Collector Spotlight

Toy Tales readers have spoken! Based on website activity and engagement on social media, here’s our top 5 most read articles in the Collector Spotlight category.

Trey DuBose collects action figures of the 1970s, ’80s, and beyond. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, Trey shares details of the more-than ten thousand figures in his collection and discloses which item took a year to secure.

William Hedges collects toys and memorabilia from the original Lost in Space television series. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, William explains what attracted him to the science fiction series as a child and how his collection of original series props led him to create models and dioramas based on the show. 

Rick Goldschmidt is a historian with a special interest in Rankin/Bass Productions, the animation studio that created holiday television classics such as Frosty the Snowman. Here, Rick shares how Rankin/Bass informed his childhood and led to a career preserving the legacy of the production studio. 

Clive Henry collects Pokémon cards. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, he shares words of wisdom about the acquisition of Holographic cards and explains how to add value to a Pokémon card collection.

Linda Guillory holds two Guinness World Record titles for her collection of gaming systems. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, she explains the role a house fire played in her approach to collecting and shares her thoughts on the recent record-breaking auction prices for some games.

Susan Suazo holds the Guinness World Record for her Slinky collection. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, Susan shares with us how her quest for a Guinness World Record started and why one of her Slinky toys caught the attention of state and federal enforcement agencies.

Deb Hoffmann holds the Guinness World Record for her collection of Winnie the Pooh memorabilia. Here, she explains how missing out on a purchase kick-started her passion for collecting and shares the item that induced a 24-hour road trip to collect.

Gerda Scheuers holds the Guinness World Record for her collection of Smurf merchandise. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, she shares how her mischievous brother instigated her collecting, and which Smurf figure she’d most like to add to her collection.

Union Jack Ranger collects Power Rangers merchandise. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, the UK-based collector shares details of his possibly one-of-a-kind collection of autographed Funko POP! figures and how his work in money management plays into how he approaches collecting.

Jenny Serfecz collects My Little Pony figures and accessories. Here, she shares the role her grandmother played in establishing her collection and how the “need it now” mindset can work against collectors.

Soupie collects keshigomu, mono-coloured plastic figurines also known as keshi. Here, he details the role collecting has played in his life, and the importance of establishing a trusted network of fellow collectors.

Jenny Crowther collects Crayola crayons and other art supplies. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, she explains the experience that got her started as a collector at the age of eight and shares a word of warning about a harmful crayon ingredient.

Kerchie collects vintage Polly Pocket compacts from the 1990s. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, she explains how growing up in the Philippines shaped her interest in Polly Pocket and why she’s unafraid to repaint and restore items in her collection. 

Mary Wernke collects dolls from Mattel’s Barbie brand, including Barbie’s long line of family and friends. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, Wernke shares her early start as a collector and why she focuses on Skipper, Barbie’s younger sister.

Mark Bergin evolved from punk musician to toy collector then dealer of rare tin toy collectables. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, Bergin explains how he became a trusted dealer and shares his tips for collecting.

Paul Scardino holds the Guinness World Record for his collection of Funko Pop! figures. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, Scardino shares details about some of his most highly prized figures and explains why it’s important to have family buy-in when it comes to establishing a large collection.

Larry Franks is renowned for his Dukes of Hazzard collection of memorabilia. Here, he shares his early fascination with the television show and explains how his relationships with the cast of the show have cemented his reputation as an authority on all things Dukes.