Why are the boxes some boxes worth money

[Anonymous]

I have stated before that I am new to this hobby, but for some reason I cannot understand why boxes of old trains can be worth a lot of money. I was searching on EBAY and came across a box that was for sale and there was bids up to $165.50 ( check it out LIONEL TRAINS RARE 2257WS TRAIN SET CARDBOARD BOX) [:O][:O]. I know the old manuals, cataloges etc may be worth something, but A BOX!! I am sorry but a box is a box and could not justify paying that much money for a box. [%-)][%-)] My wife would kill me if UPS dropped off my purchase and I said "look honey I bought a box for $160".[B)] Maybe I am stupid but I never new cardboard was worth so much money [banghead]

[Anonymous]

The reason for this is that the boxes are harder to find than the trains. When most people buy something, they usually throw away the box. "What good is the box?" As a result, original boxes are somewhat scarce. Toy train collectors like their trains to be in the best and most original condition possible and so having the box always adds to the value. Any original packaging, instructions or simmilar things that were originally sold with a train make the train more original to how it was first sold and that's what collectors want. I once saw a piece of paper with Lionel logos on it that originally had been used to wrap up a postwar Lionel passenger car sell for around $75 on ebay. Just a piece of paper, but a very rare piece of paper. Basically, it comes down to the desire of collectors for old trains that are "new". While having the box is always important, it means far more for prewar and postwar toy trains than modern ones because most modern ones are bought by adult enthusiasts who keep them in good condition and save the box.

[Anonymous]

As a more extreme example of this, an auction for a complete, original set of pre-war Blue Comet passenger cars finished recently on Ebay and the winning bid was a bit over $1100. A day or so later, a set of original pre-war Blue Comet boxes on Ebay went for over $700.

Amazin'!

[Anonymous]

Sask_Tinplater is right. We have Lloyd ralston auctions in my area and he has box sales that will amaze you.

I had a shipping box for the madison cars. It was my father in laws. It had Lionel tape sealing the box and he opened the bottom instead of the top. Right side up it looks unopened. It sold for $475!

Don

[FJ and G]

I can't understand why boxes are worth so much either, but then again, a friend of mine has a baseball card of Babe Ruth that's worth about $6K, so a toy train box IMO is at least as important as a baseball player who plays a game for a living. Ooooou, the angry replies will come in now. :-)

BTW, I kept every train box until they started taking over the house. I filled a dumpster with them; well, I'm exaggerating just a bit.

What I think is silly is that MINT cond. means never opened. Who in their right mind would buy a toy train set and never open the box. Never mind; don't answer.

dave