Toys certainly made most of us who are reading this blog. Growing up I played with a number of toys and figures, ranging from Batman to Polly Pocket. Certain toys defined my childhood, and now as an adult collector, I seek out toys that came out long before I was born! On June 8, Heritage's Action Figure and Toys Showcase Auction has a good variety of modern and vintage toys and collectibles, perfect for every kind of collector. Here are my top pics for what to watch.
Flash Gordon Mego Set of Four
Alex Raymond's Flash Gordon made its debut in January 1934 as a competitor to my personal favorite space opera, Buck Rogers. Flash Gordon quickly became one of the more popular heroes of the era and would receive his own 13-chapter serial from Universal Pictures in 1936.
The series would waver in popularity after the end of the Golden Age, but in 1980 the series would see new life with Mike Hodges's Flash Gordon -- which unfortunately did not do well at the box office. Prior to the release of the now cult classic film, Mego released a series of Flash Gordon toys as a part of their action figure line.
This set includes four main characters from the series -- Flash Gordon, Dale Arden, Ming the Merciless, and Dr. Zarkov. Heritage notes that these action figures are in Very Fine condition.
Mego figures still in their box or packaging are very collectible. Similar figures have sold on eBay prior -- a similar set of four with the figures still in their bubble pack sold for $510 after 17 bids in May 2023. Individual characters still in their packaging sell between $130-$200, with Flash generally getting the most money. This lot is still sitting low but has the potential to sell for around $500.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Millennium Falcon
If you were a Star Wars kid in a post-Star Wars world, certain toys elevated you higher than your peers. Kenner's Millennium Falcon was such a toy. This impressively sized ship worked well with the Kenner line of Star Wars figures and has become somewhat of a grail for collectors.
Complete and incomplete sets routinely sell for around $500 on eBay, but this AFA-graded 75 EX+/NM is one of the first graded examples I've seen. This box has obvious wear, but if you're looking for a definitive piece for your Star Wars collection, this is it.
Transformers: Optimus Prime
If there was one toy to define the 1980s, Transformers is that toy. The Robots in Disguise launched a franchise powerhouse that's still enjoyed to this day. Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Megatron have become pop culture icons in their own right -- and who can forget the death of Prime in Transformers: The Movie?
These toys are hot collectibles -- especially if that toy is still in the box! I do love Transformers myself (Bumblebee is my favorite), but this is one collector hole I can't afford to fall into.
This AFA 80+ NM series 1 Prime is beautiful. I've seen similar examples at toy shows and conventions, but none have looked as new as this one. This toy originally retailed for $23.99 and currently has an average price of $505 per Action Figure 411. That average is from eBay sales, and might not count in for graded examples. Due to how pristine this example looks, it may sell for over $2500 for a motivated buyer.
Take a look at all the items up for bids! What do you have your eye on?
*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.