A collector’s paradise at Richie’s Toy Fair
Newbie and veteran collectors alike gathered at Hoërskool Florida to share in their passion and find the perfect additions to their treasure troves of collectables.
Whether for sentiment or enjoyment, building a collection of small treasures and adding to them over time often become a lifestyle rather than a hobby. Keeping your treasures in pristine condition and every so often adding to your growing stockpile become somewhat of an addiction.
On Saturday, 24 April, like-minded collectors gathered in the indoor shooting range of Hoërskool Florida to buy and sell a hoard of collectibles. Richie’s Toy Fair – organised by an avid model car collector, Josh Richards – appealed to both newcomers and the die-hard collectors of Roodepoort. The stalls featured a variety of items, ranging in value so the more curious people had the perfect opportunity to start out small with a new collection, while the veteran collectors could hunt through the tables to find the perfect piece of merchandise to add to their collections. With the mini market being organised by collectors for collectors, attendees were spoilt for choice simply by the assortment of unique items on offer.
Model cars, model trains, action figures and Star Wars memorabilia were the most popular items on offer, but the impressive collection of old games and toys caught the eyes of many eager buyers. For those wanting a trip down memory lane, ageless gems such as Garfield and Archie comic books were also right in the eye line of any classic comic fanatics.
While collectors enjoyed miniature cars inside the shooting range, the car enthusiasts who express their passion on a larger scale gathered right outside for a very interesting car show. From spotless new-age cars, to souped-up classics and some interesting additional cars, the car show was a sight for sore eyes. The highlights seemed to be the vintage Coca-Cola van and Jack Daniels-themed car, the latter of which had a mascot that eerily resembled a taller version of the Chucky doll – though much less murderous and more considerate of others, as shown by the mask on her face.
No matter what your collectable poison, this toy fair had the perfect antidote.
