Walt Disney Memorabilia & Disneyana | Collectibles & Collectors Items

People have been collecting Walt Disney and 'Disneyana' memorabilia ever since the company was started in the early 1920's. During this time countless examples of Disney related collectables have been produced providing ardent fans with an excellent range of varied items to collect. Due to the huge numbers or characters, animations, films, and story lines featured by the Disney Company over the years there are many areas of interest for all ages of collector. It can be difficult knowing where and how to start and maintain your collection so let us give you a helping hand with this quick start guide into a few of the Disney collectable categories.

Disneyana
The term 'Disneyana' covers a broad collection of toys, books and animation memorabilia and has been an extremely popular choice for many collectors over the years and still seems to be expanding exponentially. The Disney Company has grown consistently over the past few decades producing many different films and cartoons. Along with which came many famous characters, which have spawned countless collectable pieces. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Snow White, Tinkerbelle and the like have become an advertisers and merchandisers dream appealing to so many different age groups.

Disney badges
Collecting Disney badges is a great way to start a Disney collection as you can be up and running in no time, for a minimal amount of money. As you can imagine, there has been millions of different badges produced over the years, and all items are great to trade with other ardent collectors, so that you can create your collection of choice. A little bit of Internet searching will allow you to find numerous clubs and groups of people with exactly the same interest as yourself. As with most areas of Disney collectables, there have been many special edition badges produced over the years. These are great items to look out for as most will not break the bank, and they can make a fantastic, worthwhile addition to your collection. Due to the vast numbers, it will be near on impossible to collect them all, so when you are starting out, try to stick to particular categories such as specific characters or films as this will allow you to direct your searches.

Animation cells
For the more artistic people among us, you may want to pursue a collection of original animation cells from some of the Disney animated films. This is a fantastic area in which to collect, as you will be building a collection of true pieces of Disney history. Original items will be hand painted, one-of-a-kind pieces, that will have actually been put under the camera in the production of a feature film. As you can imagine, these examples can become extremely expensive, with some of the earlier work selling for six figure sums. Make sure you pick a clear, vibrant piece showing a character in action � some dealers will try and sell an exciting sounding cell, turning out to be only a nearly blank cell, with a disembodied arm or leg of a character!

Disney figurines
The collection of Disney figurines is another area that has not slowed over the years. The models are usually made of porcelain and will feature all manner of characters from Pluto to Pinocchio. All items will be part of particular sets, with specific 'special editions' being released in each range. This instantly provides someone looking for a more unique collection, an avenue to investigate. Most of the models are marked in production which will help you gauge the value of the item, and to find out a little more information on its history. There are many forums on the Internet, where you can pose your questions to some experts in this area.

Which period to collect
Even prior to Walt Disneys death in 1966, collectable production was at a hugely significant level. This was the true era of the Disney Company, and as such, contains the most collectable pieces available. The market for many of these items is still so competitive to this day, that it is usually very difficult to find a bargain, or unearth a true relic. Prices for pre '66 items can reach many thousands, but this has certainly not stopped many people from searching for great prices. This has been made so much easier with the explosion of the Internet. It is now quite possible to bid or buy interesting items from the comfort of your own home; all that you need is some time and maybe a large pile of your hard earned cash. You can even find some trading fairs and shows, which specialise in all areas of Disney memorabilia. Why not do a little surfing to find some of these events in an area near you.

Cross collecting
All kinds of items are available no matter what area you are interested in. The ability to cross-collect has been a huge attraction for many people. For instance, you may prefer to collect any number of items from wall plates to teapots, and what collection would be complete without a few examples of Disney items that match your chosen category.

Collecting Disney memorabilia is a hobby that will never die out. It will continue to capture the hearts of all collectors, young and old. No matter whether you are collecting - to amass a valuable collection for the future or purely because of your love of all things Disney, you will no doubt be compiling a collection to be proud of for many years to come.