a room lined with bookcases.

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (31)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (32)Linda Richardson

Linda photographs some of her dolls and puts them on Instagram

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (33)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (34)Linda Richardson

These Native American dolls ignited Linda's interest in Barbie

She also has some "de-boxed" dolls she puts in dioramas, photographs and posts on Instagram. "It's just something to do," she says. "It keeps me out of trouble."

Others favour Barbie's rival, which went on to become the best-selling fashion doll in the UK when it launched in 1963.

Melanie Quint only had one Sindy as a child but now has 60 or 70, worth between three and four thousand pounds.

"I decided to sell all of my childhood dolls and when I looked on eBay I realised there was this massive collecting and restoration community," she says.

Instead of selling her dolls she ended up buying more.

"It's nostalgia at the end of the day," says Melanie. "You look at the face and the doll and the fashions and it takes you back to the way you were when you were a child."

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (35)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (36)Melanie Quint

Melanie Quint owns dozens of Sindy dolls

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (37)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (38)Melanie Quint

Melanie Quint has 60 or 70 Sindy dolls

Melanie now runs Dollycon UK, which is for collectors of all dolls but has a particular focus on Sindy. A particular highlight is the "hilarious" cosplay competition, where people dress up as particular dolls.

"It's very tongue-in-cheek," says Melanie. "They pick some of the weird outfits, the 70s stuff. It's really funny seeing what they do.

"We had one woman last year who dressed as Action Man Frogman, in a full suit with flippers on. I couldn't speak, it was hilarious."

Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (39)Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (40)DollyCon UK

The DollyCon cosplay competition is "very tongue-in-cheek"

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Which vintage girls' toys are most collectable? (2024)

FAQs

What old toys are worth the most money? ›

Take a look below at some of the most treasured toys of all time.
  • Barbie by Stefano Canturi, 2010. ...
  • G.I. Joe, 1963. ...
  • Star Wars Rocket Firing Boba Fett, 1979. ...
  • Steiff Louis Vuitton Bear, 2000. ...
  • Tipp & Co. ...
  • Star Wars Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi, 1978. ...
  • Star Wars Darth Vader, 1978. ...
  • Star Wars: Droids Vlix, 1988.

What toys from the 70s are worth money? ›

Here's How Much Your Vintage 1970s Toys Might Be Worth
  • Star Wars Action Figures. ...
  • Walk Lively Barbie Dolls. ...
  • Stretch Armstrong. ...
  • Hot Wheels Cars. ...
  • Classic Superhero Action Figures. ...
  • Evel Knievel Bike. ...
  • Vintage Comics. ...
  • How To Sell Your Vintage 1970s Toys.
Jul 21, 2024

How do I know if my old toys are worth money? ›

Companies that do appraisals can value your toy based on its condition if you're interested in selling it. Another factor to consider when valuing your toys is their rarity. As in most collecting, the rarer a product is, the higher the demand—ultimately increasing the price tag.

Are any toys from the 90s worth anything? ›

However, there are some '90s toys that are indeed worth a small fortune. These tend to be rare, limited-edition or first-edition games, toys and collectibles. TheToyZone found the '90s toys with the highest resale values by looking at sold prices for video games, Pokémon cards, Barbies, action figures and more.

What toys will be collectible? ›

Best Toys to Collect for Investment
  • Vintage Action Figures: A Treasure Trove of Value. ...
  • Rare and Limited Edition Dolls. ...
  • Valuable Board Games. ...
  • Retro Video Games. ...
  • Antique Tin Toys. ...
  • Comic Books. ...
  • Authentic LEGO Sets. ...
  • Historical Model Trains: All Aboard the Investment Train.

What to look for in vintage toys? ›

To date an antique toy, check the patent, maker's mark, or country of origin mark on the toy. Or, look for an embossed, stenciled, or printed patent number on the toy or box. You can easily look up patent applications online, which will reveal the date it was filed.

What toys have good resale value? ›

What toys have the best resale value? In average numbers, LEGO sets are likely the best choice in terms of resale value. Some toys may sell for more money individually, but LEGOs mostly either maintain their original value or, quite commonly, become more valuable over time.

Do vintage toys go up in value? ›

Many vintage toys were made in smaller batches meaning these toys are far more valuable than those made on a large scale. Rarity adds value. An old toy doesn't necessarily mean it's valuable. Although older toys and games are frequently made with outdated materials or technology, it doesn't mean that they are valuable.

What are considered vintage toys? ›

According to Blue Moon Estate Sales, an item must be at least 20 years old to be considered vintage. An antique is at least 100 years old. Antiques and older vintage items are often more sought after because they were made with now-obsolete materials or technologies.

What are the five highest selling toys ever? ›

Ranking the Best-Selling Christmas Toys Of All Time
  • Bratz Dolls – 2001. ...
  • Tamagotchi – 1997. ...
  • Hot Wheels – 1968. ...
  • Furby – 1998. ...
  • Cabbage Patch Kids – 1982. ...
  • Gameboy – 1989. ...
  • Barbie – 1958. ...
  • Rubik's Cube – 1974.

What is the most valuable toy from the 80s? ›

10 Vintage Toys From the 1980s That Are Worth Thousands
  1. Original Transformers' Optimus Prime. Optimus Prime AFA Graded and Sealed Transformers 1984 Hasbro Figure. ...
  2. G.I. ...
  3. Star Wars Action Figures. ...
  4. Masters of the Universe Figures. ...
  5. Nintendo Entertainment System Games. ...
  6. My Little Pony. ...
  7. Cabbage Patch Kids. ...
  8. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Aug 24, 2024

What is the most valuable toy brand? ›

LEGO is the world's most valuable toy brand for the tenth year running, increasing its brand value by 6.5% to USD7. 9 billion. Fuelled by a year of solid sales growth, the brand has opened 147 new Lego-branded stores worldwide, bolstered its digital presence, and rolled out innovative new product lines.

What toys do millionaires buy? ›

Luxury Toys for the Wealthy
  • Custom-Built LEGO Sets.
  • High-End Drones.
  • Luxury Toy Cars.
  • Collectible Action Figures and Dolls.
  • Exquisite Dolls Houses.
  • High-Tech Gadgets.
  • Luxury Bicycles.
  • Extravagant Board Games.
May 29, 2024

Which classic toys of the 70s 80s and 90s could be worth a fortune? ›

Which classic toys of the 70s, 80s and 90s could be worth a...
  • Polly Pockets. Polly Pockets were an iconic toy which were popular throughout the 90s. ...
  • Tamagotchi. ...
  • Fisher-Price Little People. ...
  • My Little Pony.
Mar 6, 2023

What is the most profitable toy? ›

The Lego Phenomenon

Lego, the Danish toy company known for its iconic plastic construction bricks, has arguably created the biggest selling toy of all time. Founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen, Lego has grown from a small workshop producing wooden toys to a global powerhouse in the toy industry.

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