As the gifting season approaches, Catawiki reveals the top 10 most expensive toys ever sold, ranging from tin toys to model cars and action figures
Iconic brands like Märklin, LEGO, and Pokémon lead the pack, with items fetching thousands of euros
Collectable toy sales are booming on Catawiki, with a 30% growth in 2024 alone
Holiday season makes a peak in sales, with December recording 150% more sales than the yearly average
Amsterdam, 18 December 2024 – It’s no secret that certain toys have transformed into valuable collector’s items over time, fetching remarkable sums. But which ones have achieved the highest prices, and what makes them so sought after? With the holiday season just around the corner, Catawiki, the leading online marketplace for special objects, unveils the ultimate list of toys that have sold for record-breaking amounts.
“Beyond their nostalgic appeal, toys can hold surprising value for collectors, turning cherished memories into meaningful investments. From limited editions to rare variants, certain toys that once delighted us under the Christmas tree are now highly sought after. It’s worth taking a closer look at your old favorites - sometimes, they’re more than just keepsakes.” commented Toby Wickwire, toy expert at Catawiki.
With an impressive 30% increase in sales this year alone, the toy category is booming on Catawiki. In 2023, December ranked as the busiest month, with nearly 150% more toys sold during the holiday season than the monthly average. Timeless favorites like Pokémon, Barbie, and LEGO continue to captivate collectors, with LEGO consistently ranking among the top three most-searched items globally. Explore the latest toy and model auctions on Catawiki and uncover your next collector’s gem.
Top 10 most expensive toys sold on Catawiki
Märklin - Gauge 0 ‘Crocodile’ locomotive (1934-39), sold for €15.000 in 2023
Original retail price: 144 German Marks (approximately 645 EUR today)
This large-scale model is a replica of the iconic Swiss Be 6/8 electric locomotive, celebrated for its unique design. Its value lies in its rarity and excellent preservation, as this specific piece was stored for decades in its original box with its information leaflets. Märklin’s renowned craftsmanship and the popularity of the Crocodile design also contributed to its high sale price.
LEGO - San Diego Comic-Con Spider-Man minifigure (2013), sold for €8.000 in 2023
Original retail price: N/A (promotional giveaway)
Produced in an extremely limited edition of just 350 pieces for the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con, this Spider-Man minifigure was exclusively distributed to attendees who won the event’s raffle. Its rarity makes it an exceptional collectable, crowning it as the most expensive LEGO piece ever sold on Catawiki. Other valuable LEGO items sold on the marketplace include Mr. Gold, part of the 2013 Collector’s Series, and limited to only 5,000 pieces worldwide. Early-edition themed sets inspired by franchises such as Star Wars and Jurassic Park have also attracted high sums, such as €4,700 and €4,600 respectively. The brand remains in high demand on Catawiki, with a 40% year-over-year increase in items sold in 2023, consistently ranking among the top 3 most-searched items globally.
Amalgam - 1:8 F1 Ferrari SF1000 #16 (2020), sold for €7.540 in 2021
Original retail price: 5,000-6,000 EUR
This model, produced by toy maker Amalgam, is a limited edition, with only 50 pieces available worldwide. The Ferrari SF1000 holds great historical significance, commemorating Scuderia Ferrari's 1,000th Grand Prix during the 2020 Formula 1 season. Developed in close collaboration with Ferrari’s engineering and design teams, this model combined rarity, craftsmanship, and motorsport heritage - the key to its exceptional value. Model cars on Catawiki saw a nearly 15% increase in sales last year, reflecting growing interest in this category. Resin models with limited production runs are particularly promising investments if well preserved.
The Pokémon company - Ultra Rare Shining Charizard (2002), sold for €5.100 in 2022
Original retail price: 3-5 USD (approximately 3-5 EUR today)
This ultra-rare Shining Charizard from 2002 is a prime example of what makes Pokémon cards so collectable. Its pristine condition, the popularity of Charizard, and its high grading score elevated it to top-tier collector status. What drives such high prices? Rarity, historical significance, and condition are key, along with the emotional ties these cards evoke, offering collectors a chance to relive childhood memories while owning a piece of pop culture history. Last year, Pokémon and trading cards became Catawiki’s fastest-growing category, with thousands of items sold weekly and a 140% increase in sales compared to 2022; it also attracted the highest number of new bidders across all categories! Currently in auction is an even rarer Pokémon Trophy Card - awarded to a TCG World Champion and estimated at over €50,000, which promises to set new records and captivate collectors worldwide. As for full sets, the most expensive was sold on Catawiki for €16,750, and featured every major booster pack series produced by Wizards of the Coast (WOTC) between 1999 and 2002, making it a truly remarkable collector’s piece.
Masudaya - Radicon Robot (early 1950s), sold for €3.068 in 2017
Original retail price: 1,000-2,000 YEN (approximately 2.50-5 EUR today)
The Radicon Robot, produced by Japanese toy manufacturer Masudaya in the 1950s, is the first-ever battery-operated remote-control robot. Standing 37 cm tall, it was part of the legendary “Gang of Five”, a series that revolutionized the toy industry with innovative designs and mechanical features. The robot could light up, walk, and respond to radio control signals - an impressive technological feat of its time. With its durable tin construction, intricate details, and multiple features, it embodies post-war innovation and the golden age of tin toys.
Nintendo Nes - Mario Bros (1987), sold for €3.000 in 2021
Original retail price: 40–50 USD (approximately 35–45 EUR today)
In 2021, a sealed European version of the iconic Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), graded 8.0 by WATA, sold for €3,000 on Catawiki. This game, one of the most popular video games of all time, has numerous variations, each with distinct packaging and textual differences that high-end collectors meticulously track. Interestingly, a Nintendo NES store display unit, the device that allowed customers to try out NES games in retail stores during the 1980s, fetched nearly double the amount of the actual game, selling for €5,000 in 2024. With the 40th anniversary of the NES launch in 2025, the popularity of these items is expected to rise further - along with their prices.
Disney - Mickey Mouse tea service (1940), sold for €3.000 in 2024
Original retail price: 52.5 Escudos (approximately 10-15 EUR today)
This Mickey Mouse tea service from the 1940s is the most expensive Disney toy ever auctioned on Catawiki. Featuring delicate porcelain pieces adorned with Mickey and Minnie Mouse illustrations, the set was likely marketed as a luxury toy for children of its time. The design captures the charm of early Disney animation, with the iconic characters hand-painted onto teapots, cups, and saucers. Its rarity, the inclusion of the original box - still largely intact - and its remarkable preservation for an object nearly a century old make it highly coveted among collectors. Disney items saw a 30% growth in sales on Catawiki in 2023, a surge fueled by the celebrations of the brand’s 100th anniversary.
Steiff - Bear with wheeled carriage (1889), sold for €2.151 in 2023
Original retail price: 3-5 Gold Marks (approximately 20–35 EUR today)
Steiff, synonymous with luxury and craftsmanship, has been a favorite among collectors for decades. This bear with a wheeled carriage, produced in the 1880s, is one of the company’s earliest creations, making it a rare and highly sought-after piece. Other valuable pieces sold on Catawiki include the Karl Lagerfeld Steiff Teddy Bear Limited Edition, which changed hands for €1,900 in 2023. These collaborations and special editions highlight the brand's ability to merge tradition with exclusivity, making Steiff collectibles a standout for enthusiasts and investors alike.
Mattel - American Girl Barbie (1965-1967), sold for €1.963 in 2021
Original retail price: 2–5 USD (approximately 20–40 EUR today)
This Vintage Barbie is one of the most collectable dolls from Barbie’s early years and the most expensive ever sold on Catawiki. It introduced bendable legs in 1965, a groundbreaking feature that boosted its appeal and collector value. Vintage Barbies (1959–1966) are prized for their timeless design, rarity, and cultural significance. Following the release of Barbie, the highest-grossing movie of 2023, Catawiki saw a 20% rise in the average value of Barbie dolls. Other prized collectables include Mod-era Barbies with their bold 1960s styling, limited editions as Barbie™ Fabergé™ - Imperial Elegance (1998), sold for €1,000 in 2021, and designer collaborations like Barbie - Doll Giorgio Armani (1990-1999), sold for €950 in 2023 on Catawiki.
Funko POP - Spider-Man (2011), sold for €900 in 2020
Original retail price: 15-20 EUR
Released as an exclusive for the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con, this Funko figure stands out for its rarity and appeal among Marvel fans and collectors. Its original packaging and well-preserved condition added to its value, as Funko exclusives from major events like SDCC are particularly prized in the collector community. Funko POP! figures have become a cultural phenomenon, blending nostalgia with pop culture fandom. Limited-edition exclusives like this are especially sought after, as well as retired models and exclusive designs.
5 collectable toys to watch in 2025
Looking ahead to the coming year, Wickwire shared five toys that are predicted to be in high demand and increase in value, thanks to their unique features and distinct appeal.
- LEGO - Ideas 21348 - Dungeons & Dragons: Red Dragon's Tale
The Dungeons & Dragons franchise, with its massive global fanbase, just celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. This impressive LEGO set, the first of its kind, is expected to become highly sought after once it goes out of production.
- Marvel Comics - Godzilla King of the Monsters #1
In 2025, a Godzilla vs. Marvel Comics mini-series is set to debut, sparking renewed interest in Godzilla. Whenever there’s hype around a movie, TV show, or comic series, collectors flock to find the first appearance of key characters. This comic marks Godzilla’s first mainstream appearance in U.S. comics, and as a first edition, its value is expected to skyrocket.
- Mattel - Polly Pocket
Originally created by Bluebird in the 1980s, Polly Pocket rose to fame when Mattel distributed them in the 1990s. These tiny dolls are currently experiencing a nostalgia-driven resurgence among millennials, who now have greater purchasing power. In 2025, a new season of the hit Netflix show The Toys That Made Us will feature Polly Pocket, and based on past trends, toy lines spotlighted in the show have seen strong spikes in demand. The same is expected for Polly Pocket next year.
- Mattel - Generation 1 (G1) Monster High Dolls
Launched in 2010, Monster High dolls are on the cusp of hitting the 15-year nostalgia sweet spot in 2025. They weren’t originally marketed as collector’s items, meaning many were taken out of their packaging and played with, making mint-in-box examples hard to find. These dolls are likely to hold significant value in the future for fans who played with them as kids, as well as for collectors interested in horror and monster-themed toys.
- Kenner - Batman: The Animated Series Toys
The Batman: The Animated Series toys by Kenner, released in the early to mid-1990s, are poised for renewed interest in 2025. The cartoon’s groundbreaking animation and iconic storytelling have cemented its place in pop culture, keeping its fanbase strong across generations. With collectors increasingly drawn to toys tied to beloved 90s franchises, these action figures—especially mint-in-box examples—are becoming highly desirable. Expect demand to grow further as the nostalgia for 90s pop culture continues to rise.
Editor's Notes
Images of the top 10 most expensive toys sold on Catawiki and the 5 collectable toys to watch in 2025 can be downloaded here.
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