Toys of the Sears Christmas catalog of yesteryear.
“Nothing says Christmas to me like my memories of the Sears-Christmas-Wish-Book” -Title of an article in the Christian Science Monitor.
I think back to my childhood growing up in the 1960 – 1970s. We did not have the internet, we had newspapers, TV, Radio, and printed Catalogs. Every child knew about the Sears-Christmas-Wish Book. A massive printed catalog with a very large toy section. Many hours were spent going over each page, circling all the toys that I dreamt of having. Regardless of whatever I received at Christmas, and like every child, clothes were not considered as a gift. But the daydreaming of all the toys, the thought process of a young child with thinking that he or she will receive everything that was asked for. It was a magical time.
Sadly, catalogs like the Sears Christmas Wish Book do not exist today. We now have Amazon and all the other online sites with their offerings. The process is still the same, kids will scroll through pages online. The desires and dreams are the same regardless of age or era. The only things that have changed are the products. On a personal note, I think the toys of the 1960s – 1970s were more engaging, interesting and more fun.
What if some toys were never opened, and stored away for the past 40 or so years? There would be many questions about the value today. I can’t imagine a child receiving a gift, and never opening the box or breaking the protective seals and storing it for years and years. Or the forethought of someone buying toys only to put them in storage with the goal of its value increasing over the years. The chances of the toy being discovered, transferred, or given to someone are highly probable as the years go by. Then it’s played with by the happy child. The child does not care about the lost value of a new never opened toy vs a used toy.
What toys are valuable in an unopened, never-used state?
- Any Barbie Doll in an opened box never used condition from 1959 to 1968.
- Toys based on Movies, 1950 to 1970s
- Science Fiction toys, usually about space exploration 1950s to 1975
- Unopened chemistry sets from the 1950s to 1970. (Many earlier sets had real radium or other radio-active elements.)
- Meccano building sets and models & kits. 1950s to 1975. Condition is very critical in valuations.
- Johnny Seven O.M.A. (One-Man Army), was introduced in 1964. If you can find one in a never-used, never-opened box.
- Easy-Bake Oven from the 1960s.
- Chatty Cathy (The first talking doll) 1960 to 1967
- Atari 2600 Game Console with new in-the-box games. “Air Raid”
- Lite Brite, (light board with transparent pins)
This is a tiny list of toys, out of thousands, and depending on the preference and interests of the person will vary. No matter the age, we all have desires and wishes for something. Take a path down memory lane and view some online scanned Christmas Wish Book catalogs.
Sears Christmas Book Catalogs
https://christmas.musetechnical.com
History of Sears
Next Article: What will be valuable in 2025, How to prepare.
About the Author
John H. Grow, ISA-AM, is a partner at Prestige Evaluation Inc., specializing in appraisals of antiquities, watches, jewelry, fine art, and collectibles. The firm does not buy or sell, ensuring conflict-free evaluations. John works with clients globally, including museums, corporations, financial institutions, and government agencies. A long-time member of the International Society of Appraisers (ISA) and its Canadian chapter, he frequently appears on radio, TV, and charity appraisal fairs.
John has volunteered for 35 years with Shriner’s Hospital for Children (Canada) and offers pro-bono services to hospital foundations. He is also a founding board member of Orchestre Nouvelle Generations.
Find Prestige Evaluation Inc. at prestigeevaluations.com or email
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