Oliver North Items Face Test of Time

Question: During the Iran-Contra hearings in Washington, I was quick to acquire several different kinds of Oliver North collectibles, from dolls to newspaper front pages. Have these shown any signs yet of increased demand among collectors?--V.P.

Answer: Not really. So many “Ollie” items were produced that the market was saturated with products about the U.S. Marine who became an overnight household name.

To be sure, he was a hot item during and just after the controversial, nationally televised hearings, and more than a few manufacturers turned a quick profit. But it will take some time, collectors believe, before these items assume a collectible value over and above their original price.

For example, we hear of Ollie T-shirts that are still in manufacturers’ inventory. The same goes for Ollie books, dolls and even underwear.

Coloring Books

One distributor told us that Ollie coloring books sold well, and they may indeed become a leading Ollie collectible in future years.

But don’t be discouraged. Hang on to your collection. Experienced collectors know that it takes time for collectibles spun off from current events to acquire historical value.

In North’s case, even though dozens of products were manufactured, the number in circulation--although great--is nevertheless finite. As the years pass, they will be dumped. Only hard-core collectors will hang on to them.

Therefore, like other politically related memorabilia, as Ollie collectibles in public hands become rarer, they will begin to appreciate. Collectors know it pays to be patient.

Q: I have several old game boards, but not all of them have the game pieces. Does this detract from their collectible value?--T.H.

A: Game collectors always look for the original pieces that went with the board. Without the pieces in hand, such as a spinner or dice--or even a game’s directions--the value is sure to decline, no matter how old the board and no matter what its condition.

In fact, veteran game collectors also check to see if the original box is available--and whether it is in good condition.

There are many board-game collectors, and competition to find such games is intense. Price tags of a couple of hundred dollars for a board game in good condition are not unusual, collectors say.

The first American board games were produced in the 1840s by the W. & S. B. Ives Co. of Salem, Mass., a printing company. In 1843, the firm produced a board game called Mansion of Happiness, which has been described as the forerunner of the board-game craze that was to follow--including the most famous board game of all, Monopoly.