Best items of 2015

1. Four Giant Ninja Turtle Toys 1989

($500-$700)

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT), often shortened to Ninja Turtles, are a fictional team of four teenage anthropomorphic turtles named after four Renaissance artists: Leonardo (Leo), Michelangelo (Mike or Mikey), Donatello (Don or Donnie), Raphael (Raph). The characters initially appeared in comic books before being licensed for toys, cartoons, video games, films, and other merchandise. During the peak of its popularity in the late 1980s through early 1990s, the franchise gained considerable worldwide success and fame. All TMNT figures made between 1988 and1997 are considered vintage, and the earlier that they are, the more expensive they will be. At Heritage Auctions in September 2012, a limited edition Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book sold for $358.50 USD. In November of this year, a collection of TMNT figurines that laid in an attic for 35 years was sold at Wessex Auction Rooms for more than £5,000 GBP.  Start looking for these Ninja Turtles items to get yourself a “piece of that pie”.

2. An early Mattel Barbie doll

(£300-£400)

Barbie launched in 1959 by Mattel at the American Toy Fair. It was noticed that there was a gap on the market for a girl’s dolls which were not modelled on infants. Barbie was based on the German doll Bild Lilli. She became the best selling doll in the worlds with over a billion sold; she is now considered a collectible. Certain models are more desirable to collectors than others and certain release years hold more importance. An original from 1959 in mint condition could easily make £2,000, such as this No. 1 Barbie which sold at Christie’s London in 2002 for £2,880. Early models are more highly prized as well as rare examples that have bendable legs or red hair. In 2010, a Barbie designed by Stefano Canturi, wearing a diamond collar necklace, sold for $302,500 as part of a jewellery sale, to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (£191,000).

3. An original football programme

(£750-900)

With lots of football programmes circulating the world it may be forgotten that they can be worth a lot of money. This is just one example, dating back from 1897 recording a game played between Notts (County) and Sunderland. The value is reflective of several factors, of course its age and the fact that there will not be many about/recorded. It is definitely worth keeping hold of your special souvenirs!

4. A Mies Van de Rohe Leather MR Chair

($4000-$6000)

Sometimes we are not aware of what we are sat on, quite literally. One example is this chair, (which is a set of four) was used as an everyday piece of furniture within an office for forty years until somebody thought of getting valued…. With a result that would make you jump from your seat.
They were not your average office chair, but, in fact, a set of vintage Mies Van de Rohe Leather MR Chairs, an iconic representation of the elegant, minimalist European style.

5. A 1953 First Edition of Playboy featuring Marilyn Monroe

We all have a favourite magazine and many of us have old issues stacked upon our bookshelves…well it turns out you may have some money settling on your shelves. There were only 54,175 copies of this magazine printed in December 1953 and all of them sold out very quickly. It was such a popular edition that the magazine sold replicas again in 2007 & 2014. If you have a 1953 edition they can fetch a very healthy price at auction.

6. An 'Advance Promotional' vinyl pressing of the album 'Born To Run' by Bruce Springsteen

($4000-$5000)

Music can become part of people’s culture and way of living and if you were lucky enough to gain a part of the process in production not only will it still hold sentimental value.
This vinyl is the product of the iconic Bruce Springsteen, in good condition and unique, all contributing factors to its current auction fair price.

7. A Rare Coca Cola Advertising Bottle Radio by the Crosley Radio Corporation

($5,000-$8,000)

For our last unusual and exciting example we thought we would share this find from the 1930s. In good condition and still working this radio, shaped Bakelite radio has not only nostalgic value but also a rather strong auction price.