Christmas Gift Ideas for the Toy Collector

Do you have a toy collector on your Christmas shopping list? Do you want to give him a gift with his hobby in mind? Gift shopping for an adult toy collector is much different than toy shopping for a child. Most toy collectors are very hard-core about their hobby and know exactly what items they need for their collection. If the toy collector's hobby focuses on My Little Ponies, you might think to pick up the latest pony from Target, but that might not be something the collector needs or wants. Here are a few ideas that would be a hit with any toy collector.

Christmas Gifts for the Toy Collector - Display Cases or Stands:
Toy collectors love to show off their collections and are always in need of new display cases or stands to keep their valuable collections in mint condition. Find out what type of toy collection the recipient has and determine the type of stand he would need. For example, Beanie Babies typically are displayed in clear plastic or glass cases. Action figures need special stands to prop them up. For some toy collections, a simple shelf will suffice. USADisplay and Wholesale Cases are two places to buy toy display cases online.

Christmas Gifts for the Toy Collector - Ebay Gift Certificate:
Most toy collectors stalk eBay, waiting for the missing piece to show up for auction. These items can be very expensive. A toy collector would be thrilled to receive an eBay gift certificate to help towards the cost of their new prized item. Ebay gift certificates can be directly emailed to the recipient or you can print it out and place in an envelope. Available at ebay.com

Christmas Gifts for the Toy Collector - Toy Collecting Books:
Go to any bookstore and you'll find hundreds of books related to toy collecting. From general toy collecting books to very specific books (GI Joe toys, '80s Barbie dolls, etc), chances are, you'll be able to find a book related to your toy collector's specialty. Amazon.com has a huge selection of toy collecting books too.

Christmas Gifts for the Toy Collector - Magazine Subscriptions:
Several toy collecting periodicals exist - why not spring for a magazine subscription? Antique Toy World magazine is one of the most popular magazines and has been around since 1971. It's a monthly publication and each issue has approximately 128 pages chock full of toy collecting information. Here is their website: http://www.antiquetoyworld.com/

Other popular toy collecting magazines include Contemporary Doll (a bi-monthly publication for $23.95/year) and Lee's Toy Review

Christmas Gifts for the Toy Collector - Tickets to a Toy Convention or Fair:
Toy collectors love talking about their collections, especially to other toy fanatics. What better way to show your appreciation for the toy collector in your life than by getting him tickets to a toy convention? Search Google to see if there are any events in your area. If not, maybe get a bunch of people to go in on the gift and purchase plane tickets, hotel room, and convention admission? Several specific toy collection conventions exist, such as GI Joe Con, Barbie Doll Convention, and My Little Pony.

As you can see, shopping for a toy collector usually doesn't involve buying a specific collectible item for their display. Toy collectors are usually very specific about what they hoard, so it's usually best to get a the hobbyist something to complement their collection.