Page 28 - June 2018 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
P. 28
The Market
for
TOYS
H ow things look in the Toy Market often depends upon who you ask; their magazine, and things sold. After a few ads, people started approaching me to sell
chosen areas of expertise; the market with regard to their age, income, things for them.
Our first auction was a group of cereal premiums I purchased that we knew
childhood and adulthood experiences; and what has recently flooded the
market and what has not. Tom Miano, recently named director of Potter & Potter
determine the values. We gave out our home number, covered the walls of the
Auctions’ newly created Toys/Pop Culture department, brings both experience and nothing about, so we decided to try an auction so that the market would
insight to this new position from his years as owner of Serious Toyz™ and years as kitchen with paper, and began to take bids on one phone line (with call waiting).
an advertising exeutive at some of the top Madison Avenue advertising agencies. We were happily surprised by the results, including almost $2,000 paid for an
Tom’s ability to weigh and measure market indicators with a long-term dedication extremely rare “Corney Cornelius” wall walker. Of course, we decided that
to the world of toys and pop culture (his enthusiasm is contagious) made him a auctioning was AWESOME, and we built the business from there. Eventually,
natural choice for Potter & Potter. We had an opportunity to speak with Tom as we were named one of the U.S.’s leading vintage toy auction houses, alongside
he prepares for his first auction with Potter & Potter to find out what’s hot at
the big boys like Hakes, Bertoia, and others … imagine our surprise!
market in this collectibles space I have always believed that everyone should get to participate in auctions, so
over the years we continued to offer low value, high ‘smiles’ items, and treat
Tell us about your background and your foray into the Auction World. them the same way we treated the high dollar stuff: beautiful pictures, detailed
I began my working life driving and riding in an ambulance in Brooklyn descriptions, and respect for the items when shipping.
in the 1970s … (yeah I said it!) and went to the School of Visual Arts, and About a year ago, a long-time customer/consignor approached me to tell me
graduated in 1979. I was hired before I graduated by one of the top 5 ad agencies about Potter & Potter; he did the same to them about me. We clicked big-time,
at the time, Foote, Cone & Belding, and things took off from there. I then spent and I have happily joined forces with them. It is a large, well-run auction house
25+ years in advertising as a Creative Director at places like Ogilvy & Mather, and I finally felt I found somewhere that shares my values of honesty and integrity.
J.Walter Thompson, and McCann Erickson, working on accounts that included I intend to make Potter & Potter one of the premier places for Toys & Pop
General Motors, AT&T, American Express, Coca Cola, and much more. In the Culture collectibles, starting with the first auction I am producing with them on
early 1990s, I opened my own agency—“Rudnick & Miano”—with 2 partners July 27th.
and our fingers crossed; we grew to
16 employees and billed over How do you see the current
$65,000,000 at our peak. About 4 overall auction market for toys?
years in, the bottom fell out Toys are just like any
due to three near-simultaneous, commodities market: interest
unrelated, account losses. I then determines the value at the time
moved on to freelancing. of sale, but results can vary widely
All the while, I was collecting depending on circumstances.
toys and other things that made This collecting category, more
me smile. than most, is about smiling. I
When I first decided to sell a believe Toys & Pop Culture
few things to finance my own toy collectibles always push peoples
habit, I came up with the Serious best “memory buttons,” and so I
Toyz™ name. My background am certain that the market will
allowed me to put together some continue to grow in new and
slick ads to run in Toy Shop exciting categories.
Exceptional Condition “Beatles Record Player” in
Lego Life Size Star Wars “Jango Fett” Figural Rare Original Box; all original, working. The
Display, 2002, The Lego Group, Denmark; base is record player has both the original outer and
36”x 50”; this amazing retail display stands over inner lid paper photos and a clean front grill.
six feet tall and is constructed of literally thousands Some original turntable foam padding remains,
of ordinary Lego pieces; originally exhibited at and it works and plays well. Outer box is 20.25”
Comic Con, and then displayed at a now–defunct x 11.5” x 6.75”, with all end flaps present. The
Toys–R–Us, this is an incredibly detailed rendering original price tag of $29.95 is at top. Original
of the Star Wars bounty hunter; each Lego piece serial number tag is still stapled to the box, and
is permanently glued together; complete in the it is crisp and colors are strong. Includes
original cast–metal display stand with custom reproduction copies of warranty card, service
protective plexiglass sides that allow for full viewing; agencies card, and instructions. The record player
paper signs have faded, otherwise near mint; this is and box are quite rare; this one is almost
among the first of these legendary Lego sculptures “Official Batman Bat Chute” Toy Retail Display, 1966, Included is a certainly among the nicest all-original examples
ever offered for sale. Sold in 2015 for $6,872. MIP example of the parachute toy it promoted. Sold in 2017 for $4,067. known. Sold in 2008 for $12,500.
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
26
for
TOYS
H ow things look in the Toy Market often depends upon who you ask; their magazine, and things sold. After a few ads, people started approaching me to sell
chosen areas of expertise; the market with regard to their age, income, things for them.
Our first auction was a group of cereal premiums I purchased that we knew
childhood and adulthood experiences; and what has recently flooded the
market and what has not. Tom Miano, recently named director of Potter & Potter
determine the values. We gave out our home number, covered the walls of the
Auctions’ newly created Toys/Pop Culture department, brings both experience and nothing about, so we decided to try an auction so that the market would
insight to this new position from his years as owner of Serious Toyz™ and years as kitchen with paper, and began to take bids on one phone line (with call waiting).
an advertising exeutive at some of the top Madison Avenue advertising agencies. We were happily surprised by the results, including almost $2,000 paid for an
Tom’s ability to weigh and measure market indicators with a long-term dedication extremely rare “Corney Cornelius” wall walker. Of course, we decided that
to the world of toys and pop culture (his enthusiasm is contagious) made him a auctioning was AWESOME, and we built the business from there. Eventually,
natural choice for Potter & Potter. We had an opportunity to speak with Tom as we were named one of the U.S.’s leading vintage toy auction houses, alongside
he prepares for his first auction with Potter & Potter to find out what’s hot at
the big boys like Hakes, Bertoia, and others … imagine our surprise!
market in this collectibles space I have always believed that everyone should get to participate in auctions, so
over the years we continued to offer low value, high ‘smiles’ items, and treat
Tell us about your background and your foray into the Auction World. them the same way we treated the high dollar stuff: beautiful pictures, detailed
I began my working life driving and riding in an ambulance in Brooklyn descriptions, and respect for the items when shipping.
in the 1970s … (yeah I said it!) and went to the School of Visual Arts, and About a year ago, a long-time customer/consignor approached me to tell me
graduated in 1979. I was hired before I graduated by one of the top 5 ad agencies about Potter & Potter; he did the same to them about me. We clicked big-time,
at the time, Foote, Cone & Belding, and things took off from there. I then spent and I have happily joined forces with them. It is a large, well-run auction house
25+ years in advertising as a Creative Director at places like Ogilvy & Mather, and I finally felt I found somewhere that shares my values of honesty and integrity.
J.Walter Thompson, and McCann Erickson, working on accounts that included I intend to make Potter & Potter one of the premier places for Toys & Pop
General Motors, AT&T, American Express, Coca Cola, and much more. In the Culture collectibles, starting with the first auction I am producing with them on
early 1990s, I opened my own agency—“Rudnick & Miano”—with 2 partners July 27th.
and our fingers crossed; we grew to
16 employees and billed over How do you see the current
$65,000,000 at our peak. About 4 overall auction market for toys?
years in, the bottom fell out Toys are just like any
due to three near-simultaneous, commodities market: interest
unrelated, account losses. I then determines the value at the time
moved on to freelancing. of sale, but results can vary widely
All the while, I was collecting depending on circumstances.
toys and other things that made This collecting category, more
me smile. than most, is about smiling. I
When I first decided to sell a believe Toys & Pop Culture
few things to finance my own toy collectibles always push peoples
habit, I came up with the Serious best “memory buttons,” and so I
Toyz™ name. My background am certain that the market will
allowed me to put together some continue to grow in new and
slick ads to run in Toy Shop exciting categories.
Exceptional Condition “Beatles Record Player” in
Lego Life Size Star Wars “Jango Fett” Figural Rare Original Box; all original, working. The
Display, 2002, The Lego Group, Denmark; base is record player has both the original outer and
36”x 50”; this amazing retail display stands over inner lid paper photos and a clean front grill.
six feet tall and is constructed of literally thousands Some original turntable foam padding remains,
of ordinary Lego pieces; originally exhibited at and it works and plays well. Outer box is 20.25”
Comic Con, and then displayed at a now–defunct x 11.5” x 6.75”, with all end flaps present. The
Toys–R–Us, this is an incredibly detailed rendering original price tag of $29.95 is at top. Original
of the Star Wars bounty hunter; each Lego piece serial number tag is still stapled to the box, and
is permanently glued together; complete in the it is crisp and colors are strong. Includes
original cast–metal display stand with custom reproduction copies of warranty card, service
protective plexiglass sides that allow for full viewing; agencies card, and instructions. The record player
paper signs have faded, otherwise near mint; this is and box are quite rare; this one is almost
among the first of these legendary Lego sculptures “Official Batman Bat Chute” Toy Retail Display, 1966, Included is a certainly among the nicest all-original examples
ever offered for sale. Sold in 2015 for $6,872. MIP example of the parachute toy it promoted. Sold in 2017 for $4,067. known. Sold in 2008 for $12,500.
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
26
