Badderius said:
Awesome Joe, loving the collection but as others have stated how well they are displayed.
PS: What made you get into Bootlegs?
Again stunning collection, cheers!
Garry
Once again, thanks for the kudos from everyone here on my collection and display. I really try to take pride in how my collection is presented. I think a well put together display really makes collecting more enjoyable.
I did most of the shelving work very cheaply. Buying used slatwall and shelving at a local business surplus store, cut it to fit what I needed. Then some used display cases, also from the same biz surplus. Curating and updating my displays is a great quiet time relaxation/stress reliever too,and it's a lot less costly than buying more stuff....lol
As for why bootlegs....Honestly the reasons and rational are so varied but they all tie in for me.
1) The strange/ugly factor. They're fun to look at, simple as that.
2) The cultural aspect, seeing what kids in 3rd world and former Soviet Bloc nations had to play with when the licensed toys were either unavailable, or unattainable due to cost.
3) When I started taking bootlegs more seriously (for years I just did them here and there as a sideline/curiosity) there was no one really pursuing them as a main focus to their collection, and for me their appeal was growing. Right place right time, and I ran with it.
4) The challenge, I like the fact that determination on the hunt, and luck are sometimes far more important than how much money you have to throw at the item. With licensed production SW collecting, if you've got the $$ NOTHING is rare or out of reach. Of course the rarity can also be a setback, it takes a LOT of patience to collect some lines that you have no clue if you'll ever finish them just because even tho these were mass produced toys, they're just not out there at all in the collector market.
5) In the same mindset as the challenge, the fact that there is no finite end to it. Sure you can finish sets, but then with bootlegs, you'll find another variation that hasn't been catalogued yet and the hunt always continues. I've bought at least a dozen items this year that until I saw the pics in the auctions or sales lists, I didn't even know they existed, and I'm supposedly the go to guy on this stuff...lol. New discoveries help keep it exciting & fun.
Cheers
Joe
PS to answer Andy...Any collectors that I know are always welcome to come by and see my collection in person. I've hosted a few get togethers and BBQs with collectors in the area too.
