As kids, we were all probably engrossed in toys at one time or another. Heck, we probably nagged our parents for a toy every time we walked down the toy aisle during family outings; I mean, who wasn’t asked their parents for a new toy? It’s just one thing that comes with being a kid. Those of us who grew up during the 80’s and 90’s are likely familiar with how we used to rely on toys for entertainment; we didn’t have fancy things like Youtube or iPads to amuse us, we entertained ourselves with our toys. Sure, we could have watched some cartoons on television here or there, but even the good shows aren’t always on air.
However having said all that, are toys simply made meant for playing? Many collectors would say noーto them, they are worth much more as a collectible item. While toys are mainly marketed towards children, there’s no rule to say that adults can’t walk into a toy store to buy a box of legos for themselves. Over the years, an increasing amount of adults have gotten into toy collecting as a hobby. In fact, many purchase classic toys as a means of investing, assuming that the value would increase after a period of time.
Throughout the years, vintage toys in particular, have continued to soar in popularity amongst toy collectors; classic toys have now become pricey collector items. At any time, a hardcore collector would probably be glad to offer thousands of dollars for a rare and valuable toy. Do you have a binder filled with Pokemon cards somewhere in your attic? Well, you better dig it out now, who knows how much they’re worth now after having sat in mint condition for two decades! While many seem to associate collectibles with “fancy”, that may not always be the case; in fact, some of the world’s most valuable and expensive toys are very simple in design. Did you know that some of these collectibles will cost you well over, $10,000? To put things into perspective, that amount of money would be enough for the down payment of a house! Now imagine investing that sum into a small toy.
Wondering what these rare toys are? We’ve got you covered. For your curiosity, here is a list of ten of the most valuable and expensive collectible toys.
#10 – Original Superman Action Figure: $20,000
#9 – 18K Gold Plated Game Boy Console: $25,000
Created and designed by Asprey’s of London, this dazzling, one-of-a-kind game boy is encased in an outer layer which is made entirely from pure 18k goldーbut that’s not all, the 2.6” screen was also bordered with a set of of shimmering diamonds. Not the mention the diamond accented on-off switch and fancy gold buttons! Released as a package along with its cables, game cartridges and leather case, this stunning 18K Game Boy console even came with its very own certificate of authenticity. Want to play the classic game boy games in style? Here’s your chance! You can own this remarkable piece of video game history for only $25,000! Worth it for the opportunity to game on a device with bling, am I right?
#8 – Capcom Big Bang Bar Pinball Machine: $30,000
Capcom’s Big Bang Bar Pinball Machine was first presented during the late 90’s at the Pinball Expo Show which took place in Chicago. As the company’s newest and latest game, it gained much attention at the show, with its excellent sound quality, animations and gameplay. Known for its bright, fluorescent artwork, the machine truly stood out against the rest of the pack; the artwork was also more adult themed, compared to the other pinball machines at the time, which was a welcome change for the fans. However despite its popularity at the event, Capcom later announced that they would be halting the manufacturing of the machineーmuch to the surprise of everyone. As a result, only 14 prototype Big Bang Bar Pinball Machines have ever been made; knowing this, it’s no wonder why they fetch a whopping $30,000 a piece!
#7 – Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Stadium Events: $35,000
First released in 1986 in Japan, Stadium Events was a sports fitness game created by Bandai for the 8-bit video gaming console, the Nintendo Entertainment System. While it was later released in September 1987 in North America, Nintendo would soon recall the game to rebrand it as a new product called the “Family Fun Fitness,” which utilized an accessory known as a Power Pad; the new series would come bundled with consoles at the time, rendering them very common. On the other hand, only a limited number of copies of the original Stadium Events have ever been distributed, causing their rarity to soar through the roof! It is currently the rarest NES video game in the game collecting world. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on a copy, know that it will probably cost you at least $35,000!
#6 – 1969 Volkswagen Beach Bomb Hot Wheel: $70,000
#5 – Nintendo World Class Service Set: $90,000
Introduced during the late 1980’s, the Nintendo World Class Service Set was utilized by a handful of specialized stores at the time as a means of diagnosing hardware issues with the NES. At the time, Nintendo had been encouraging customers to go to various World Class Service Retails in the country for the repairing of the NES, should they become faulty. Advertised to have been able to quickly diagnose problems of the video game console, the set was capable of various functions, the bulky 40 pound device were often used to test the status of the controllers, the zapper, the power pad and the Robot Operating Buddy (ROB). Highly sought after by retro game fans and collectors, a set in good condition would probably cost around $95,000.
#4 – Steiff 125th Anniversary Teddy Bear: $193,000
# 3 – Original Prototype of G.I. Joe Action Figure: $200,000
G.I. Joe is a line of action figures which was first created and introduced by the toy company, Hasbro in 1964. Having been one of the most popular superhero characters at the time, millions of G.I. Joe dolls have since been sold around the globe. However while there are hundreds of valuable G.I. Joe figurines, one undoubtedly stands out against the restーthe original prototype G.I. Joe Action Figure. Known to many as the most valuable toy soldier in the world, this handcrafted figure has even earned a spot in the renowned, Guinness World Records Book for its hefty price tag! This one-of-a-kind action figure was sold for $200,000 at a heritage auction in 2003ーit is highly considered to be one of the most expensive toys ever sold.
#2 – Titania’s Palace Doll House: $256,000
#1 – Stephano Canturi Barbie Doll: $302,500
Designed by Australian jewelry designer, Stefano Canturi, this timeless fashion doll is not your average Barbieーit is in fact, adorned with a number of valuable diamonds, including the highly exquisite, argyle pink diamond. Complete with extra long lashes and hand painted nail polish, the Canturi Barbie doll also holds the record for being the most expensive Barbie in the world. Dressed in an elegant strapless black dress, the stylish figure wears upon its neck a beautiful, Cubism style necklace complete with 3 carats of white diamonds and one carat of pink diamond; a dazzling Cubism diamond ring on her right hand completes the look. Sold for a record-breaking $302,000, all the proceeds from the one-of-a-kind doll were donated to benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.