Do Your Research.

It’s a sellers’ market out there. Doesn’t matter if you are selling collectible plastic horses, real estate or vehicles. It’s a sellers’ market. What’s driving it? In regards to model horses, I suppose it could be driven by the pandemic – people not spending money on things we used to, pre-COVID. Since we aren’t going out so much, or not commuting to work, maybe we have some extra money burning a hole in our pockets. Or maybe we need retail therapy – model horses are good for that too! Everyone has their own reasons, and that is a discussion for another day. But, from what I have seen over the past 12 months in the hobby,  a lot of moderately – and very – rare models have come on the market. And sold. I can’t tell you how many times this past year I have seen a model I want for my collection come up for sale, with a price I thought may be a bit on the rich side. But as soon as I pass it over… you know, I’ll think about it… it’s sold. He who hesitates, right? That is definitely the case in the hobby right now.

As collectors I think we are all a little surprised at the prices some models have sold for. “Deep pocket collectors driving up prices…” I hear it all the time too. But if people are willing to spend an amount, and I use “people” as plural, it drives up the market. I don’t care what market you are dealing in, that’s what happens. And I think the driving forces are bigger than the people in the hobby, who think they can control the market by not selling high, or buying high. But a discussion on the driving forces and how long this sellers’ market will last is for another day and probably another venue. Maybe I should bring in an economist to help us with this one!

But I am not writing this to debate the issue, but to implore everyone reading to DO YOUR RESEARCH.

If you are buying and/or selling, do your research so you don’t get burned. Don’t find out too late that you sold a treasured model for half of it’s current going rate. It is all fine and dandy if you want to give your buyer a deal – but make an educated choice to do so! I’m not advocating that you sell everything for top dollar – because there is a threshold. It just seems that today that threshold is quite a bit higher than it used to be. So, if your buying and selling reputation in the hobby is important to you, be smart about it. Avoid being ridiculed on social media for asking too much (no one will tell you when you ask too little.) Don’t be “lighted” on transactions boards if you back out of a deal because you did your research a little too late. This is a great, close-knit hobby, but it can still be dog-eat-dog out there!

Protect yourself and your reputation by doing your research. I’ve put a lot of time and effort to do the research for you on the Breyer Value Guide. And honestly, I have been scrambling to keep up in this market! But that’s what I have signed on to do for you. I know it costs $14 a month, but it could have you hundreds on your next model horse deal. Whether you do your research here or elsewhere, just make sure you do it!

Huckleberry Bey, model #472, is a Breyer portrait model created by Kathleen Moody in 1999, based on the real Arabian National Champion stallion Huckleberry Bey++ (1976-1992) from the legendary Varian Arabians in California. The original model was a matte bay with three socks and a star and stripe and is now retired. 

There are 32 versions of this popular model (and at least 56 if you include test runs and One of a Kinds), in just about every color under the rainbow—and there is, in fact, a rainbow Huck Bey, as well as a unicorn. Runs of this mold include other portrait models, both modern (TS Black Tie Affair and Atlantis Bey, another Varian horse and a son of Huck Bey) and historical (Napoleon’s Marengo), the fictional Sham from Marguerite Henry’s book “King of the Wind,” and several fantasy versions. This mold has been offered on QVC, JC Penney, Breyer’s Collector’s Club and the Connoisseur series, as well as being a Breyer Tour model, Christmas model, and a show, raffle, and auction prize.

Huckleberry Bey is a lovely model, cherished by many young girls whose first horsey love was the Arabian (I spent hours in the library as a child reading Arabian Horse World) and by adult collectors as well. But it has one drawback—it does not stand on its own and the plastic base that comes with it is easily lost and does not always work as well as it should. There are any number of people who make more sturdy bases for this, and a few other, molds.

My daughter used to show models in the early 2000s. The Huckleberry Bey mold was the most common horse to see in the Breyer OF Arabian Stallion classes, and often did quite well, but it was a near traumatic experience to watch everyone slowly, cautiously place their Hucks on the show table as all the spectators held their breaths. Judges must have been so relieved when these classes were over! Despite being a bit tipsy, this has been a very popular model.

Click here to see more Huckleberry Bey models!

Article contributed by Kelly Coultas. Thanks Kelly!!

Do you have a collection of model horses that are taking up space and collecting dust? Maybe they haven’t even seen the light of day in years! If you are ready to reclaim your space, there are plenty of model horse collectors out there willing to help you out.

But, are your model horses worth $25 or $250? Maybe you don’t care and just want them gone. That’s all and well – you won’t have trouble finding anyone to take them off your hands. But if you want to know what you could potentially get for your collection, the Breyer Value Guide is the place to research the current value of your model horses. Subscribe today. Cancel anytime.

As with practically any collectible, condition is a huge factor in valuation. The same is true with model horses. A model that is truly in mint condition will definitely bring more money than the same model that has marks or breaks from being played with. Values listed in the Breyer Value Guide are average values for models in excellent to mint condition. The more damage your model has, the less resale value it will bring. But not all is lost, your childhood model horse toys still hold value!

Another key to selling your model horse collection is to know where to find the buyers. A quick Facebook or Google search for model horse groups and pages is the best place to start. Ebay and other on-line classified sites are also a good place to advertise. Whether you take the time to individually price and sell each model, or want to sell them in one big lot, there are collectors looking to buy! Selling model horses individually can take more time and effort on your part, but generally bring more money than selling in large lots.

If you are looking to generate a little extra cash or just want to reclaim some of the space in your home, selling your Breyer model horse collection can be a viable option. If you need help selling your model horse collection, reach out to us at admin@breyervalueguide.com and we’ll help get you going in the right direction.

Buckshot and the new Mustang Mare….each has their own following, but neither are considered a crowd favorite.

When I recently received Breyer’s latest Collectors Club special run Moondance, it was at that point I realized how similar they really are. When the Mustang Mare mold was first released via the Premier Club as Forever Saige, I knew she reminded me of Buckshot and I thought that she would make a good “mate” for him. Moondance is the first of this mold to come into my collection, and I took this opportunity to compare the new and vintage mold.

In this picture you can see they are similar in stance and color. This shows a great example of a vintage mold (Buckshot was released in 1985) verses a modern mold (Mustang Mare was released in 2015.) I did not realize how much smaller Buckshot was until I put them side-by-side! The newer molds are expected to have more details in the sculpt and sport colors with a lot of depth and detail. As the model horse industry strives to produce models that are more and more life-like, do we lose some of the artistic spirit from a simpler time?

The new Mustang Mare has already been released as four different models since it’s introduction in 2015.  We have seen Buckshot 14 times since 1985, and there has been a recent resurgence of him with the 2016 BreyerFest prize model Pele and this year’s Live Show Benefit Model Reno (pictured.) Will these new releases spark something in the hearts of young collectors? It wouldn’t be a bad place to start for a new collector…one can build a Buckshot conga for less than most other Traditionals  these days!

“Live” model horse shows are hobby events that allow collectors to dust off their models and showcase them to compete against other similar models. Many shows offer different divisions to include various kinds of model horses including original finish, custom finish, chinas, and artist resins. These models are then generally judged on how well they represent their assigned breed, their overall condition, age and rarity.

For the sake of this blog today, I am going to focus on showing original finish plastic models which typically includes horses made by Breyer, Peter Stone, Hartland and others.

As a child, pretty much everything I knew about horses I had learned from Breyer. I did not own or have regular access to real horses. So, if Breyer released a model and said it was an Arabian, well, that’s what it was! If they said it was a Quarter Horse, who was I to argue? So, when I actually started researching breeds because I wanted to get into live showing, and learned about horse structure and conformation, I was kind of taken aback! Even though Breyer had sold a model as an Arabian (for example) didn’t necessarily mean it was the best representation of the breed. Wow! I know it probably shouldn’t have been, but it was kind of a shocker for me. I guess I never really gave it enough thought to question it!

I have always been a supporter of shows that, in addition to breed classes, offer classes in collectibility. The difference between the two – in a nutshell – is that in breed classes, models are judged on how well they represent the breed they are assigned to. And in collectibility, models are judged primarily on rarity, condition and age. As much as I love researching and assigning breeds to my models, the collectibility classes were always my favorite. I love recognizing a model that has survived the decades in one piece, especially when Breyers were sold mainly as toys. Shows that include collectibility classes are always a treat to me, not only because I can show models that don’t typically place well in breed classes, but to see the models other collectors bring out to show. It is usually a great place to see rare and vintage pieces that you don’t get to see in person every day!

The reason I am writing about showing today is because I want to help promote live shows. Since this is a reference site about original finish Breyers, and their collectible values, I want to help promote the live shows that celebrate the value of collectibility showing.

So, tell us about your favorite collectibility show! It doesn’t have to be a collectibility only show, but must be an upcoming show in 2017 that offers the yellow NAN cards for collectibility in a division that includes original finish Breyers. Share your favorite shows on the Facebook page or put them in the comments below. I will create a page on the website for all of the collectibility show listings I receive – PLUS – I will donate $200 to one show to help offset their show costs.

What is this again? 

Nominate your favorite upcoming live show in 2017 that offers collectibility classes for Breyers. I will make a page on the website to list all of the shows submitted, and then randomly draw one show to donate $200 to. I know putting on a live show can be expensive and want to give back to the hobby by helping show holders offset some of their costs. I know I am only going to be able to accommodate the upcoming shows right now, but I hope to be able to repeat this donation again later this summer to include the shows scheduled later in the year.

What do I need to do?

Post on Facebook or comment below about your favorite NAN qualified live show that offers the yellow collectibility NAN cards for original finish Breyers. Include the show name, date, location and website. I will make a page on the website to list these shows, and on March 1, 2017 I will randomly draw a show from the list to donate $200 to. So, get in your nominations, share it on Facebook and help spread the word.

Are you a Breyer Value Guide Member yet? Join today and have instant access, when you need it, to current values on Breyer Traditional models.

If you have been in the collectibles game for any amount of time at all, you know that the value of any piece is subjective and is actually determined by the active buyers and sellers in that particular market. The buying and selling venue can also play a major role in the determination of a buying and selling price. Think about the varying prices you see when you are shopping on line compared to an antique mall, or even BreyerFest.

Whether it is Ebay auctions or hobby classifieds, in these venues the buyers, sellers and inventory (typically) are plenty. If you aren’t selling something considerably rare, there is a good chance that others are selling the same thing. You would need to be price competitive if you wanted your item to sell. Same goes for BreyerFest. Again, if you aren’t selling something rare, chances are your neighbor is selling the same thing. This can put the buyer in a good position to be able to negotiate with sellers. Now, if you are selling something special – a variation, a model in show quality condition, or a limited run model, you can often be successful in asking a higher price, and getting it. IF you can show that the value of the model is worth the price.

Here is a quick breakdown of common selling venues and how their differences can affect prices:

The Internet

• Hobby classifieds, Ebay, Facebook, Instagram…
• There is a lot of competition in buying and selling
• Common models pull lower prices (unless it stands out above the rest)
• Hard to find models will get the best exposure and potentially more bidders

BreyerFest

• Tons of competition, whether you are a buyer or seller!
• You must be price competitive if you are selling, the person in the next room is probably selling the same stuff!
• You must be smart if you are buying and able to make a decision quickly – because if you pass up a deal, the next person who finds it won’t!

Antique Malls

• Not much competition – prices tend to be higher.
• If you are a seller, patience is a virtue. I’ve seen models that won’t sell on-line sell for a decent price at antique malls.
• Most antique mall shoppers will buy because they like it and it is right there in front of them.
• We’ve all searched antique stores for that $40 vintage decorator… so in that sense there is some competition among buyers!!

Just like everything else today – demand and availability play key roles no matter where you are buying or selling. This is where the Breyer Value Guide can come into play. By knowing the current values you can make the decision to snag a bargain when you find it or pay up for that truly unique item. With this guide you will no longer stress about leaving a good deal behind or paying too much. Honestly, there is no hard and fast rule, but if you understand the things that affect value it can help you navigate the secondary market.

So, were we able to answer the question? What is a value really worth?

We can look at the variables, venues and variations all day long. I believe it comes down to the person who owns the item of value to determine it’s worth. If this person wants to sell this item, it is up to them to find a buyer who agrees on the item’s worth (selling price.) If you are valuing the piece for your own records, it is good to know at what price they are selling on the market as a reference, but it’s personal worth to you may be even greater (sentimental value.)

With the launch of the on-line Breyer Value Guide right around the corner, you will have access to my years of research and experience within the hobby. Learn what models are trending and which ones are cooling off. Worry less about paying too much. Learn how to competitively price your sale models. When you have an good reference point of a market value, and the factors that go into creating that value, you become a smart shopper and educated collector.

I didn’t always do my research. If you are like me, you have made a few emotion-based purchases in the past (Must have it now…take my money!) But I had to get smart when I was considering the purchase of a very large collection. How did the asking price of the collection compare to what the models were selling for at the time? Was I going to be able to make my money back, and still keep the models that I wanted for my collection? I do believe this is when I got interested in researching values. I bought that collection and I worked hard to resell the models (via hobby classifieds, Ebay, and BreyerFest.) First goal was to make the money back that I had borrowed to do this. Did it. Second goal was to turn models I didn’t need for my collection into ones I did need. Yep – I added a lot to the permanent collection during that time. And thirdly my prize for doing all of this: a Mosaic model of my very own!

As collectors and hobbyists, we all know that most “outsiders” see dollar signs when they see a Breyer. Just because it looks old and has a “Breyer” stamp doesn’t equal a high selling price. But only looking at age and number produced can’t alone determine the selling price or “value” of a particular model. How many times have you seen a model from a small run (rare,) with either a lackluster color (no shading, no details, etc.) or on an unpopular/un-trendy mold sit unsold or selling for a comparatively low price?

I read an article over the holidays that compared the toy industry to the fashion industry and how similar they are in the terms of trends and what’s hot now may not be hot tomorrow. We see that all the time in the model horse hobby, don’t we? For example, a collector is lucky enough to win a raffle model or lottery-based special run and immediately sells it for sometimes more than twice the original price. And they do sell. Collectors who didn’t win that model are hot to get it into their collection while the models are new and readily available. When these limited models get released, there is usually a flood of them into the secondary market. Even though availability is high, demand is also high. The trick is knowing whether you should purchase when there is a slew of them available, or whether you should wait until the market settles down. Will the model stay in demand (and keep prices higher) when the initial rush dies down, or will the demand and prices fall off once the excitement and newness wears off? This is where an understanding of what has been historically popular, and currently popular, comes into play. There are exceptions to every rule and I sometimes find myself surprised at what models hold and increase in value, and which ones can’t.

Which Breyers have surprised you over the years? The ones that went up in value, or the ones that fell. Why do you think that is? Scroll down and share your answer in the comments.

Thank you for reading! If you would like to be the first to know when the Guide goes live, be sure to subscribe to the Breyer Value Guide Newsletter.

With the recent release of “Patriot,” the Limited Edition translucent red, white and blue American Saddlebred, let’s take a look at Breyer’s mold #571 and how some of it’s releases are doing on the collectability values market.

The American Saddlebred mold was first introduced in 2000 as the Breyer 50^th Anniversary Mantlelpiece Clock (and a few glossy versions as prize and volunteer models for the 2000 BreyerFest.) Mounted on a clock base, this was a modern tribute to the “Clock Horse” of the 50s. The 2000, matte palomino version can typically be found in the $50-$75 range.

The first regular run to hit the stores was 1141 American Saddlebred in matte black and white pinto, and it had a long production run from 2001 through 2006. The secondary market on this model has stayed fairly consistent for mint or new in box models. Currently selling in the $35-$45 range, this isn’t far from it’s initial price point from Breyer.

In 2001 we were also treated with Third Time’s a Charm, a Connoisseur special run of only 350. With a matte dappled sorrel paint job, Third Time’s a Charm is as popular now as he was when first released. If you can find one for sale, be willing to part with upwards of $350 or more for one in excellent condition.

Patriot isn’t the first blue American Saddlebred Breyer has created. There was Odyssey who was a special run for the Ginger Horse, also produced in 2001. He is glossy, shaded dark blue with white spots that represent stars. At one of 2500 made, you can still find these guys in the $65-$75 range. In 2005, Breyer released the ASB as a special run in their four vintage decorator colors. The wedgewood blue version’s value is currently in the $125-$175 range, for an excellent condition model.

Speaking of vintage decorators, another wedgewood Saddlebred (Five Gaiter actually) was recently sold on ebay. I’ll just put this screen shot here:

I can’t speak for every collector, but it is hard to deny the popularity of Breyer’s Nokota model. First released in 2007 as a benefit model promoting the Nokota Horse breed, this spunky mustang has stolen the hearts of many collectors. Regular run releases of this mold have been very limited, and have typically only been available for a year or less before being discontinued.

Regular Run Nokotas:

Nokota Horse 2007
Cheveyo 2008
Isadora Cruce 2010-11

These regular runs typically command $50-$100 on the secondary market!

The special run Nokotas run the gamut from store specials to BreyerFest raffle models. The most recent, “brick and mortar” store SR is the buckskin appaloosa Toro. If you are a Nokota collector, I would snag one of these guys soon…if history is any indicator, they will be hard to find in the near future. At the time of writing this they are going anywhere from $80-$100 or more on ebay.

The last time we saw a Nokota release was as a “surprise” 2014 BreyerFest Tent model, Pop The Cork! He was released in four colors, glossy and matte versions, plus a very limited number of Silver Charm models (25 to be exact.) The matte versions of Pop The Cork models typically sell for $100-$150 on ebay and are fairly easy to find if you are looking. The glossies on the other hand can command up to $300 or more, if you can find a seller. The Silver Charm? Be prepared to shell out upwards of $2000, IF you can find one for sale.

Will Breyer ever release their grip on this model and offer up another true regular run?

High demand + limited availablility = sold out. Not a terrible sales strategy, in their eyes anyhow.

Part of collecting is the thrill of the hunt, right? If not, you’d better grab your Toro now.

Find Breyer Nokota Models on Ebay!

I think it is safe to say most Breyer collectors look forward to this time of year because of the winter silver filigree decorator special runs! Breyer’s latest Collector Club Web Special release, Sugarloaf, is a stunning silver filigree decorator on the Croi Damsha mold. If you were watching eBay just a couple weeks prior to Sugarloaf’s release, you would have been treated with a sneak peek of the model, presumably a factory escapee. With this release, let’s look back at the other winter Web Special silver filigree models Breyer has treated us to over the years:

The first model, Silver Snow on the popular Wintersong mold was only issued as a run of 200 back in 2008. You will be lucky to find one of these beauties for sale today, and if you do, prepare to spend over $500 on one. One just sold recently on eBay with a buy it now of $699. Wow.

Breyer did not have a silver filigree for us in 2009, but they came back with an even hotter model for 2010. Alpine, the silver filigree Esprit model is another extremely hard to find model today. Alpine was one of only 250 produced, and if you can find one, he will set you back at least $400.

In 2011, Breyer used the one-year-only release of the Weather Girl model to come out with Mont Tremblant. This model had a bit higher run of 350 pieces and are a little easier to find today in the $175-200 price range.

For 2012 Breyer brought us Arosa, the glossy dapple grey appaloosa on the Missouri Foxtrotter Mold. Why Breyer didn’t do another silver filigree I don’t know. But Arosa is beautiful in his own right and can be found on-line in the $150-200 range.

Breyer brings back the sparkle in 2013 with Aspen, the frolicking Gypsy Vanner or Brishen mold. Aspen is one of 300 produced and can be fairly easy to find if you are looking for one. His price is running in the $230-250 range.

In 2014 Breyer releases Chamonix on the new Ashquar Arabian Stallion mold. Chamonix is a run of 300 and is fairly easy to find today in the $200-250 price range.

Then, a month later, Breyer throws us a surprise with the release of Banff, the silver filigree Buffalo. Banff is a run of 300 and is fairly easy to find second hand. None of the Banffs listed over $200 on eBay have sold recently, so I put his value in the $150-200 range…that is if you can find a collector willing to let one go that low.

With Sugarloaf being released on a new and seemingly popular mold, I think the demand for her will be high, at least for a little while. She is a larger run at 350, and I am curious to see how much demand she brings in the future over her $150 issue price.

Breyer was quick to publish the Quelle Surprise run numbers right after BreyerFest this year. In case you have not seen it, here are the numbers (from breyerhorses.com.)

“Each model was created as a matte as well as a glossy, however only 120 glossy models of each color exist! The number of pieces for each matte model is different: 280 of the Perlino, 780 of the Buckskin Tobiano Pinto, 560 of the Bay Appaloosa, and 960 of the Chestnut Overo Pinto.”

By releasing this information early, the amount of time for speculation and unfounded bidding wars was definitely limited. At last check (Aug 12, 2015) the number of Quelle Surprise models available on eBay.com was pretty thin. There were just 39 listings all together, with only 2 of the glossy buckskin and chestnuts, and 1 glossy appaloosa open for bid. There were no glossy perlino and only 2 of the matte version available. Also interesting, there were four times as many matte chestnuts available as there were the matte appy or buckskin.

So how does this relate to their value going forward? I believe that these models will always be in demand as they are on a popular mold (Lonesome Glory) and the colors are well done. I went and pulled the sold prices from as far back as the last days of BreyerFest to see how they have fluctuated and are now starting to trend. Charting the values of the glossy models gives an interesting perspective of the aftermarket trend immediately following BreyerFest.

Glossy Chestnut

Glossy Perlino

Glossy Buckskin

Glossy Appaloosa

Also notice that there were almost twice as many glossy perlino models available in this time frame as there were the other 3 variations. It will be interesting to see how long this trend continues and where it will top out. The matte versions have started to level out as well, as of the 2nd week in Aug, the sold values are as follows:

Matte Chestnut, $80-$100
Matte Perlino, $190-$220
Matte Buckskin, $120-$140
Matte Appaloosa, $140-$160

We’ll have to revisit these values in a few months to see if their current values hold, or if they will decline once the newness wears off. What do you think will happen?

I hope this information helps you with your collection of Quelle Surprise models. If you have any questions or comments about these values, please feel free to comment. Thanks for reading!

Image courtesy of BreyerHorses.com.

Another BreyerFest is in the books. For all of you lucky enough to attend, I hope you have since recovered. It was hot, it was crowded, and there were lines and lines. The special run offerings this year seemed to please most everyone. Most were fairly easy to acquire (if you didn’t mind standing in the aforementioned lines) with the exception of the Art Nouveau and Caves of Lascaux models from the “pop-up” tent. With their low run numbers, they did sell out quickly each day.

Breyer definitely could not go wrong choosing Lonesome Glory, a favorite of many collectors, for their Quelle Surprise models. Although, at the time of writing this, Breyer has not released the exact quantities of each variation, I suspect all of these guys will be in demand by collectors going forward.

The Special Run that piqued my curiosity this year was the decorator Huckleberry Bey “Giverny.” He was announced on the BreyerFest Blog back on April 2, yet he was not shown on any of the Tent Store posters at the park. In the BreyerFest brochure he was listed as being a run of 1200. In the store, the table card for him had been corrected to read quantity of 450. Even at that low of a count, he was not “flying off the table” as collectors moved though, and I assume there were plenty available at the end of the day on Sunday. So, that begs the questions:

Huck is a fairly desirable mold, yes? (I know, not to everyone!)
450 is a pretty low run for BreyerFest Tent Store models, right? (if that is indeed the correct count)
Does his unrealistic color hold him back?
How will his value fare in the after-market?

We can look back to 2010, the last time we saw a decorator Huck in the BreyerFest Store: Technicolor. Currently he is selling on ebay around the $100 mark. Giverny is selling at the $125 mark. I expect this to change as time goes on and the “buzz” from this year’s BreyerFest fades. But will his demand go up or down? I am curious to see. One never can tell. In 50 years he may be super desirable…the next Copenhagen Five Gaiter?

Thanks for reading! If you haven’t already, please sign up for our newsletter. Subscribers will be the first to know about the value reports and when they will be released. We will also be offering discounts and other “perks” to our subscribers. Our goal is to have the BreyerValueGuide store open in August!

(Giverny photo from breyerhorses.com.)

ADMIN EDIT: On Aug 11, Breyer posted on their Facebook page that there were indeed 1200 Giverny models produced.