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Your chance of finding a rare gem is quite high considering Disneyana is very often found at general and specialist collectors’ auctions as well as flea markets and car boot sales. Much is mass market ‘junk’, but still worth a bob or two on eBay; a small proportion will attract multiple bids and the odd rarity will always reveal itself to the experienced buyer.

So as for any collectible, you must learn to spot good from bad, genuine from fake, the unauthorised from the authorised, the rare from the market saturated item.

Thankfully, it isn’t all that difficult, if you plan in advance of your buying trips.

Importantly:

* It’s worthwhile specialising in really popular collectibles like Disneyana, as opposed to risking your hard earned cash on collectibles of all shapes and sizes that turn up unannounced at boot sales, flea markets, local auctions.

* Any popular niche, like Disneyana, is home to scoundrels and innocently mistaken sellers. Fakes abound, some items you think are rare will transpire to be mass market items which are still being produced decades after their original appearance. You must be careful, you must never assume, you must check everything you might ever consider buying to sell again later. Specialising in your chosen niche means acquiring knowledge daily and risking just a little to gain a lot later. Use those sites mentioned later to grow your knowledge.

* Research past eBay listings for whatever you chance upon at boot sales, flea markets, auctions. It’s very easy to research auction items, especially if you obtain the catalogue days ahead of the sale, and research those items on eBay at home, before going to view and certainly before bidding. Most bigger auction companies have online catalogues and sometimes illustrations that help you create a better informed buying decision about specific items and their potential resale prices. Check eBay resale potential like this: go top right of any eBay screen, click on ‘Advanced Search’, next page key words to describe the item into the long white search box, point and highlight the spot below called ‘Completed Auctions Only’, click to continue. Next page, right of screen, at ‘Sort By’, click on the menu button and choose ‘Price: Highest First’. Next page will show recent eBay finishing prices for items similar to whatever you are currently researching. This is where I discovered those Mickey Mouse phones, similar to the three that fetched £200 plus, were actually worth less than a tenner each on eBay.

* Researching eBay completed auctions works well when you’re at home, researching an online catalogue, but much harder to operate when the product of your dreams turns up at flea market, or car boot sale, or at an auction that was advertised only yesterday and starts in the next thirty minutes. Now how do you find out how much the item is worth without risking someone buying while you are still thinking about it? Well, if you have a portable computer or hand held device, you hover over the goodies making sure not to attract interest while you research their potential on eBay. You must be careful, openly researching an item’s potential on eBay is a distinct giveaway to the seller who is perfectly entitled to withdraw items from sale at any time before payment is accepted and a contract of sale formed. Far better to have a friend handle the research, in which case all you do is stand close to the booty, phone your friend, and very quietly describe what you have seen. Get them to call you back, keep a close eye on your treasure - real or potential - and if anyone else chances upon it and looks intent on buying, pick it up, study it, don’t let it out of your hands until that phone call appears. Alternatively, if you’re willing to take a risk, leave a deposit on the item, five pounds will usually do, get the seller to hide it behind the stall while you go to ‘get cash’, then research it somewhere quiet. This helps guard against the product selling while you are still researching it and arguably a deposit goes a good way to forming a solid agreement. ‘Arguably’, I said, so don’t be away too long in case the seller reneges on the agreement. If the product transpires to be not as valuable as you hoped, either walk away without telling the seller (not very nice) or go back and confess you are no longer interested in the item. Either way, the seller is entitled to keep your deposit!

* Fakes abound for most Disney items and others not authorised by Disney and hence not officially ‘Disneyana’. Beginners and experts alike find fakes hard to spot from genuine items, unauthorised sometimes difficult to tell from official. One of the best ways to determine good from bad is by checking genuine and authorised items against those highlighted on specialist web sites, which by implication provides clues to potential fakes and non official items. Though all things Disneyana exist as genuine and fake, it’s pins (badges) that fool most people and which are among the most collectable of all Disney items. The most useful sites for spotting fake from genuine pins are:

- www.pinpics.com

- www. dizpins.com

Both sites have thousands of pins listed and many illustrated BUT bear in mind no one knows the true extent of pins created by Disney or produced by other companies on license. So don’t assume your pin is a fake just because it isn’t listed on the site.

Check authenticity of items other than pins by keying ‘fake + Disney + your product type’ into Google (www.google.com) and you are bound to find many sites and forums to help you determine good from bad.

* Another maker’s name on your product does not mean it is unofficial or fake. In fact Disney has licensed many companies to create their products, including: Monogram Products Inc., Sedesma, ProPin, Brier Manufacturing, Cohn & Rosenberger, Schroco, Marx.

The first thing you will need to do is check out the condition of your item, be it a train, collectible Barbie doll, Disney collectible, or some other collectible item. Is it scratched, torn, clean, dirty, new, in a box, without a box? You get the idea…

Use a good light source and check the item out very carefully, noting the name, identification marks, and any copyright marks. Also, check for any imperfections, tears, scratches, color imperfections, mars, stains, etc.

Many dolls are collected with the box intact. An intact box can raise the value of an item a great deal. Some are worthless if the box is damaged badly or missing.

NOTE: Some dolls are meant to be played with and taken out of the box to dress. Examples are the Tonner Doll Company dolls: Tyler Wentworth, Sydney Chase, Gene, etc.

Remove the doll from the box for inspection. Look for forums, discussion boards, or news groups where similar collectors gather online. You can also check on eBay (or other online auctions) to see what similar items are selling for and what their condition was at the time of sale. Compare the prices with, and without a box to see the difference.

To find your item on eBay:

1. Find the category on eBay where your item would most likely be listed. (Dolls, bears, trains, Disney collectible would be likely categories.

2. If using Dolls, use the [check only in Dolls box] in the search.

3. Use your keyword to search, such as “Barbie doll”. This will bring up the current auctions window.

4. Now, check the completed auctions box, to check out the prices and descriptions on the sold items.

5. When you click on the individual auctions, you can see the price the item sold for, the condition of the item and whether it had a box. Look for terms such as NRFB (Never Removed From Box) or MIB (Mint In Box).

Note that the price on eBay is not the best price for your item. Usually, the price could be more if sold locally because the online auction buyer cannot actually handle the item and examine it in person.

Other places to find information about your item (doll) would be websites selling your item (doll), antique or boutique shops, toy or hobby shops, and resell shops. Also, check out the resource books at the public library.

Popular collectibles might have a price book that is printed for collectors. You can also use a collection of hobby magazines to price items or to locate the year the item was made.

If you have done all of the above and still cannot find the information that you need about your item, check out some local hobby clubs in your area. Most hobby enthusiasts will be willing to help you find the information you need and are eager to talk about their hobby. You might even find an expert on your items, or a buyer!!

Toy manufacturers have now admitted that the single most important and largest chunk of buyers are kids and they are willing to create everything they fancy. Popular Disney characters have now become household characters — thanks to stuffed animal manufacturers. Now you can have your kid’s heroes right in your hands in the form of a life size stuffed Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and cutie Minnie Mouse. Cartoon character stuffed animals are an extension of the ever-gaining popularity of cartoon shows on television.

More over Disney happens to be an old player when it comes to serving entertainment to children for years together. In spite of rapid increase in number of cartoon shows we have today, Disney has already secured its place as the evergreen most popular cartoon show. Hence no doubts that the staffed animals and toys that are manufactured based on Disney cartoon characters are also relatively more in demand. These stuffed animals are found in almost all sizes including miniature toys that come along with attachable toys with items like key chains, caps etc. There are medium sized toys that more poplar and are mostly bought as gifts for children. Also are the large life size stuffed animals that are again an interesting gifting option but they qualify more as collectibles than play toys.

Another reason for the popularity of the Disney toys and stuffed animals, is that it has wide range of characters and each child will find at least one favorite character among them. Disney characters have found place in hearts of children all over the globe and so have the Disney toys and the stuffed animals created based on these characters. One of the best ways to explore more about the available variety of stuffed animals is to explore the Internet and the websites of the manufacturers of the Disney toys. You can order from any part of the world and at your own convenience.

Disney stuffed animals have become popular kids with the advent of movies based on Walt Disney characters. Almost every other year there is at least one Disney movie released and hence ever growing fans of Disney characters. Some of the Disney stuffed animals that have been popular with kids since ages and are still adored by them include - Lion king, characters from the jungle book- Baloo, Bagheera, Simbha, Winnie the Pooh, characters from movies like Finding Nemo, Bug’s life, Tarzan, Lion King etc

Another good part is despite its popularity Disney stuffed animals are available at wide range of prices. You can buy a miniature snuggly Disney stuffed animal for anywhere between five to twelve dollars. Of course if you would like to but those huge stuffed versions then you will have to pay little extra but then most of the huge stuffed toys are bought as collectibles that one can keep it in the collection for showcase. In general it’s a good idea to have numerous cuddly stuffed animals as play toys for your children and probably one or two larger stuffed animals as collectibles.

Disney entertainment has been part of the American lifestyle since 1923. During this time it has captured the hearts of millions of fans across the world. This love affair with Disney has spawned a large group of Disney memorabilia collectors. As the hobby has blossomed into a number of different channels, the term Disneyana has evolved to describe all types of Disney collectibles. This massive world of memorabilia has led to collectors specializing in targeted niches of Disneyana in order to succeed at building their collections. After all, with so many items to choose from, it is hard enough to make a dent in even one of the categories. Even with specialization, the Disney collectible market still seems to center around a few popular categories. The largest three are vintage Disneyana, Disney pins, and Disney figurines.

Vintage Disneyana is comprised of collectible pieces that were produced and distributed prior to the 1966 death of Walt Disney. Vintage Disneyana collectors are often known as “hardcore” purists who shun Disney works created after 1966. While this may or may not be accurate, these collectors are typically very knowledgeable in their trade. This knowledge is important since collectibles in this time period are much rarer and can command significant prices. Because the market for these pieces is so competitive, it is harder to find deals and uncovered treasures. Nonetheless, the vintage Disney collector is always active in his pursuit of the next great piece. This is a task that has become more accessible with the development of internet auction sites.

Collecting Disney pins is one of the fastest growing hobbies anywhere. While pins have been available at Disney theme parks for years, the hobby ultimately took off in 1999 when pin trading stations were introduced at the theme parks. The interactive element of pin trading has propelled Disney pins to one of the most recognized collectibles in the world. Websites and clubs have sprung up all over the internet, and special pin trading events can be found in nearly every major city. Special edition pins and limited edition collections have turned into hot sellers in the aftermarket. The escalation of aftermarket prices, combined with the accessibility of entry-level pins, insures that Disney pin trading will be around for a long time.

Disney figurine collecting is another category of Disney memorabilia that has reached extraordinary levels of membership. Usually made of porcelain, Disney figurines have an average height of only six inches, but their appeal can be measured in the millions. Each figurine is released in a special lot with limited production for each piece. Knowledgeable collectors examine the issue date, production markings, and market availability when determining the value of a piece. Similar to Disney pins, limited edition models and anniversary collections hold the most value on the aftermarket. Though some collectors profit handsomely from reselling pieces, there is a large contingent of the Disney figurine community that collect for their own enjoyment.

In short, collecting Disneyana is a hobby that offers something for all age groups and budgets. While there is always a segment of each niche that is expensive, most Disney product lines do offer affordability with their new releases. This is important as it allows new collectors to join the hobby and solidify its’ growth in the future. As with any hobby, it is the fun of building your collection that fuels the passion. The Disney name and sheer popularity of their characters only add to the allure of Disneyana, and it is safe to say that the market for Disney memorabilia will continue to grow.

On eBay, Disneyana covers hundreds of different product types, both old and used or brand new and in mint condition, modern and vintage, categorised as Disneyana or as specific product types such as Clothing > T Shirts, sometimes both.

Choices have to be made by people listing Disneyana on eBay and those choices must be made carefully or you will waste money listing items that just won’t sell.

From my own research of Disneyana and eBay I recommend you stick with rare items, not mass market products like CDs and videos, modern clothing, recently published books and posters. Rare is always better, rare and vintage much better still.

Focus on items made between 1928 and 1967. These items, classed as ‘Vintage’ are much rarer than their later counterparts when the Disney Corporation really got to grips with mass market production. Vintage items were made to be used or played with, and few survived the decades intact. Any that do still exist, in relatively good condition, are worth a premium over similar items created by companies less collectable than Disney. Low price early Disneyana is almost always worth risk buying at auctions and flea markets for reselling on eBay. Be careful how you treat your buys: surface dirt can be removed with gentle washing up liquid and water but never use abrasives like Brillo or Vim or you could remove what detail and colour still exists and reduce your profits significantly. Of course you should not use liquid of any sort on paper or other delicate materials.

* Don’t mask flaws with paint or take photographs from an angle that hides faults and broken or missing parts. The first is unnecessary, most collectors expect a little wear and tear, the second is unethical and contrary to consumer trading laws and likely to attract negative feedback and refund requests.

* If you find a Walt Disney autograph which you believe is genuine, it’s worth having it checked by an expert. At between £50 and a few hundred pounds, cost of having it authenticated is insignificant compared to the difference in finishing prices of a genuine signature (generally £2,000 plus) and £100 or so for a non-proven signature.

* Start selling one specific high demand collectible, such as pins or artist originals, and grow niche market expertise rather than tackle all things Disney related and risk losing money on items that collectors don’t want or which turn out to be fake.

I spotted plentiful sales on eBay today in the £200 to £300 price mark but very few items yielded higher results. As a newcomer it isn’t wise to spend more than £100 or so on items to resell unless your research shows whatever item is a regular best seller with potential to at least double your outlay. These tips will help you get value for money and high profits on every Disney item you list on eBay.

* I recommend you choose to list on the American site over the UK site, certainly for rare and potentially valuable items. This way you will attract the biggest audience of Disney collectors, in the USA, not all of whom actually study listings outside their own country. See the next tip.

* But don’t assume that listing on eBay.com means you will attract American only visitors, many people actually do search worldwide for collectibles. So bear in mind what was said about speaking to bidders in their own language (more likely ‘languages’) and don’t forget to include regional spelling variations for important words like Check / Cheque and Jewelry / Jewellery. Make sure that oblique sign ( / ) is in place.

* Remember sometimes two categories are better than one, especially for items appealing to several collecting interests, such as a Mickey Mouse telephone (people collecting Disneyana, others choosing phones), a limited edition book about Mickey Mouse signed by Walt Disney (appeals to Disney collectors and rare book enthusiasts, also autograph collectors).

* Always offer a money back guarantee, both to generate trust in your listings, and also to protect yourself against innocently misdescribing an item or even selling a fake which you thought was genuine. We all make mistakes which most people forgive where a fast money back refund is offered.

* Try these sites for lots of valuable information about Disneyana:

- http://collectibles.about.com/od/disneyana/Disneyana.htm (lots of information and articles about Disney collectibles)

- www.wdccduckman.com (mainly artist originals)

eBay sees some Disney items attracting no bids and going unsold, while others have hundreds of bidders and often fetch thousands of pounds and frequently exceed sellers’ best expectations.

A short glance at the highest finishing prices over the last sixty days or thereabouts reveals a median price of around two to three hundred pounds (or American or other country equivalent) for many early and unusual or unique Disney collectibles, primarily tin toys, original artwork for Disney films and printed publications, clocks and watches and even lighters.

Recent high and middle ground prices on eBay (prices shown in UK currency equivalent regardless of selling location):

- WALTER E. DISNEY oversized signed Mickey Mouse - £3379.26

- WALTER E. DISNEY rare signed 1941 BAMBI book - £1169.74

- Disney Store Display Original Mean Donald Duck Figurine - £879.13

- Rare Disney Mickey Mouse Emerson Tube Radio #411 1933 - £779.31

- WALTER E. DISNEY inscribed signed 8 x 10 photo - £727.84

- MARX DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE DRIVER TIN WIND UP CAR & BOX - £701.33

- WALTER E. DISNEY, twice signed check, 1952 - £675.85

WHAT THOSE LISTINGS TELL US

* There are no prizes for spotting the highest prices went to items signed by Walt Disney. Walt Disney signatures are hugely collectable and growing more valuable the longer it is since Disney died in 1966. Once in private hands, that’s where most really rare Disney signed collectibles generally stay, until perhaps the current owner dies or gives up collecting. So the more signatures finding their way into private hands, the lower supply becomes and the higher prices will go. Authentic Walt Disney signatures are much rarer than most people realise, because often staff at the Disney corporation were allowed to sign for Walt Disney and taught to copy his signature to a point that even confuses the world’s top autograph experts. Look at what one of the world’s top experts on Disneyana and Walt Disney signed collectibles, Phil Sears (http://www.phil-sears.com/disney.htm) has to say:

“I am not an autograph dealer who claims to know everything about every famous person who ever lived. In fact, I am constantly seeing bad Disney signatures being offered in reputable dealer catalogs and in major auctions. Every dealer offers a guarantee of authenticity - but what good is that if you hang a bad signature on your wall with a fancy authenticity certificate.” Visit his site for more advice and information about the Disney signature and for specialist consultation to help prove your items’ authenticity (calculate costs before sending details and do not send the originals until asked. Always insure items sent through the post to be valued).

* Bear in mind spelling varies for essential words between the UK and USA sites. That common monetary instrument, for example, is spelled ‘check’ in the USA, known as ‘cheque’ in the UK. So it follows that Americans collecting these precious bits of paper could miss your listing for ‘WALT DISNEY SIGNED CHEQUE’, as might UK enthusiasts miss a USA listing for ‘WALT DISNEY SIGNED CHECK’. So describe the item as: ‘WALT DISNEY SIGNED CHECK / CHEQUE’, and it will respond to anyone searching eBay titles for ‘check’ and ‘cheque’. Notice there is a gap between those important words and the oblique symbol ( / ), this being so search engines will locate ‘check’ and ‘cheque’ in their system but not that new word - check/cheque - that you might otherwise create.

* Notice how effectively UPPER CASE letters are used to highlight specific words in some of those titles, notably to make important words stand out from their counterparts using just lower case or ALL CAPITALS WHICH ARE VERY BORING AND CONFUSING AND ARE PRETTY DIFFICULT TO READ AND REALLY SHOULD BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS. Used sparingly the odd few words CAPITALISED in the title can be very effective.

* You must always list the collectable by type in your title, but twice is a waste of precious space. Notice how in one listing the word ‘Lighter’ is mentioned twice, wasting seven precious characters (eight with an extra gap between words), while another omits the word, making their listing oblivious to people searching eBay for ‘lighter’. Here they are:

- Mickey Mouse Barcroft Zippo Lighter RARE Disney Lighter - £389.91

- 1977 Disney Gold Mickey Mouse zippo Ultra Rare !! - £250.94 (Fetched £139 less than its counterpart, almost certainly partly due to that important word missing)

Introduced in 1992 at the South Bend Collectible Show, the debut of the Walt Disney Classics Collection (WDCC) was the product of three years of work by Disney animation artists and sculptors to create a line of Disney figurines that would closely resemble their animated counterparts. The incredible detail work on the porcelain figures made them a huge hit with Disney fans and collectors. The first three figures released in the series were scenes from Bambi, Cinderella and the Sorcerer’s Apprentice from Fantasia.

To date, there are over 100 different Walt Disney Classics Collection figurines produced and retirements are common, creating a popular secondary market for collectors who desire retired WDCC figures. With each retirement, the molds are actually broken, ensuring that additional figures cannot be created from the same molds. Some figurines are also issued as numbered limited editions and it should be noted that Disney has elected to avoid always starting off their number system with “#1″. All WDCC figures carry a backstamp indicating the year of production and they are also issued with a Certificate of Authenticity.

One year after the collection debut, Disney introduced a collector’s club as an adjunct to the Classics Collection. Called the Walt Disney Collectors Society, members pay $50 a year to join and this entitles them to a free membership figurine from the WDCC each year and access to members-only sculptures, as well as a newsletter and magazine and an annual WDCC catalog. In 1993, the year the club was introduced, the special charter membership sculpture was Jiminy Cricket from Pinocchio. The collector’s society was the first membership club sponsored directly by Disney.

Currently, both the Walt Disney Classics Collection and the Walt Disney Collectors Society are managed by Disney licensee, Enesco, with some of the original Disney staff involved to maintain production quality and Disney’s high standards. The transfer of responsibility took place in 2004.

You can always tell when a collecting theme or specific collectible achieves super status on eBay, and it isn’t just because such items attract heavy bidding or regularly break auction price records.

One giveaway is new terminology applied to the hobby of collecting the item. ‘Philately’, for example, for what was once merely called ’stamp collecting’, and ‘deltiology’ which means collecting postcards. More recently ‘eBayana’ encompasses all things specifically related to eBay or carrying the eBay logo, and ‘railwayana’ covers train and railway collectibles.

The other most important tell-tale sign is when eBay dedicates its very own exclusive category to a popular collectible, such as Disney Collectibles, called ‘Disneyana’, to describe items relating to Walt Disney, his characters and worldwide operations, and also one of the fastest growing and most profitable areas on eBay to focus your business.

Disney collectibles have been hugely popular for many decades, depicting hundreds of characters and storylines and featuring thousands of different product types, such as novelty snow globes and car mascots, to more practical items like dinner services and kitchen accoutrements.

There are many unique items too, such as badges worn by famous cast members and staff on individual Disney films, props and scripts, and so on, which the Disney company often sells direct from its own Internet sites. Those items are often bought for resale on eBay where really high profits are enjoyed by few people currently aware of Disney’s direct selling ventures from where many top eBay sellers obtain their high profit stock.

Disney sells countless products, with new items appearing literally daily, which are sold at their many Disney holiday and leisure resorts, so even items picked up during a family holiday have resale value on eBay and can contribute significantly to vacation expenses.

There is a lot to know about Disney collectibles, most of it quite irrelevant to making big profits on eBay, but worth learning as your business develops to help you answer bidder questions and to more accurately determine profit potential on items you consider buying to sell on eBay.

To illustrate, last week a tatty wireless with a tiny emblem depicting Mickey Mouse was valued by staff at an auction I often visit as worth between £40 and £60. It went for over £1000. Three Mickey Mouse telephones, offered as one lot, pre-valued at £100 to £150, made more than £200.

Auction staff at that event, among the most experienced in the UK, were wildly mistaken on both items, and many more Disney artefacts sold that day. The wireless transpired to be one of less than a dozen similar items known to exist, and will almost certainly fetch many thousands of pounds more on resale. That’s where a little or a lot of background knowledge of your specialist subject can pay handsome dividends for the lifetime of your business.

As for the telephones, I researched them on eBay the day before the auction and found dozens listed of which most went unsold or fetched around eight quid apiece! There’s another time where prior knowledge not only prevented me from bidding now and losing money later, but also revealed a great chance for me to purchase individual Disney phones on eBay to group and resell locally.

Disney collectibles have their own ageing system, also used on eBay, to determine at what stage an item ceases to be ‘modern’ (in Disney terminology ‘contemporary’ and created since 1968) and becomes ‘old’ (’Vintage’ according to Disney jargon and covering items made between 1928 and 1967, described by Disney and eBay, somewhat confusingly, as ‘pre-1968′).

On UK and USA sites, Disneyana usually* goes under main category ‘Collectibles’ (’Collectables’, wrong spelling, in the UK), with sub-categories:

- Contemporary (1968-Now)

- Vintage (Pre-1968)

* ‘Usually’ because some items have double collecting appeal, such as Disney Pez disenspers and Walt Disney’s autograph, which also, in the UK, belong respectively, under ‘Collectibles > Household > Pez Dispensers’ and ‘Collectibles > Autographs’.

Further sub-categories vary little between eBay country sites for ‘Contemporary’ but are immensely different for ‘Vintage’ categories which exist aplenty in the USA but number zero in the UK. In the UK all Vintage Disney items, currently just 131 listings, are lumped together under ‘Collectables > Disneyana > Vintage (Pre-1968).