Collecting Disney Merchandise: A Wealth of Possibilities! Part 2

Ah, Walt Disney; the man, imagineer, entertainer, pioneer and extraordinary story teller that was way ahead of his time, as evident by his various works. Since the infancy stage of Walt Disney's imagineering and experimentation in both the entertainment and animation industries, the world had, and has since caught on to the craze. Such an influx of items out there to get anyone started down the thrilling road to collecting Disney merchandise. Time, money and dedication are the main underlying variables that need to be addressed, thus enabling you to head in the right direction as to how broad or specific your collecting endeavors should be.

Depending on what you ultimately decide to collect and how involved you become, their are a few key variables that can help you gain the most for your money and possibly see your collection increase in value as well.

It is not always true that the older the item is the more expensive and valuable the item will be. Many things will come into play with regards to the item in question. What is the condition of the piece? Is it a limited edition? Is the piece associated with a major character, such as Mickey Mouse, Cinderella or Maleficent? What is the piece for example is it a watch, storyboard drawing, ceramic figurine, clothing, kitchen ware etc.?

Historically, when it comes to Disney memorabilia, popular characters will usually command more money than secondary or minor characters. Snow White will be more expensive and more enticing to most collectors than say the huntsman or the animals portrayed in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This holds true with all types of Disney merchandise, though it is not always correct. The reason for this is that the minor characters are normally not as easy to locate due to the limited amount of time that these minor characters were used in the particular film.

Because of the wide range of categories and merchandise combined with the length of time that would be necessary to cover everything available for Disney collectors, I will cover artwork and the fine porcelain figurines known as (WDCC) or Walt Disney Classics Collection. Disney related paper products, clocks, toys, kitchen ware, glass, figurines, clothing, pins, key chains and other collectible items are a little more self explanatory than the art and WDCC figures. So I will focus my attention on these areas.

When it comes to animation art, whether it be storyboard drawings, cels, pencil drawings or sketches, frontal poses, full figures and faces with eyes open are the best bet. When it comes to the production of a Disney full length feature movie such as Cinderella, Pinocchio or Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 1000's of drawings and cels go into the making of a movie. Moreover, it takes 24 cels to produce just one second of a animated short or full length movie, so imagine how many cels were created to produce one of the Disney Classics! Due to the enormous amount of celluloid's(cels) used, many of the cels are not a so called a cel. Imperfect facial expression or obstruction, eyes closed, dark portrayal of character due to shadows or darkness, condition that the piece of artwork is in and characters involved all play a part in the wide range of price tags associated with a cel that falls within just a single second of each other. It always adds to the value of a particular piece if you are able to have a certificate of authenticity to protect you work of art and in fact guarantees that the piece is actual with no one trying to rip you off by selling you a fake or something the was guarantee and was not.

A signature that accompanies the artwork, such as an animator, Walt Disney or voice talent will add immensely to the value and popularity of the piece. I can tell you that If you have a picture with Walt Disney's signature, or Adrianna Cassalotti( voice of Snow White), the price of the piece could elevate the value of the piece by hundreds of dollars or more just for an autograph coexisting with that particular piece of art. Animation art is not that cut and dry however, as other factors need to be known to ensure you of what you are getting. Drastic price variances can occur from one style of art, such as sericel, limited edition cel, lithograph or master background cel, basic production cel with no background or a cel matted against a lithographic background to that of another similar scene and picture.

Being prepared and researching the actual piece you wish to purchase before hand is of utmost importance as should the inspection of the artwork before jumping into the purchase of the artwork. Make sure you have some history of the piece such as who owned it, gallery sold at, whether it comes with a certificate of authenticity or other formal document and packaging. This information is critical to the serious collector and raises the value of the artwork if you dot your i's and cross your T's, trust me!

The Walt Disney Classics Collection, which began its long successful journey on January 20th, 1992 is a very beautiful form of 3D art sculptures and is made of fine porcelain and is hand painted. Swarovski crystal, brass, glass and 24 carat gold embellishment are just a few of the accents used in these memorable figurines adding to the beauty of these sculptures. Paying special attention to detail right down to the exact paint specs actually used by the ink and paint department in creating the particular character for the silver screen. These gorgeous figurines were created with the actual drawings produced by the original animators. In fact some of the actual Disney animators worked closely with the sculptors in producing these painstaking creations. Artist such as Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnson and Marc Davis are just a few of the talents that were responsible for making this collection a reality which has taken off since its introduction back in 1992. Since the inaugural inception of the Classics Collection, their have been numerous pieces made available and at the same time, almost as many pieces that have become retired. Limited edition pieces as well as a unique feature that basically limits the number of a certain piece to the year in which it was made. For example, when the Dew Drop Mouse from Disney's "Bambi" first set the stage for the flight of the Classics Collection in 1992, it was stamped on the bottom of the piece with a steamboat wheel, signifying the initial year produced, and honors Mickey's screen debut in 1928's Steamboat Willie. Every year after that, a different symbol is assigned to each piece, once again signifying another significant milestone in Disney history.

It is best to find and purchase the piece that you are looking for in its initial year of its production, due to the commanding prices usually associated with pieces stamped with the first year's back stamp. Maintaining the box, and certificate of authenticity in mint condition and keeping the packaging in tact will ensure the best enjoyment and most money for your Classics Collection, should you chose to sell down the line.

Again, I can't stress the fact that the collection of Disney memorabilia, or any collectible for that matter, should be done for fun, entertainment and enjoyment, and not with the sole commitment of making a buck, as more often than not you will get burned. If your collection goes up in value...GREAT! But, remember this, fellow collectors, you have to find someone willing to buy your item(s) and they have to agree to pay what you are asking, which may not be an easy task.

Now, get out there and start collecting everything that is Disney...