While interest in some areas of collectables peak and trough, the interest in vintage toys remains constant. Whether it is vintage toy cars or board games, the demand for these slices of nostalgia remains high. But where should you look when buying vintage toys? Here, we take a look at some of the places to go shopping.
Specialist vintage toy shops
Independent toy shops that specialise in collectable vintage toys will offer a curated selection of high-quality and possibly rare items. Specialist shops may have a better selection of vintage toys but asking prices could reflect this specialist expertise, and possibly increase demand.
Online marketplaces for vintage toys
Shopping online is one of the easiest ways to find vintage and collectable toys. Popular platforms for buyers include eBay, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace & Gumtree. Buyers, particularly novice collectors, should exercise caution when buying sight unseen. Never be afraid to ask for extra photographs and ask lots of questions. Unless you are confident in the seller’s packaging skills, always try to collect in person too.
Vintage toy fairs and collector events
Attending a vintage toy fair or collector’s event is an excellent way to buy, sell, and trade toys. The Toy Collectors’ Fair in Birmingham is dedicated to vintage toys while the Newark International Antiques & Collectors Fair has a wide range of antique and vintage collectables. Buyers should be aware that events will often allow dealers and traders early access so be prepared to find that many of the bargains may well have been snapped up. However, these events are a great way to meet other collectors, and learn about different types of toys, with the potential to find rare or valuable items.
Flea markets and car boot sales
There are still hidden gems to be discovered at a car boot sale but these are becoming harder to find with the rise of antique buying programmes on TV. The early bird will get the worm here though, as dealers will be waiting for cars to be unpacked so be prepared for an early start! These venues are a great starting point for finding a variety of vintage toys, often at reasonable prices, and the car boot still remains a good place to bag a bargain!
Antique shops and centres
If you love the thrill of discovering hidden gems, antique shops and centres are great places to find vintage and antique toys. Often housing the wares of multiple dealers, antique centres offer the potential to find rare or hard to find items unavailable elsewhere. Experts selling at antique centres are often very generous with their time, offering advice and expertise about their items, and providing a history and knowledge of the items.
Vintage toys at Hemswell Antique Centres
At Hemswell Antique Centres, our dealers have a wide selection of vintage toys on display that you can browse at your leisure. They are passionate about their own particular areas of interest, be that vintage toy bears or vintage toy cars, and when on site, they are always happy to chat to visitors. Browsing and buying in person allows you to inspect items carefully and gives you the peace of mind that all items are genuine. As well as displaying the items of 400 dealers in or centres, we also have an excellent collection of vintage toys and games online.
