Topps has landed the trading card rights to one of the most anticipated films of next summer, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. In advance of that release, Topps will produce a set of Indiana Jones cards under its Heritage brand that will be available in late February.


The 90-card set will be available exclusively in hobby and specialty markets and will feature scenes from all three original Indiana Jones movies, with card designs paying homage to the Raiders of the Lost Ark cards first published by Topps in 1981.  The retro-designed product will come with bubble gum in every pack. Five-card packs will carry a $2 suggested retail price.

Ira Friedman, Topps VP of publishing, said the company is in the process of finalizing arrangements with cast members of the original movies to provide autographs for the series. Inserts in the product will include 1-of-1 sketch cards and sequentially numbered parallel cards.

“We’re thrilled to be associated once again with this truly extraordinary property,” Friedman said. “Our Heritage treatment for the original movies is a nostalgic and fun way to kickoff our Indiana Jones trading card initiative – the first phase of an ongoing program that will transition to the new movie and beyond.”

Friedman said Topps will release its card set for the newest Indiana Jones film in May, just prior to the movie’s scheduled Memorial Day weekend release.

We get a lot of inquiries at Toy Shop requesting some help in either identifying or placing a value on a toy. If there are a few requests, it’s not so bad, but sometimes people want to know what half of their collection is worth.

I can’t stress enough that there are places novice toy collectors can look to seek out some of these answers on their own. It’s not that I don’t enjoy interacting with folks, but sometimes the greatest satisfaction can come with self-discovery,


The library is a great start when trying to look up toy history. Many of the books we use for reference can be found at libraries or bookstores. And if you hit on the right subject, there are often lists at the back of the book of collectors, dealers or other experts that can offer some more insights into the toys featured in the book.

One book that is very helpful in all fields of collecting is Maloney’s Antiques and Collectibles Reference Guide. This has contacts for hundreds of categories, with a lot of contacts in the toy arena.

I also encourage folks to check out the selections we have at F+W Publications, owners of Toy Shop. Log onto www.krausebooks.com and head to the toys section. The big three reference guides are Toys & Prices, O’Brien’s Collecting Toys and O’Brien’s Collecting Toy Cars & Trucks.

Among the inquiries are a fair number that come via e-mail. This, to me, means these folks also have Internet access. While not the end-all of information, the Internet does offer access to toy clubs and message boards people can use to find information as well – and quickly. So spend some time tooling around online.

And if nothing works, just know that we’re here to try and help. (But try to send a photo – that makes things a lot easier!)    

I’ve attended a few toy auctions since I took the helm of Toy Shop several years ago. One such instance was at the National Farm Toy Show in Dyersville, Iowa. I was always impressed with the speed and efficiency in which auctions are run. Organizers know what they are doing, and, more importantly, bidders have done their research, know what toys they are going after and what their spending limits will be. It’s a finely tuned machine that results in a lot of toy collectors going home very happy.

This brings me to the latest poll question I posted on the Toy Shop Web site — “Have you ever attended a live toy action?” The choices were yes, no and only on eBay. The live auction was meant as one in which you attend in person, but I had to see who never leaves their house, even in their quest for toys.

Personally, knowing the types of readers we have at Toy Shop, I expected a lot of “yes” answers, but the final tally was the following:

Yes: 50%
No: 29%
Only on eBay: 21%

I’m still working the numbers in my mind. Is it because toy shows are down that only half of Toy Shop readers have attended an auction. I’m sure as little as three years ago, this number would have been higher. Is it because it was an online poll question, and many of these collectors do their buying and selling online?

And what about the 29% “No” answers — are auctions too intimidating to new collectors? I have a lot of theories, but few solid answers. That’s where you come in. Click on the “comments” link below and help fill in the blanks for me.  
 

There is an interesting poll question on the Toy Shop Web site at the moment. The question is simple — “Have you ever attended an online toy auction?” The answers to choose form include yes, no and only on eBay.

Currently, the answers are fairly split. This leads me to a question I have been wondering for some time. I know the vast majority of subscribers to Toy Shop are die-hard toy fans who have attended a fair share of toy auctions in their many years of collecting. I also know that the majority of people using a computer are of a younger age and are more apt to bid online in you auctions.

eBay is bigger than ever these days, and even the old toy show stalwarts are looking to that medium to get their hands on toys. But are the Toy Shop subscribers who have been with the magazine since 1988 also going online to get their auction fix? I guess if I could add an addendum question to that poll, it would be “Do you only participate in auctions on eBay, or do you also attend live auctions?” Is there a clean split of people who have attended live auctions and those who participate online, or is there a crossing of traffic?

I’d guess with each passing day, more and more people are doing both. Some miss the personal interaction, while others feel things are more available online. I can see both ways.

And as for those who haven’t participated in a toy auction — give it a try. A successful bid is a very rewarding feeling.

This blog is going to straight to you, the reader — what's the most important factor in buying a toy? There are many reasons to buy a toy, but I'd like to know what the driving factors are in purchasing a toy.

First, let me clarify. I realize that nostalgia is a driving force in many toy purchases. I also realize that many collectors have a particular area of interest. If a toy fits that interest, they will probably pick it up. But I'm looking for something a little deeper.

Do you buy toys based on condition?  Do you buy toys based on the need to complete a series or fill a void in the overall collection? Or perhaps this is a dream toy you've been waiting your entire life to get your hands on? Maybe it’s just the attractiveness that puts you over the edge?

Since there are so many toys out there to choose from in any given category, I'm looking to get into the minds of our readers. I think it would be fun to get differing views from collectors on their habits. We're all crazy for toys — I just want to see if the diagnosis is the same.

For me, I pick out toys that I find unique and fun. Condition doesn't matter that much to me. Often, I'll read about some unique toy from a reader or columnist, and then I'll happen upon it at a sale somewhere and pick it up. Knowing the background on the piece's production and how kids enjoyed it when it was originally available is a real treat for me.  So while a nice example of a Popeye Rowboat would be nice, I'm just as happy with a worn-out version of the Odd Ogg.

I guess that’s what makes this hobby so unique.

In the next issue of Toy Shop, we'll be looking at some of the top TV/movie toys of all time. As you might have guessed, the list of toys in this category is quite long, so I expect a little help in forming the list. Have you got any favorites? Let me know, and I'll add them to the list.

I thought I'd take a little time and discuss some of my personal favorites.  Being a kid of the 1980s, I was a fan of Masters of the Universe toys, but in this position, I've grown to love many great toys from the past. I love Western caps guns based on Have Gun Will Travel and the Lone Ranger shows. Nothing transformed you into a character better than gun and holster set. I still shoot toy guns in the office, much to the chagrin of my co-workers.

I also love spy movies, so an attache case, spy camera or trick pen is something I can always use. These characters always had some great gadgets, and I'm glad many companies decided to produce toys of these little wonders. I think some of these need to be added to the list, as well.

Of course, hardly a movie goes by today without a line of associated toys. Just imagine the secondary profits that will be made in the next few weeks with the release of Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. It's mind-boggling. But will these toys someday make their mark as the best TV/movie toys of all time? Maybe, but I'll stick with a Creature of the Black Lagoon figure any time.

Don't forget to add your thoughts as to the best TV/movie toys of all time. I'm listening.

As Shop Talk columnist Mark Rich can attest to, we get our fair share of inquiries from readers asking for help in identifying toys, providing some historical background and even possibly giving the piece a ballpark value. It's no easy task, and Mark is one of the best in the business in helping readers out.

However, I, too, get some of these questions. And when I don't go running to Mark for an answer, I attempt to dig up the information myself. What I've found is that reference books contain a mountain of information — and there's something out there on nearly every toy category. But from time to time, these mystery toys will surface that don't seem to have left any evidence in books or online. And these are real fun ones to try and dig up information on.

I recently received a call from a woman who is seeking information on a tin toy saxophone that includes paper rolls. Now, nothing immediately jumps to mind with that description, and I will be asking for a photo to help me understand better what I'm looking for. A picture does a lot in conveying details.

I once received a call from another reader who had "an old Mickey Mouse" doll. Based on the caller's description, it did indeed sounded like an older doll — possibly one that was even worth a decent chunk of change. However, when I received a photo of said doll, I could immediately tell it was much newer than I suspected. But it sure was fun tracing the history of Mickey dolls in the meantime and seeing the different dolls that were produced.

Mark must have a pretty good reputation in identifying toys, because we get a fair number of referrals from the toy industry, toy museums and even manufacturers. They send the callers to us, and we're happy to at least try and get some answers.

So if you have any mystery toys in your collection, send us a letter, e-mail or call. We'll do the best we can. And if possible, send a photo along. This will help speed up the process on our end.

Happy toy collecting!

Having spent the past few weeks off and on at a place I'd rather avoid — hospitals — it dawned on me more than ever of the healing power of toys. And while, I was in the adult areas of the hospitals, the power of toys remained the same, from family to friends to the nursing staff. (The nursing staff loves cookies, too, but that's for another blog.)

In this particular instance, the toys were stuffed animals and a battery-operated plush item featuring monkeys who sang about "going home." These weren't anything special, but they brought a smile to everyone who witnessed them, including the patient who wasn't exactly a enamored by toys.

And I think this is how it all begins — collecting toys, that is. As children, we look for something to comfort us and we gradually move on to other toys that are found near these creature comforts. And it is those memories that drive us to collect our childhood toys as adults. While I don't think this patient is going to run out and try to find her toys from the 1940s and '50s (though I'd love to help!), it did bring to the forefront about how great the toy collecting hobby is and what a pleasure it is to "work" in this field.

This particular blog isn't full of any particular news item or earth-shattering auction results — just something that's been on the brain for the past few weeks.

As someone who has been in and around the collecting hobby for a good chunk of my life, I've noticed a few traits of collectors. I've talked to many people who have so much stuff in their homes, there is barely enough space to actually walk around. Now I'm guessing these types of collectors aren't the ones who limit themselves to one category or type of toys. They buy anything and everything — to be used as parts, trade bait or simply because they can't seem to let anything pass them by.

Others are like me. I buy a little of something here and there. I'm not tied to one particular category. I have a smattering of action figures, a few tin tanks, some board games and even a lightsaber or two among my Milwaukee Brewers memorabilia in "my room" in the basement. I don't have so much stuff that I can't move, but I don't have a dedicated collecting field, either. To me, it makes it that much more fun when I hit antique shops with my mom. I never know what I might bring home.

And then there are those collectors who have a targeted niche in collecting. For instance, they might collect Hot Wheels. In that case, there might be display case after display case filled with models, prototypes and exclusives. These types of collectors have a specific item they are looking for, and they dive into it like a colege student working on his senior thesis.

Is any one method better than another? No way. And that's what makes this hobby great. You don't have to be rich to enjoy it, and there are plenty of other folks out there who enjoy the same thing.

Of course, that leads to one question — what type of collector are you? (And don't be afraid to show off your collection to the rest of us.)