At Judy’s Jewelry Antiques and Estate Jewelry, your Southwest Florida collectibles experts, we understand how difficult it is putting a value on an action figure you’ve loved for a long time, but have decided to sell. When it comes time to sort through an old collection of keepsakes, sometimes the value is in the eye of the beholder. Sentimentality can make any object priceless to you, while childhood memories can make your least favorite collectibles a highly-desired treasure for someone else. In general, though, most collectibles hold their value based on their condition and action figures are no different. A complete or a near-mint toy holds more value. An action figure with wear and tear still may be worth something, but it is more often about rarity at that point. Generally speaking, the value is determined by item condition, popularity of the piece, and its scarcity. It’s also determined by market demand.
You can take some steps to protect the value of your action figures by making sure you properly store and protect these action figures. Individual cases are the best choice for your most coveted and valuable pieces. In general, though, you’ll want to store your collectibles in more of a bulk method.
Durable storage bins with a square or rectangular bottom is the best choice—and you might want to line the bottom with a thin layer of cardboard. Avoid containers that have indentations or curves, as you can better stack and position the figures to protect their packaging. Use bubble wrap to protect each individual figure in a bin, and then store them in a cool and dry environment with little exposure to sunlight. You can minimize sunlight exposure by refraining from clear bins.
You might have toys dating back to your own childhood or maybe you’re an avid collector who has been acquiring new pieces for decades. If you decide to sell one of your treasures or you want to have the collection appraised by an expert for possible sale, this process will be much easier if the collection is organized and labeled.
Your individual storage bins can be labeled with some paper, tape, and a permanent marker. Everyone has their own method of organization but we recommend storing them by line or by package shape, so you can make the most of the available space in every bin. Whatever method you choose, write down where each item has been stored. Depending on the size of your collection, you may want to go so far as to create a database or spreadsheet listing each figure, its location, and give each bin a reference number. This sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but when you are done you will have a complete inventory of your collection.
About us
Judy’s Jewelry Antiques and Estate Jewelry is a family owned and operated company. With over 30 years of experience as Southwest Florida’s leading Antique and Estate Dealer in Fort Myers, FL, you can expect expert customer service whether we are appraising your antiques or selling your fine jewelry or collectibles. Come in to get an honest appraisal of your items from owner, Sal Lanzieri. We are the largest buyer of antique, vintage and costume jewelry, gold, silver, diamonds, coins and other precious metals in SWFL. We love history and sharing our knowledge of pieces and their place in time with our customers. Come look over our ever changing inventory of vintage and antique collectibles. Call 239-481-9600 or visit our website at https://judysjewelry-fortmyers.com/
