Old Board Games Can be Worth Monopoly Money, Says Marketplace Expert
(PRWEB UK) 16 July 2015 -- For those people old enough to remember rainy summer holiday afternoons before Super Mario or Minecraft existed, new research by marketplace expert couriers ParcelHero reveals some of their old board games could be worth Monopoly money.
ParcelHero’s Head of Publications, David Jinks, says: "Right now it doesn’t take a Mastermind to spot old board games are a winner. Sales of new board games have increased by 40% as today’s children fall for the charms of games that don’t rely on staring at screens. To avoid Frustration, though, if people are giving them their old favorites to play with, check what they are worth before handing them over."
David reveals: "Monopoly is perhaps the classic board game. The first version was produced by Charles Darrow in 1933-4; a very early original has recently sold for $140,000 and the White Box edition sells for nearly $8,000. Darrow sold the Monopoly patent to Parker Brothers in 1935, and they first sold it widely, introducing the much-loved metal tokens. The key to the value of these early sets – called black box sets by collectors - is down to details as small as the patent wording on the box. For more information see eBay’s guide to collecting vintage Monopoly editions."
Says David: "The game spread overseas after the director of Waddington’s in the UK liked the idea so much he made one of the first ever transatlantic phone calls to ask for the licence. The first version with London street names (instead of Atlantic City’s) was introduced in the UK in 1936. Pre-war editions can easily raise prices up to $1,500 or more, depending on condition. Even a 1961 set is currently on eBay for $780."
Continues David: "The collectability and value of other board games is, well, a bit of a game of Snakes and Ladders, with values going up and down. Talking of which, an early Mickey Mouse Snakes and Ladders game sold for $480 recently."
David concludes: "For many, the 1970s and 1980s were the golden age. Mint Mousetrap games sell from $40-£60, Mastermind at around $35, with Kerplunk fetching nearly $50. Remember these were mass produced, but not so many have survived intact. My own favorite, an elaborate game called Haunted House, is also worth a spooky amount: an early 1962 example sold recently for $800."
When buying and selling old board games remember to pack them well and use a quality courier. For example, ParcelHero is approved by Trading Standards and gives £50 ($78) free cover on all items sent. If an item is worth more you should consider insuring the item before sending it. For more information on mailing collectables see:http://www.parcelhero.com/en-gb/courier-services/ebay
David Jinks, Fastlane International, http://www.wedelivertheworld.com, +44 208 758 4962, [email protected]
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