Be very careful when you clear the loft…

Toys are a notoriously unreliable investment, subject to everything from savaging by guard dogs to the whims of a fickle market. But pick the right collectible and you could make serious money.

Toys should not be viewed as reliable investments, warn collectors. Items that have great popular appeal one day can suddenly go out of fashion the next.

As the savaging of a £40,000 Steiff teddy-bear by an irritated guard dog last month confirmed, toys are hardly as safe as bricks and mortar when it comes to long-term security. But that said, the market in certain toys, such as rare Steiff bears, toy trains and dolls, has been established for some time. But while collectors of such items could be sitting on serious capital, the secret is establishing what the trends of tomorrow will be. And on that front, most collectors are stumped.

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Jody Clarke

Jody studied at the University of Limerick and was a senior writer for MoneyWeek. Jody is experienced in interviewing, for example digging into the lives of an ex-M15 agent and quirky business owners who have made millions. Jody’s other areas of expertise include advice on funds, stocks and house prices.