New Hub for Sundry Collectibles!

Hi everyone.  A super quick note to let you know that I have generated a new hub for my multiple blogs!  You can check it out (and the blogs linked there) at sundrycollectibles.net.  Here you will find links to my Disneyland postcard site, my vintage aviation paper site, and my "Comics Data" site (I am excited about this one!)

I will occasionally come back here to point people to my new stuff...but this newly revamped site is now my "official" hub.  

Until next time...

Disneyland Postcard Price Guide Completed!

When I first started this blog, I was talking about all of my collectibles in one space.  And I was diligent...in a manner of speaking.  Everyday for about 5 months I was bringing everything from sand to Star Wars cards to comic and postcards.  (That's nothing compared to Gorillas Don't Blog though....he started up and ever since day one hasn't quit for almost six years...really impressive).  Anyway, I finally decided to break out the Disneyland postcard stuff to its own site because it is a rather "nichy" collection.

Last night, I finally finished the price guide for all of the cards listed in the Nickel Tour reference book!  So...if you want to check it out, go to disneypostcards.com.  This effort has kept me from more frequent posts here...but keep your eyes out...I have plenty more non-Disney related stuff to talk about!

Until next time...

Disney Dollars - The Currency of Disney

I wasn't sure whether to put this on this blog, or my other Disney Postcard blog tonight.  But, since it's not a postcard, and I haven't blogged here in a while (due to a trip to Disneyland and a few other things) I decided to put it here.

Disney Dollars have been around for 25 years now, and they are a great collectible for a couple of reasons.  Starting in 1987, the early bills are quite collectible and not that common.  A quick survey of eBay shows that while the early bills don't go for a ton...they go for way more than the original $1 it took to buy them.

Disney dollars usually come in $1, $5 or $10 denominations (like this 2008 $10 bill shown here).  They do not charge more than face value for the bills and they are "legal tender" at any Disney park...so, assuming you are at Disneyland, the worst you can do is lose a little interest from the time you bought it to the time you used it.

The most valuable bills are the $50 50th anniversary of Disneyland bills.  I had one of these once...but spent it!  They will go for as high as $700 or more depending on the version you have.

Anyway...next time you are at Disneyland...or the magic Kingdom...drop by the town hall and asked them what they have.  They are well produced and are a sure bet for collectibility.

Until next time...

Blogging here on Sundry Collectibles and at Disney Postcards on, you guessed it, Disney Postcards!

Sleeping Beauty - Nickel Tour #0594

I found this little gem on eBay the other day for a very reasonable price.  It was lumped in with a few other cards (one of which was another copy of the Huey, Dewey and Louie card that I featured a few posts back).  I was able to pick this up cheaply because it and the other Art Corner card had been pinned up on a bulletin board at some point and had a few pin holes in them.

Either way, I don't think I have never seen one of these for sale on ebay before, so I was happy to check this off of my list.  The work of a completist collector like myself is rarely if ever finished.  Finding rare stuff like this is one of the things that makes this hobby interesting!

Until next time...

D23 Radiator Springs Postcard

I recently received the fall 2012 copy of the Disneyland Fan magazine, Disney twenty three.  Another great magazine this quarter full of articles on all things Disney...including a brief but very interesting article by Marty Sklar on Ray Bradbury.  I was frankly unaware of Mr. Bradbury's involvement with Disney until reading this article.

But I digress.  The feature of the magazine was the newly revamped California Adventure park and specifically Cars Land and the new Buena Vista Street.  I have not had the chance to visit yet - I am headed there in October.  But...along with the magazine came this special Radiator Springs magnetic postcard issued for members of D23.

It's pretty much the same card that you will see on eBay...but I don't think the regular card is magnetic.  Not sure though.  Either way...a worthy addition to the shoe box (er....boxes)  that contain my collection!

Until next time...

In Memory of Ken Eslick

Collectibles, when collected in isolation, are a bore.  That is...it's only fun to collect stuff if you share your collection with other people.  That's why I write this blog.  Some people you meet may share your passion, or you may be given an opportunity to educate other individuals about your area of knowledge...but ultimately, it is not about the things themselves, but the people.

Well...I learned today that Ken Eslick passed away suddenly this past week.  Ken was the author of the Disneyland Postcard blog...and the keeper of the only online reference site for Disneyland postcards, disneylandpostcards.net.  This hobby is a fairly small and tight knit one...and I am somewhat on the fringes.  Ken was not.  His website is, without question, the best reference on the subject beyond the Nickel Tour book.  I have referred to it on numerous occasions in this blog.  He put a lot of effort into it and was always ready to help a collector with answers to questions, or with spare cards to fill in their own collection.

So...I wanted to use this post today to offer my sincere condolences to his family and close friends.  I am very sorry for your loss.  

Until next time....

Vacationland Magazine 1961 - Flying Saucers

I have posted on the Flying Saucers at Disneyland before...so this post is an addendum to that one.  Recently I picked up a copy of Vacationland magazine from the summer of 1961.  As I have mentioned before, this magazine was started in 1957 as a promotional vehicle for Southern California tourism, but was published by Disneyland, so the focus was on attractions and news from the park.

Well, in the Summer of 1961, the Newsflash section of the magazine had an interesting article on the coming of the saucers.  What struck me is the comment that they have been "experimenting with the flying saucers in Northern California".  I can't say that I know where that work was done in Northern California...but it would be interesting to know!

Until next time...

Disneyland Postcard C-5 Conestoga Wagon

Sundry Collectibles will be on vacation from July 30 through August 4th, so for the next few days I am going to pull a few items out of the archives and give a brief description of what they are and why I have them in my collection.

Friday, August 3rd.

What is it?:  Disneyland Postcard C-5 with Stage Coach , Conestoga Wagon and the Mine Train.

Why do I have it?:  This is just a cool card!  It features three things that no longer exist at the park.  Taken today, this picture would have the Thunder Mountain Railroad in it.  

Huey, Dewey and Louie from the Art Corner

I recently acquired this card of Huey, Dewey and Louie riding the Dumbo ride at Disneyland.  It is one of a number of Art Corner cards that are not impossible to find but are also not very common.  Until this one showed up on eBay recently, it had been quite some time since I had seen one for sale.  Some collectors get a little confused by this card.  Why the blank spaces where the "boys" are talking?  I thought I would clear up that question with today's blog.

Huey, Dewey and Louie showed up in the Disney "Universe" very early.  First appearing in a comic strip in 1937 when they are sent to visit Donald.  They were soon after incorporated into various short films and were rather popular characters.  As brothers, they tended to talk over each other and complete each others sentences.  Seen here is a panel from Walt Disney's Comics and Stories issue #102 from March of 1949.  In the fifth panel, Huey, Dewey, and Louie can be seen eagerly volunteering to help Donald find a horse thief.

So, there you have it!  People who bought this card were, I think, meant to fill in the front with something like "Aunt" in one bubble, and "Sue" in the next bubble.  It's as simple as that.

Until next time...

Disneyland, Monsanto, and the Los Angeles Dodgers

One of the side benefits of collecting Disneyland post cards is that you can often get an interesting glimpse into someone's vacation if the card you have has been used.  More often than not, people comment on the great weather in California and all the fun stuff there is to do.  But occasionally, you get the random comment about last nights meatloaf at Marge's house, or the new baby that they saw at the relatives house.

The card I feature today is (from a collectibility standpoint) totally unremarkable.  Monsanto had the Hall of Chemistry at Disneyland, along with the House of the Future and other exhibits in the early days of the park.  These post cards must have been free, because even today they are easily found and at any given time there are many of them available on eBay (usually overpriced).

But this particular card is interesting because of the reference to the Los Angeles Dodgers on the back.  The card is dated and post-marked October 9th, 1957.  The Dodgers played their last game at Brooklyn's Ebbets field on September 24th, 1957, by which time the ownership of the team had already made the decision to move to LA.  This card gives one fans reaction...and the added note that they hoped the team would be named the Angels!  (See the link for the rather interesting history of the name and origins of the present day Angels in Anaheim)

Some collectors shy away from used cards, but sometimes the brief peek into history can be rather interesting!

Until next time...

Walt Disney's Christmas in Disneyland!

Dell comics in the 1950's are a real treat to any Disney fan.  Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, Four Color comics, and a host of other character titled comics (Donald Duck, Uncle Scrooge, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, etc...) were all part of the universe of Disney comics at the time.  

Occasionally though, special issues would be published.  One of these special issues, Walt Disney's Christmas in Disneyland, is a Dell Giant Comic from 1957.  Even though we are in the middle of summer (in the Northern hemisphere at least)...anytime is a good time to look at this holiday classic!  This book is "Giant" becaue it has about a hundred pages and is packed with stories and games for kids of all ages to enjoy.  

Several separate stories are featured, all essentially "told" by Santa Claus to two kids who have hitched a ride with him to Disneyland on Christmas eve.  The general order of the book is as follows:

• Santa takes the boy and girl (Taffie and Timmie) to Disneyland where they land in Adventureland and board an explorers boat.  This is followed by Santa telling the story of Donald Duck in The Black Pearls of Tabu Yama...another awesome Carl Barks story! 

• They next ride the Stagecoach in Frontierland, where Santa tells them the Mickey Mouse story The Iron Horse to Lonesome Gulch.
• They move on to the Rocket Ship ride and Santa tells them a story with Chip'n Dale called Christmas Spirit.
• Heading over to the Skyway, Santa tells the kids a Scamp story...you know Lady and the Tramp's pup Scamp.  The story is called The Hero.

• The Casey Jr. Train is up next where Santa tells a Li'l Bad Wolf story called Zeke's Sledmobile.
• In one of the highlights of the book (I think) they then ride Peter Pan's flight, where Santa tells a Peter Pan story where Hook Catches Santa.  

• The Mine Train is next, where the Snow White and Seven Dwarfs tale is told, Good Deeds.
• Finally, Santa takes the kids home and the comic book closes with several puzzles, games and craft ideas for the holidays.

All told...a packed issue to keep the kids and family entertained for hours...all for 25 cents (well, more than that today, but still)!!

Until next time...

Later Disneyland Panorama postcards

Disneyland The Nickel Tour is the bible when it comes to collecting Disneyland postcards.  Engaging in this hobby without this book is essentially impossible.  The book is itself rather collectible...as copies on eBay regularly fetch between $200-$300.  

But, it is a static thing.  The catalog of postcards published by Disneyland continues to grow.  A few folks that blog regularly on things Disneyland (especially Ken over at Disneyland Postcards) have websites that catalog the cards that are not in the Nickel Tour.  And today I feature one such card.

This card is one of a set of four numbered MP-10103, MP-10104, MP-10105, and MP-10106.  It is the same size as the older panorama cards that I have spoken of in my blog previously at 3.5 X 11 inches.  It is also a little mysterious to me.  A few years ago, a bunch of them showed up on eBay...and sold for just a few dollars each.  Since then, you see them occasionally, but not often.  I do not attend postcard shows regularly, so I do not know if they are common in that setting.  The card looks to be from the 1990's to my eye, but if that were the case, it would be in the Nickel Tour - and I don't see it in there (maybe I missed it?).  

Anyway...perhaps one of the readers of the blog can shed some light on this.  I have always wondered when this set was published and whether or not it was indeed sold in the park.

Until next time....

The Original Disneyland Cards vs. the D23 Reproductions

D23 is the official Disney fan club.  It gets its name from the year 1923, when Walt and his brother Roy started the Disney Studio.  For a fee, you can join the club and attend their special events held throughout the year.  At these events, they will give out collectible "members only" items for the fans as a reward for their loyalty.

A few years back, someone at D23 thought it would be a great idea to reproduce the original 23 postcards that were published for the opening of Disneyland.  When I first heard about this set, and saw it for the first time, I was a tad dismayed.  Below are two scans, one of the original P11876 card, the other of the D23 reproduction.

While at first glance this could be disturbing, the Disney postcard collector need not panic!  There are several characteristics that help distinguish between the cards.

First of all, if you look closely, you'll note that the reproduction card has been crop in a little closer.  This is the case on most of the D23 cards...but in some of the cases, it is rather subtle.  So, if you have the card in front of you, the next clue is the card stock.  The original card isn't your standard postcard stock like the original, but feels thinner and more flexible.

This is the original card P11876 (NT card #0001)

This is the reproduction D23 card P11876 (NT card #0001)

Finally, there is a semi-gloss finish on the reproduction card.  It is semi-gloss on both sides.  The original card can have a very high gloss on the front if in excellent condition, but will be a matte finish on the back.  

So there you have it.  For all of you out there who collect these cards, rest assured that passing one of the newer cards off as an older one is "not in the cards"!  (Sorry...that was pretty bad.)

Until next time...

Disneyland's Flying Saucers and Douglas Moonliner

Recently I posted on an old Disneyland Autopia postcard.  In that post I pondered the thought that perhaps (with the opening of Radiator Springs Racers) Disneyland might choose to replace Autopia.  Well, I guess that question is still up for debate, but in the meantime, on first glance, it appears to me that they have brought back an old attraction with the opening of Luigi's Flying Tires.

Shown here is card E-13 showing the Tomorrowland Flying Saucers.  Take a moment and compare the picture on the Luigi's Flying Tires link and the picture above.  The Flying Saucers, the last attraction to open in the original Tomorrowland, opened in 1961.  The ride, which essentially was a giant air hockey table with ridable pucks, had a number of issues after it opened related to weight difference in passengers and ride stability.  Despite these problems though, the ride remained open and entertained guests until 1966.

A couple of other things to note about this card.  In the background you can see the Moonliner with new "Douglas" livery painted on the side.  After TWA stopped sponsoring the Moonliner in 1962, Douglas stepped in and their name was on the display until 1966, when the rocket was taken down.  Also in the background is a large twin-domed building that frankly looks like nuclear power plant.  Pretty sure they didn't have one of those on Disneyland property!  This is actually the Rocket to the Moon show.  As usual, thanks to Dave at the Davelandweb blog for his research on this and all things Disneyland.

Until next time....

Disneyland Jumbo Card J-3: Matterhorn, Monorail and Autopia

Last week I was poking around on eBay and discovered a seller who was getting rid of some pretty decent older cards (the seller was actually the daughter of Roger Le Roque...of "The Nickel Tour").  There were a number of jumbo cards being auctioned off, and some other interesting paper items.  I ended up bidding on this J-3 card from the late 1950's.  It features an early view of the Matterhorn, the Alweg monorail, and Autopia.  If you look very carefully, you can see that the Autopia cars are one of the early versions (I think these are Mark II's...but not sure) that ran with bumpers all around the car in an open lane.  Other early cards show this more clearly.

I have read that the Matterhorn (which was built in 1959) is actually the first roller coaster to employ continuos tubular steel track.  Walt was after a very smooth ride...and he got it!  It's remarkable to think that these days almost every roller coaster uses tubular steel track to transport the car and riders.

For a look at a bunch of vintage shots of the Matterhorn and other Disneyland rides, check out DavelandWeb.  You can even order high resolution images to hang on your wall!

Until next time...

Disneyland Vacationland Magazine

When Disneyland was being created in 1954-1955, Walt marketed the park to the hilt.  He primarily utilized his television show Disneyland  to promote the park, but he utilized other means as well.  In my post from April 30, 2012 you can see one of the earliest promotional pamphlets for the park.  This one and presumably others like it were given out to automobile clubs and the like to promote interest in the park (pre-opening day brochures are rather rare though).  

After the park opened, the Vacationland magazine was published by Disneyland to continue the groundswell that began in July 1955 with the park opening.  These magazines are really fantastic.  Within them you can find a bunch of great early pictures of the park, as well as articles packed with info about what was going on in the park and around the Anaheim area.  This particular issue (Volue 3 # 1 from Spring 1959) has a great article on the movie, Sleeping Beauty.  It had been released around the time the magazine came out.  

These magazines were published from 1957 into the 1980's, I think.  I haven't been able to find out when they stopped.  If you happen to come across one, don't toss it!.  They a fun to look at and read.  

Until next time...

The Country Bear Jamboree

I did not visit Disneyland that often as a kid since I live in Northern California.  But when I did visit, I remember seeing these guys at the Country Bear Jamboree.  I remember it being a pretty fun show as a kid.  The attraction, which opened on October 1st, 1971, lasted for nearly 30 years, closing in 2001. 

 

The post card shown here is a Marc Davis concept sketch for the attraction.  It is one of sixteen postcards showing the multiple characters that made up the show.  These days, when you go with your young kids (or even if you aren't with young kids :) ) and ride on "The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh" ride, you can still find Melvin, Max, and Gruff Buff hanging around if you look carefully.  Seems their creators did quite have the heart to take them down when the show closed in 2001.

Until next time...

Opportunities Lost on eBay - Disneyland Panorama Postcards

When dealing in a niche hobby where there aren't that many people collecting on a subject, determining the value of something can be really tricky.  I learned this lesson (again) the other day when this auction:

ended on eBay.  This auction was selling three jumbo cards from the late 1950's...one of which is a rather uncommon J-19 panorama postcard.  I have all the cards in this auction, so I did not bid.  But being the friendly eBayer that I try to be, and since the seller was fairly new to eBay, I emailed and told them that they should expect to get a pretty good result, over $100, on this auction due mostly to the J-19 card.  Well, the auction fell a bit flat and the seller only got about $27 or so.  Why was I so confident?

Not three months ago, I bought the card shown here for $30 on eBay...a total steal, I thought.  And it was.  This is the same card that was sold in the auction I was just talking about.  The day after the end of the auction, the seller emailed me to say that another buyer would pay me up to $120 for the card...would I consider it?  I said no, I wanted to keep the card (these aren't easy to find)

Anyway...at the end of the day, I should have probably thrown in a $50 bid on the lot above.  That card could be sold for significantly more than it just sold for.  It just proves to show, that there are values still to be had on eBay if you are paying attention...and that when only a few people are in a hobby, prices can vary widely.

Until next time....

The $153 Disneyland Postcard

One thing about collecting is knowing your subject...well.  Time and time again I see people who have bought stuff on eBay or at a show who pay WAY too much for something that was touted as "RARE" or "SCARCE".  Those are two of the most over-used words in collecting.

But this observation works in reverse as well.  Sometimes stuff really is rare.  And while I have a pretty good sense of the landscape of the hobbies I am involved in, I am occasionally surprised by an auction result on eBay or elsewhere.  Today was one of those days.

This card sold on eBay today for $153.  Sounds like a lot (and it is) for a postcard.  It's a picture of the interior of the Nautilus Submarine from the old 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea exhibit.  I knew it was not common, so I bid something like $20 for the card...but, that didn't quite cut it I'm afraid!  This exhibit was around for over 10 years at Disneyland (1955 to 1966)...not sure why the card is so rare.  I suspect Ken over at Disneyland Postcards has some insight though.

The most I have ever seen paid for a Disneyland card is ~$250.  And that is one of the reasons I love this hobby (aside from the fact that it doesn't take much space!).  The "Holy Grail" of the collection is not in the stratosphere price wise.  A collector can have a lot of fun and put an impressive collection together for under a dollar a card if you are patient.

Until next time....

Disneyland Hotel: Vacationland

Here's a random Disneyland Hotel postcard.  A couple years ago my wife and I were fruit picking in Watsonville, California, and there was a small antique shop next to the farm.  I stopped in and found this.

 By the looks of it, this card was published sometime in the 1970's, but I haven't really been able to find much info on it.  Apparently Vacationland (an RV park associated with the Disneyland Hotel) was around until 1997 when it was demolished for the expansion of the Disneyland Resort.  So, while I have not seen another card like this...there must be some more out there somewhere given the 1997 closure date.

If you have another Vacationland postcard...post it up in the comments.  I would love to see it.

Until next time...