With so many people dealing in toys these days you see many people using the word vintage very loosely. I mean I’ve seen people referred to Transformers from just 10 years ago as vintage. I’m still learning this stuff and I look at them funny when the say something 10 years old (released in the 2000’s) as vintage. So I’m going to talk about some the language I have learned from my husband and other collectors to safely determine or to refer to the age of a toy/collectible.
Prototype or Test Shot: This is where a figure truly comes to life from a concept on paper to a physical figure. These figures are used for testing the fans reaction, and to create marketing hype at comic convention or at toy fairs. Because these figures are meant to create hype for the figure they normally present better, have cleaner sculpts, and have better paint apps than the massively produce figures you would see in the shelves later.
Pre Ordered: This is a collectible that has not been release but it’s guarantees that when it's released you will have one for your own collections. Now depending on the situation, a toy pre orders can be used in two ways: 1) To guarantee sales of a product that is going to be mass produced in the long run or 2) it can be used to release a toy that has limited funding and it needs to reach a specific sales goal in order to be able to mass produce the product at smaller profit to the company/recipient creating the figure. Many art toys use sites like KickStarter in order to raise funds for a limited release of a unique toy.
Released or New Figures: Fresh out of the production line. Depending on the type of figure this means it was just realized in major retail stores as a normal product, store exclusives, online exclusive, convention exclusive, or comic book store exclusive. For most average collectors this is when they picked up the figures for their personal collections.
In stock / On Shelf: This suggests that the figure has been out for purchase for some time. This could be anywhere from a few months to a few years.
Out of print / Out of Rotation / No Longer In Stock: Sadly at this point the figure/collectible has been out for some time and it’s no longer easily found in stores. These are the figures most people purchase in the secondary market like EBay, Flea Markets, Local Collectible Shop or purchase/trade with another collector.
Classic : A figure/collectibles that are old but is not quite vintage. These mainly refer to figures between the ages of 10-25 years. A good example are 1990's X-Men Figures. They had a specific look to them, and articulation that really dates them to that time period. Same thing goes with the first generation Spawn figures.
Vintage: these are figures that are around 30 years of age. So since I'm in my early 30's the toys I grew up with such as TMNT, MOTU, Jem, Original Star Wars line, MEGO dolls, and Secret Wars Marvel Figures are now becoming vintage figures. These figures are mainly found in secondary markets. Antique: These collectibles are around 50 years of age and older. Good example of this are some of the first Barbies that came out. Since the first release of Barbie was back in 1959 the Diva is officially 55 years old qualifying some of the first releases as Antiques.
Artifact : Simple. Something that is so old it probably should be I'm a museum. If it looks like something a little cave girl/boy played with chances are is an artifact. LOL I hope you like this blog.
Remember I’m always learning so don't be shy to leave some constructive feedback on the matter.
