Antique collectables resonate with collectors today for their ability to evoke the power of memory and nostalgia. They offer a glimpse at the historical evolution of toys in our society and serve as cultural relics, from holding on to your first Barbie doll to discovering an action figure from your childhood. By the 20th century, technology made it possible to manufacture collectable toys, same as vintage cars and trucks.

Before the rise of action figures, vintage toys enthralled children worldwide. Toys like model trains and porcelain dolls are now valuable collectables. Here is a list:

Wind-up toys
Wind-up toys gained immense popularity in Germany and other parts of Europe by the early 18th century. By the 19th century, European toymakers began mass-producing tin versions. It led to a large influx of tin wind-up toys sold at an auction for $264,500.

Model trains
Created in Germany in the 1830s, the inventor made model trains by pouring molten brass or tin into a mould. Shortly after, Mathias Baldwin of the Baltimore Locomotive Works became the first American to create a version of it. After the American Civil War, model trains became popular, and eventually, advanced features like the section track, figure-eight layout, and electric capabilities caught on.

Stretch Armstrong
Stretch Armstrong was one of the most entertaining and intriguing collectable figures emerging from the 1970s. It held the capacity to stretch to four times its size and snap back without a mark. It was one of a kind, and the unique approach made it desirable to many.

Monopoly
It is one of the world’s favourite board family games. While the original Monopoly game is still going strong, more versions are available, including ones based on Star Wars, Empire, Disney princesses, and even Minions. You can find electronic and on-the-go versions with an app for every device.

Guess Who?
Guess Who? is a two-player game that started over 40 years ago. This version has 11 female and 14 colour characters. Kids love flipping and asking inventive questions to guess each other’s mystery characters.

Scrabble
Scrabble is one of the go-to classic board games for wordsmiths and puzzle lovers. From 1984 to 1990, people enjoyed watching a Scrabble-based game show on television. You can now find these and similar board games online to enjoy with your kids.

Sorry!
For years, the appearance and rules of Sorry! were the same. But in 2013, some rules were updated. Before, players started with four pawns, but now they get only three pawns. Two new cards, Fire and Ice, were added to unique versions of this game, including Disney and Spongebob Squarepants.