Timing is everything with collectibles
Bob Young
The Heat Index
Apr. 16, 2004 12:00 AM
"Well, we didn't actually visit the land of fire and brimstone, but we got to thinking about Barry Bonds and his assault on the home run record book and how much those baseballs he's hitting into McCovey Cove are worth.

Who better to talk about such things than Todd McFarlane?"
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The Official Marx Toys site:
Marx Toys:
"And so the story of 'Marx Toys' continues....
What began as a fledgling enterprise in 1919 and grew to
become the world's largest manufacturer of toys in the
middle of the century, has since evolved into a 'classic'
toy staple of the 1990's."

Recent Prices - More Marx: Johnny West:
Marx Johnny West Sam Cobra NM Complete - 2004-03-06 - Bids: 11 - Price: $520.00
Marx Johnny West Fighting Eagle NM Complete - 2004-03-06 - Bids: 19 - Price: $418.99
Johnny West Buckboard with Thunderbolt MIB - 2004-03-13 - Bids: 12 - Price: $405.00
Marx Johnny West Collection 10 figures plus - 2004-03-09 - Bids: 27 - Price: $305.00
Marx Johnny West Figurine with Beard - 2004-03-17 - 2004-03-24 - Bids: 14 - Price: $302.07
1960's Marx Johnny West Ranch House & Corral playset, MIB - 2004-03-17 - Bids: 23 - Price: $280.00

Marx Toys Recent eBay Auction Prices:

1927 Marx Buck Rogers Rocket Ship NMIB - 2004-03-14 - Bids: 29 - Price: $2,567.00
1928 Marx New York Express Tin Wind Up Toy Train - 2004-03-23 - Bids: 22 - Price: $1,726.50
1930 Marx Amos n Andy Walkers - 2004-03-04 - Bids: 18 - Price: $1,336.99
1926 Marx Snoopy Gus Wild Fireman Tin Wind Up - 2004-03-01 - Bids: 17 - Price: $1,154.98

Interested in Marx toys? Check it out...
The Vintage Toy Room
Specializing in Marx Toys, Marx Action Figures, Johnny West, Louis Marx Toys from the 1960's and 1970's , GI Joe Stony Smith figures, Marx Best of The West Action Figures, knights Vikings, Playsets
"New updates for our Winter listings! Items include a nice boxed 1st issue Johnny West and 1st issue Chief Cherokee, Boxed Quick Draw Sam Cobra, Boxed Sheriff Garrett, Real Nice Boxed Buckboard, Camping set MIB, 2 great custom figures, a Chuck Connors Rifleman figure. Many more items added, loose figures, horses, and more loose accessory lots!"

Online auctions serve up hometown memorabilia:
News - Wilmette Life
"Created during the tech boom of the late 1990s, eBay's popularity has grown exponentially in recent years with shoppers from around the world hungrily bidding on thousands of items that run the gamut from kitsch to chic, prevalent to obscure. "
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DFW Airport On-Line Auction Breaking Records - One Week to Go; Web Hits Break 1.5 Million Mark, Bids Exceed $200,000
Wednesday April 14, 12:51 pm ET
DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Texas, April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- "DFW Airport is entering the final week of the Airport's largest-ever all-Internet auction, and the Airport's numbers -- from web hits to bidders and their bids -- are well ahead of expectations."
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A great "cult of eBay": story:
E-tail therapy:
Scotsman.com News - Features
"Jemima Khan unleashed a rather intriguing fashion statement recently, at the launch of her mother's book. You'll remember, of course, that this young woman is heir to Sir Jimmy Goldsmith's 1.4 billion pounds fortune, which suggests she ought to be able to shop wherever she likes. Even so, Mrs Khan was surprisingly proud to boast that she had bought her second-hand butterfly-motif frock on eBay."
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Ebony Visions Investment Market Watch Report
Sunday, March 14, 2004 10:50 AM
"Welcome to the The Collection Shop's Ebony Visions Investment Market Watch(TM) provided as a service to our Ebony Visions collectors and investors in Thomas Blackshear's Art and Collectibles. If part of your interest in Ebony Visions is in selecting the best designs for investment purposes, this report provides valuable tips and information to help maximize your profits on the secondary market.
In general, the more limited an Ebony Visions piece is or the longer it has been retired, the more valuable it will be. The secondary market for collectibles is driven by supply and demand. That's why it's important to pay special attention to categories that are limited either by a specific edition size or time period because they will demand a higher market price and, therefore, a higher return on your investment."
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Observations:
Great sell through rate on eBay. Recent prices:
"THE PROTECTOR" #37007 PORCELAIN FIGURINE - March 16, 2004 - $998.00 - 31 bids
"THE MADONNA" #37001 PORCELAIN FIGURINE - March 16, 2004 - $510.00 - 23 bids
"THE TENDER TOUCH" #37004 PORCELAIN FIGURINE - March 9, 2004 - $480.00 - 24 bids

ABADIE ADVERTISING POSTER by Eugene Oge (1904) Sells for $5,425
About Collectibles
Apr 13 2004
"An eBay Red Star* seller from Vienna, Austria recently listed a rare advertising poster on eBay. The auction began on February 10th with a $5.00 initial bid and ended ten days later with a final bid of $5,425.
This is a rare and intriguingly well-illustrated original advertising poster for ABADIE cigarette papers designed by the renowned commercial artist Eugene Oge (1861-1936) in 1904."
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Novato man plans Titanic auction
By Con Garretson, IJ reporter
Marin Independent Journal - Marin
"He's not the king of the world, but when it comes to collecting Titanic remnants and memorabilia, Novato's Tony Probst is royalty.
But Probst plans to abdicate his title as owner of one of the planet's largest collection of items from the 'unsinkable' ocean liner by selling hundreds of items at auction this June."
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From Australia:
Taking the shine off granny's silver
April 12, 2004
National - www.smh.com.au

"Ever wanted a Chinese tureen modelled as a crab? That'll set you back $380,000. Peter Fish reports on some outlandish trends in collectables.
Today's collectables buyers are taking a walk on the wild side, and on their shopping list are modernistic images and art that's striking - sometimes even grotesque. These days almost anything goes, as long as it's not what mum and dad like."
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Cars That Rock, Even on a Smaller Scale
By PHIL PATTON
The New York Times
Published: March 8, 2004

"THE difference between men and boys, the saying goes, is the size of their toys. But considering the growing number of grown men - and women - obsessed with tiny cars, that may not be true.
Model cars are no longer just toys, nor are they designed for children. Increasingly they are aimed at adults and intended for collectors."

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