The POP-EXPOSE ‘The Collectors Bug’ Story by Mitchell Smith!
When did you catch the collectors BUG?
Every collector caught the BUG at some point. As a child I loved G.I. Joe and 3.5 inch figures, but I never thought of collecting them, I enjoyed setting up battles, flying the Skystriker around the house and zip lining the Crimson Twins from branch to branch in my favorite tree, but I never imagined I would collect the toys I played with as a child and I never thought in my teen and college years that I would hunt for toys by driving from one store to the next looking for the hottest new figure. Even when I started collecting I never imagined that I would be able to buy pretty much anything I wanted off the computer and have it shipped right to my door. But then one day it all changed.
It was a sunny day in Vermont back in 2001, I was visiting my family up in northern New York. We had taken the ferry across Lake Champlain which was named after the French explorer Samuel de Champlain. We were at a flea market and I bought a 1990’s Han Solo for $1.00. I had never had Han or pretty much any of the Star Wars figures as a child, so I kind of grabbed him for that reason. Shortly after Star Wars came into the spot light with the release of Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. I was buying up lots of Star Wars figures and vehicles, it was a great time.
Then there was 25th anniversary of G.I. Joe. I had left my passion for Joe with a banged up Tomahawk and a pretty nice Defiant, and hedged my bets with sports and wild women. I didn’t make it to far with either one, but all the great memories flooded back and I was hooked, not only did I buy the 25th, I went and dug up what I could of what I had as a kid, and then I started collecting vintage Joes right up until about 2 months ago I worked hard on collecting vintage Joes. Over the years my bug spread to 12 inch figures including, Star Wars, G.I. Joe, military, and various others. I also grabbed LOTR, Disney Cars, A-team, and various others far, near, and in between.
There have been times when I’ve thought to myself what am I going to do with this toy empire I have built? Maybe I should just sell it all. Then I start taking a look at what I have and right now I just can’t bear to let it go. Every once in a while I’ll look through what I have with full intention to set up dioramas and make custom figures some day. Now and again I still do look at retail, on line, and at flea markets, and if I find something at a good deal I will pick it up.
In short the BUG got me good, but out side of collecting toys I really don’t do anything other then work, so it is a nice safe and harmless hobby. Through it I have met some really good people including many who come to visit and relax at the Lair.
Do you remember when and where you caught the collectors BUG?
When did you catch the Collecting Bug? Make the JUMP and let us know!
