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Blimey!!!! Some of those prices weren't for the faint hearted were they? £1000 for an empty box £1000 for some crayons in a tin I could go on, but I'm sure plenty here were watching as I was. Certainly didn't win anything.

Hi Bob & all, Just got back from the auction, nightmare getting up there & back, what some crazy prices I had fifty good bids but just got bashed to bits. I was second under bidder on the coach box £1450.00 plus. Managed to pick one up, nice Station Wagon. Most of the early lots were in very poor condition, very chipped & poor boxes. Pleased i went but a bit disappointed Pete.

I was watching too, and I agree that many of the hammer prices were excessive (and don't forget there's buyer's commission to pay as well!).Anything rare or non-standard just seemed to go for silly money.

Hi Hugh There were some silly prices I think a lot went on the internet & a lot more of the expensive bits seemed to go to two or three bidders. Spoke to Andrew the auctioneer he said matchbox are doing very well at the moment owing to the falling of the pound, they have another auction in March. I think a lot of the boxes had been kept in sun light & dusty conditions Pete.

petethesweet wrote:...matchbox are doing very well at the moment owing to the falling of the pound,...

Good point!

Idris wrote:

petethesweet wrote:...matchbox are doing very well at the moment owing to the falling of the pound,...

Good point!

We will probably see a few collections being sold off in the UK to take advantage of the current exchange rate. The Yanks have the advantage for a change.

Hi Motorman, I think you are properly right. There are a lot of collections coming up, as you get older things seem less important & the chase is better than the kill. I don't know whether they are an investment as you never know whether the prices may crash. Pete.

As I am nearly 80yrs next birthday I had contemplated about sending my 1-75 collection to Vectis, but have decided to let my family do it when I am gone.

Have already detailed it on DVD and photos, by Stannards variation guide and other guides.

I could not bare to part with them while I can still look at them in the cabinets also while I am still chasing some variations although they seem to be harder and harder to find .

George T.

Hi George, hope you are well I intend to get rid of my collection in three or four years time. I am finding it very difficult to find any thing new or in a mint box. There were very few mint boxes there yesterday . There seems to be a lot of new people starting collecting plus the stuff has got to dry up shortly. Pete

I'm finding that auction prices are generally higher (especially when including buyers premium), than I can sell examples of the same models for at toyfairs. There's the odd auction where prices are inexplicably low, but I've stopped attending them in person. I think there is something in the "thrill of the chase" and especially online with Saleroom. So I say support the toyfairs, at least the reasonable ones, and then you get to meet real collectors (& dealers) in the flesh and get a proper look at whet you might buy! (Btw, Kempton is on this Sunday coming)