How to Know When You're Buying Antique Toys

Research similar toys online before you go shopping in order to get familiar with maker's marks and other features of the toys. If your phone is not web-enabled, or you will be in an area with poor reception, it is important to bring along visual references such as photos or computer printouts. If you have a web-enabled smartphone, use it to compare the image of a known antique from the internet side by a side with the toy you are thinking about purchasing.

Search the toy carefully for a maker's mark or date that has been stamped, sewn, or embossed. These can be faked, so they are not a guarantee of authenticity, but if they are real they can help bolster the value of the toy. Before you purchase a toy, make sure you are familiar with any instances of faked maker's marks or tags.

Judge the toy's age. Most antique toys received heavy play before being consigned to glass cases or store shelves. Antique toys in mint condition are a rare find, but most of them time the toy will be rusted, dented, scratched, torn, or missing a part. If the toy looks brand new, chances are it is either not very old, or has recently been restored. An antique toy should be worn, but still intact, with all original parts and materials.

Ask the dealer for certificates of authenticity, appraiser's certificate, or other paperwork that proves the toy is an antique. If you are shopping at a yard sale or flea market, these may be harder to come by.

Remember that if the deal seems to good to be true, it probably is. Don't feel pressured into a sale for a toy of dubious age or authenticity; ask if they can hold the toy for 24 hours while you do some additional research or call in an expert. Remember that walking away from a sale is perfectly acceptable if you feel uncomfortable about the seller for any reason.

Purchase a price guide for the type of toys you collect. These price guides are often grouped by toy type, and cover toys such as dolls, tin toys, and stuffed animals. Respected guides are released under the name Schroeder's and Warman's, but there are a variety of these types of books that cover everything from toys related to ad campaigns, to Lionel brand toy trains to porcelain dolls. Make sure the guide selected was published within the last few years to ensure that prices and other information are up-to-date. These books make great visual references, and will also help in haggling for a better price with the seller.

Inspect the toy for signs of repair or restoration. For dolls or cloth toys, pay close attention to cracked porcelain that may have been glued back together, wigs that look a little too new or clumsy sewing/patches. For tin toys, check to see if there are dents that have been hammered out, abraded areas where rust may have been sanded away, or replaced wheels.