Welcome to Hammer Drops! This week, being as it is Thanksgiving week and the official kick-off to the holiday shopping season, we’re doing something a little different. Rather than look for lessons on selling your collection, we’re looking at recent auctions, showroom finds, and eBay items (some of which are still available, at the time I’m writing) and how they can help you give unique vintage gifts – available RIGHT NOW – in a holiday season beset by shortages and delays of new items. This week’s lesson: Think outside the box!
Tiffany & Co. .925 Sterling Silver Yo-Yo, inscribed “Bull” and “Bear”.
Tiffany & Co. .925 Sterling Silver Yo-Yo
Picture this: it’s Christmas Day and you’re exchanging gifts. One of your family members picks up a gift from you. It’s heavy – what could it be? They open the paper and the box is from Tiffany & Co. They open the box and discover a beautiful, sterling silver…yo-yo. A Tiffany Yo-Yo is a gag gift for a jewelry collector. It’s a generous gift for a yo-yo collector. And It’s an unusual gift for a precious metals enthusiast. If it sounds like a great idea for someone in your life, you are out of luck – we sold that item last weekend.
However, fret not! We’ve got a few very nifty pieces of pop cultural jewelry up in our eBay store for your favorite jewelry collector. We’ve got more yo-yos on their way to the auction block in December from the same collection as the Tiffany one. That includes box lots that will cover every kid in your family! And for the metals folks, we do have a selection of silver coins in the Gallery. Not quite the three-in-one slam dunk the yo-yo was, but we’ve still got you covered.
Fleischer Superman Custom Figure
SUPERMAN (Fleischer Studios) Custom Figure
Let’s say that, in keeping with seasonal traditions, you’re exchanging gifts wit your favorite neopagan for the Winter Solstice. They’re a Superman fan. You know they just got into Superman & Lois on HBO Max. Heck, Superman gets his powers from the sun, which makes him on-theme for the solstice. What do you get your friend?
We recommend this custom action figure modeled on Superman as he appeared in the classic Fleischer cartoons of the 40s. First of all, those things have long been in the public domain. Pretty much everyone has seen at least one of them at some point. Second, this specific design was homaged on Superman & Lois as Clark Kent’s first costume (made by his mother). And finally, it is one of a kind. This figure was hand painted, its cape hand-made as well, not even in our custom figure collection is there one just like it. If it sounds like the perfect gift for a Superman lover in your life, you are in luck: it is still available, in-showroom and on eBay.
Bandai Power Rangers 8″ Figures Set of (5)
Bandai Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers 8″ Figures
Let’s say you’re celebrating Hanukkah and you want to give that nostalgia-ridden Millennial in your life something really special for the holiday. You know they loved Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers when they were a kid. They wish they still had their original toys, long since sold at garage sales. You pick up a complete set of the original Rangers (less the Green Ranger, he came later) in the form of the iconic 8″ Bandai figures. They open one figure a night for five nights, culminating in their favorite. You have successfully brought some of that childhood joy back into their 30-something heart.
Perhaps someone’s already making that plan a reality – Hanukkah started last weekend and we sold this set of figures the Wednesday before. We freely admit that such a specific lot is unlikely to pop up again before the end of the holiday season, but action figures? We’ve got those in spades. Keep on top of our auctions and our store, lest that perfect item pass you by.
Vintage First Aid Kit
You know what gift-giving occasion gets overlooked in December? Graduations. The fall semester ends, and some folks find themselves graduating either a semester earlier or later than most folks. Say that you’ve got a family member who has just finished their Nursing degree or EMT certification. What’s a fun vintage gift you get them to congratulate them on their accomplishment?
Vintage Johnson & Johnson First Aid Kid
How about this 60s-era Johnson & Johnson first aid kit we have in our Gallery This museum-worthy piece includes various first aid essentials in the simple (and non-plastic!) packaging of their era. Their retro look makes them worthy of display. Heck, the truly crafty out there could mount or frame them in a display-ready way. You won’t find this specimen online, it is only available in our brick and mortar store.
The Lesson: Think Outside The Box!
it might be tougher than usual to wrap up your holiday shopping with one Target trip or giant Amazon delivery this year. So why not think outside the box, support a local business, and get your loved ones gifts nobody else will be getting for them? And if you need a bit of extra cash flow to recover from all of your holiday generosity, we’re always looking for quality collections to buy or consign. Have a happy Thanksgiving, and we’ll see you next Wednesday with another Hammer Drop!
