From Beanie Babies to Game Boys, here are 10 toys Irish kids had in the 90s that you can sell for a fortune today.
The 1990s were a decade that defined styles, trends, and music. Today, 90s fashion is still ever-present. Television series of the day are celebrated as if they were still on air. And there are constant nods to musical legends of the decade, as well as the nostalgia of its toys.
For those of you who still have a treasure trove of 90s kids toys and possessions, you may just be sitting on a small (or big) fortune! Did you know that some of these retro toys have grown to become major investment pieces?
Here are the top 10 toys Irish kids had in the 90s that are worth a fortune now!
10. Super Soakers
This toy water gun first launched at the beginning of the decade in question and has continued with such popularity that it is still manufactured in abundance today.
Little did we know, however, that models from the early 1990s sell for over €90! Time to unearth that golden toy and cash it in.
9. Game Boy
Another toy that was hugely popular in the 1990s was the Game Boy. This handheld gaming device almost defined a generation of gamers. Today they can go for a couple of hundred of euros, depending on the year, model, and quality of the device.
If you are lucky enough to be still in the hold of a Game Boy Light, today is your day; these bad boys have been known to clock up over €900 online.
8. Polly Pocket
Polly Pocket was a franchise of pocket-sized dolls houses and accessories. Indeed these were wildly popular during the decade in question and they’ve continued to thrive right into the modern day.
If you happened to hang on to an early set that is complete and in its original box, you’ll be happy to learn that one recently sold on eBay for over €800. Other incomplete sets also rack up a solid figure.
7. Pokémon cards
Pokémon was one of most popular, decade-defining toys Irish kids had in the 90s. Expanded into a franchise that offered everything from video games and books to films and puzzles, the Pokémon empire was (or more so, is) mighty.
One of the most coveted aspects of Pokémon’s offerings was its cards, which could be played with and traded. For those of you in possession of a first edition set, you’re looking at over €7,000 if you choose to sell.
6. Furby
Furbys were the first-ever successful attempt to sell robots in a domestic setting. The toy, which appeared to be a hybrid of an owl and a hamster, was all the rage back in the 90s, and nowadays they can fetch over €500 online.
5. G.I. Joe
Action doll G.I. Joe is another toy that went on to become an empire in its own right. From books and television series to toys and accessories, its popularity was mighty.
Although an original doll may only fetch around €200 online, if you so happen to be in possession of G.I. Joe’s mobile command centre, you could be facing up to €2,500.
4. Hot Wheels
Remember wrecking your Hot Wheels cars? Such a shame! For all of you who liked to take care of their toys, it is time to rejoice. An original set of 12 cars (in the original box) can go for over €1,000.
3. VHS tapes
While this former way of watching films may seem obsolete, some VHS tapes actually increase in value. Only in January 2019 did a Beauty and the Beast black diamond edition sell for $10,000 USD (that’s nearly €9,000).
2. Harry Potter
The Harry Potter kingdom ruled throughout the late 1990s (and it still does), and we reckon that we’d be hard pushed to find a kid that didn’t have (or had heard of) the “the boy who lived.”
For any of you who happen to be in possession of a copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, we suggest you have a closer look at it.
A small portion of first editions was printed with the misspelt name of the author. These rare copies cite Joanne Rowling as the author (not the correct pen name, J. K. Rowling) and are worth up to €50,000.
1. Beanie Babies
Beanie Babies were a craze that swept the globe in the 1990s. Maybe had we known that the value that some of these toys would have accumulated, we would have taken better care of them!
Limited edition Beanie Babies in perfect condition have been listed on eBay, some of which mind-blowingly exceed a price tag of over $500,000 USD (which is just under €450,000)!
