Vintage Disney Collectibles (Pre-1968)

A Guide to Buying Vintage Disney Collectibles, Pre-1968

The Walt Disney Company formed in 1923, and between its incarnation and the death of its founder and namesake less than 50 years later, it had produced dozens of hit films, earned a bevy of major awards, and created a legacy of characters, stories, and worlds to alight the imagination of children of all ages for ages to come. Collecting vintage Disney memorabilia is a way to invest in timeless value while nurturing the child still living inside you and sharing your favorite characters and stories with those you love. To determine the value of any vintage Disney collectibles for sale that you're considering, examine the age, condition, and rarity of the item as well as any special features like being autographed.

By 1968, just two years after Walt Disney's death, his company had released over 20 theatrical titles, nearly all of which have inspired numerous collectible items that are now considered vintage. Among these titles and the characters at their centers include:

• Alice in Wonderland - First as part of Alice's Comedies and later as a standalone feature film
• Mickey Mouse - In Plane Crazy and Steamboat Willie
• Disney fairy tales - Like Three Little Pigs and The Tortoise and the Hare
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
• Pinocchio
• Fantasia
• Dumbo
• Bambi
• Cinderella
• Sleeping Beauty
• Mary Poppins

Collectible Disney items on eBay from before 1968 come in many forms. Certainly, there are vintage collectible Disney dolls, figurines, and action figures representing different characters and scenes from various Disney films, but there are also a bevy of other vintage Disney collectible items, such as:

• Apparel and props appearing in Disney's live-action films of that era
• Posters, prints, and original advertisements for Disney films of that era
• Authentic cells and sketches of original Disney animations.
• Original sheet music for the scores and soundtracks to Disney films of that era
• Commemorative products - both everyday household products like kitchenware, bedding, and mirrors, and promotional products like postage stamps, badges, and buttons.
• Early-edition books
• Vintage Disney toys and playsets
• Disney theme park memorabilia

Collectors have searched for particularly rare vintage Disney collectibles, including:

• Singing bird from Disneyland's Enchanted Tiki Room
• Charlotte Clark Mickey and Minnie Mouse plush dolls
• Original prospectus and prototype map of Disneyland
• Concept drawing of Tomorrowland