Why Do we collect?

[fuzzybuzzytoys]

For me, I was an absolute Star Wars nut as a kid. ANH was the first ever film I saw with my dad at the age of 7. I used my MicroNaught collection (big fan of that too) to create Star Wars scenes in my bedroom until I became aware that a set of toys were out there.

My first figure I brought was a Ben Kenobi. I think this was because the toy shops around the New Forest (where I grew up and am now) emptied pretty quickly of Vaders and R2s. I loved my Ben Kenobi and my obsession with the figures grew and grew with each new wave that came out. I wanted them all. I NEEDED them all.

On holiday in Canada in about 1980, my Auntie brought me the Falcon playset. This is still my favourite vehicle by a mile. Obsession now cemented.

So after Jedi my obsession faded somewhat to be replaced by girls and hormones and stuff. I was not even aware of the last 17. Then in the mid nighties I was working in London and came across a small shop in Southgate selling vintage figures. It was here I learnt of the last 17 and figures that were rare and the rocketing price of Star Wars stuff. I had kept all my toys and figures and retreived them from my folks house, took them back to my flat and set about restoring them to their former glory by hunting down guns, and parts and stickers. This is still the basis of my collection and my biggest love.

Im not a completest. As a Star Wars trader, I have sold items which I dont even have myself. But there is not one figure or toy from my original childhood collection I would let go for any money. Not ever.

Times change so fast. I have been to so many places. Met so many people. Lived, loved, laughed and cried but I still come back to Star Wars as a reminder of who I am and what makes me feel happy.

Thats why I collect and thats why I love Star Wars.

 

[chazb73]

I think nostalgia still remains the main reason. Partly for childhood but also for those years when I began getting excited over star wars again in the early 90's.

Yes that's very true - I started 'collecting' in 1994 when the Digitally Remastered VHS's came out, which is what got me back in to Star Wars having forgotten all about it for over 5 years. Thinking back to then brings back great memories too.

Yep - That's when I started collecting again after a 7 year gap, got my widescreen VHS movies and it all came flooding back!

 

[chazb73]

For me, I was an absolute Star Wars nut as a kid. ANH was the first ever film I saw with my dad at the age of 7. I used my MicroNaught collection (big fan of that too) to create Star Wars scenes in my bedroom until I became aware that a set of toys were out there.

My first figure I brought was a Ben Kenobi. I think this was because the toy shops around the New Forest (where I grew up and am now) emptied pretty quickly of Vaders and R2s. I loved my Ben Kenobi and my obsession with the figures grew and grew with each new wave that came out. I wanted them all. I NEEDED them all.

On holiday in Canada in about 1980, my Auntie brought me the Falcon playset. This is still my favourite vehicle by a mile. Obsession now cemented.

So after Jedi my obsession faded somewhat to be replaced by girls and hormones and stuff. I was not even aware of the last 17. Then in the mid nighties I was working in London and came across a small shop in Southgate selling vintage figures. It was here I learnt of the last 17 and figures that were rare and the rocketing price of Star Wars stuff. I had kept all my toys and figures and retreived them from my folks house, took them back to my flat and set about restoring them to their former glory by hunting down guns, and parts and stickers. This is still the basis of my collection and my biggest love.

Im not a completest. As a Star Wars trader, I have sold items which I dont even have myself. But there is not one figure or toy from my original childhood collection I would let go for any money. Not ever.

Times change so fast. I have been to so many places. Met so many people. Lived, loved, laughed and cried but I still come back to Star Wars as a reminder of who I am and what makes me feel happy.

Thats why I collect and thats why I love Star Wars.

Great post - Sums it up for me! :wink:

 

[itfciain]

Im not a completest. As a Star Wars trader, I have sold items which I dont even have myself.

:lol: :lol: thats were it all goes wrong for me (and why I have about 500 loose figures in my collection!)

 

[.Q.]

Approaching 200 juicy loosies, got some catching up to do!

Collected as a kid as I loved the movies, and as Fuzzybuzzy so eloquently puts it, would never part with my old toys. Started collecting again more recently as I promised myself for years I'd finish my set, so filling in the gaps, only 8 of last 17 needed for a full set of figs. I really get a kick out of finding bargain variants, so much so it's distracting me from getting a complete run together!

 

[edd_jedi]

Yep - That's when I started collecting again after a 7 year gap, got my widescreen VHS movies and it all came flooding back!

I still have those VHS videos in my collection, they are just as important to me as any toys. I must have watched them literally hundreds of times, I remember when I first got them I watched one pretty much every day for a year :lol:

The blu rays are great, but there's something special about watching the fuzzy old VHS versions that are obviously the original unedited 'non special editions', but also with the credits/adverts you remember. We had an ex-rental ROTJ when we were kids and I remember the 'Chariots of Fire' and 'Cocoon' adverts from the start of the video 8)

 

[chazb73]

Yep - That's when I started collecting again after a 7 year gap, got my widescreen VHS movies and it all came flooding back!

I still have those VHS videos in my collection, they are just as important to me as any toys. I must have watched them literally hundreds of times, I remember when I first got them I watched one pretty much every day for a year :lol:

The blu rays are great, but there's something special about watching the fuzzy old VHS versions that are obviously the original unedited 'non special editions', but also with the credits/adverts you remember. We had an ex-rental ROTJ when we were kids and I remember the 'Chariots of Fire' and 'Cocoon' adverts from the start of the video 8)

I agree I've still got mine - great artwork - unfortunately I dont have a VCR to watch those original on! :x
Yes the trailers for other movies are great also