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Introduction
to Collecting
The
Dark Crystal toys
and ephemera clearly aren’t a necessity of life (although there are some
diehard collectors who might argue otherwise).
But they are so bound up in the entire The
Dark Crystal phenomenon, that it would almost be as hard to think of the
film without the merchandise as it would the merchandise without the film.
But,
first indeed is the film. For it is the magic that transpired in darkened cinemas as
audiences sat transfixed by Jim Henson’s powerful visuals, intriguing story,
and sharply drawn characters that made people want to keep around themselves
some physical reminder of the joy, wonder, and excitement that the film had
triggered.
Collecting
Guidelines
You’ve
heard this before, but the first rule in collecting The
Dark Crystal toys and other merchandise is: There are no rules.
To be sure, there are some common sense guidelines that are important to
follow, especially as some of the rarer manufactured pieces—not even
prototypes—have climbed into costly territory.
Still, it is never too late to start collecting (every collector had to
begin somewhere) and there are lots of cool things available at reasonable
prices.
PRICES
Prices
are either set by dealers or by customers vying at an auction.
Nearly everything is negotiable, and for mass-produced items chances are
that you’ll find something at a price that you feel is reasonable it you’re
willing to wait.
AVAILABILITY
Where
can you find The Dark Crystal
collectibles? There are a number of
avenues. Every weekend all over the
United States and frequently internationally, there are swap meets, flea
markets, boot sales, comic and toy shows, and science-fiction media conventions
with dealer rooms.
Local
comic shops and even some independent toyshops have taken to selling vintage
items. There are also publications
filled with ads from people selling collectibles.
On-line
sales via the Internet have taken off. There
are several auction sites to visit, such as www.ebay.com.
Instructions are easy to understand and the variety of goods offered is
amazing.
CONDITION
In
real estate, it is said that only three things are important: location,
location, location. Likewise, in
collection, the three most important things are: condition, condition,
condition. The most highly prized
collectible is the one in near-perfect shape—both the collectible itself and
its packaging. Thus there are often
two grades given, usually on a scale of 1 to 10 (higher being better), one for
the toy and one for the package. It’s
one of the true quirks of collecting that a collector might never see his actual
purchase because he doesn’t want to break the seal on the package.
Is this strange? Yes. Is it
unusual? Not in the broader world
of toy collecting.
A
frequently asked question is whether it’s smart to buy something you’ve been
seeking, even if it’s in mediocre condition, with the hope of sometime trading
up to a better specimen. It’s a personal choice, but a good rule of thumb is that a
toy itself should always be complete, in working condition, and with all its
parts to justify a pricey purchase of a rare item.
Otherwise, it might be hard to unload when you find a choicer example.
BOOTLEGS
In this case, I’m not talking about unlicensed The Dark Crystal items, but items that are made by unscrupulous people to stimulate high-end, rare collectibles. Generally, if something appears too good to be true—mint condition, low price—then it probably is.
Preserving
Your Collection
Now
that you’ve spent so much time and energy on building a
collection—regardless of its size or cost—you want to preserve it as best as
possible. There is one major
problem. Very little of this stuff
was meant to last. Books,
newspapers, and magazines are printed on acidic stock.
Model kit boxes left in protective shrink-wrap start to cave in as the
wrap continues to shrink. What was
once a pristine collection turns into something akin to a toxic waste dump.
There
are some measures that can be taken to extend the life of a collection.
Although costly, they will help preserve a potentially valuable cache.
*The
room or rooms where it is kept should never be allowed to get too hot or too
cold, humidity should be kept in check by a dehumidifier.
*Keep
the sun away and sheathe any fluorescent bulbs with special plastic tubes
(available from such places as University Products/The Archival Co.) to prevent
damage from ultraviolet radiation. Or
order new fluorescent lights specially designed for archival settings.
*Place
comic books and magazines in inert plastic Mylar bags with acid-free backing
boards. Then store them in archival
boxes made for comic storage.
*Store
posters in large tubes, or better yet, lay them flat in cabinets built for flat
art or architects’ drawings.
*Place
covers of hardback books in library-style plastic and paper covers.
*Use
an electronic air cleaner to remove as much dust and pollen as possible from the
air.
*If
your collection rests on particle-board shelves, get some acid-free paper or
thin, acid-free white-plastic “foam” sheets to put directly on the shelves
to prevent chemical migration to your collection.
Comments? Email: webmaster@habidabad.com
This is an unofficial DARK CRYSTAL website. THE DARK CRYSTAL, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of The Jim Henson Company. © 2001. Artwork by Brian Froud. Visit the official website at www.henson.com.