Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale....of not only Gilligan's Island, but also of the wonderful assortment of memorabilia from this hit television show that entered American homes and hearts in the 1960s.

From their two great covers of  TV Guide to the new DVDs of the series, the variety of memorabilia from the Gilligan's Island show provides something for every budget.  With the help of eBay, collectors now have the opportunity to acquire pieces from around the world and build their own unique collections.

An Introduction to Gilligan's Island

Gilligan's Island first aired on the 26th of September in 1964 on CBS introducing Gilligan and the castaways.  From the shark repellent and head-hunting Marubi tribe, this episode and the 97 that followed developed a fan-base that crossed generations and has stayed true decades after the last episode produced in 1967.   The cast of Gilligan's Island featured....

• Bob Denver as Gilligan - Denver earlier starred as Maynard G. Krebs, the fun-loving beatnik, in The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.                            

• Alan Hale as the Skipper

• Jim Backus as Thurston Howell III

• Natalie Schafer as Lovey Howell

• Tina Louise as Ginger

• Russell Johnson as the Professor
• Dawn Wells as Mary Ann

Sampling of Gilligan's Island Memorabilia

Autographs - Autographs from the cast and crew of Gilligan's Island are a popular favorite for collectors.  Almost anything could be autographed whether scraps of paper or even episode scripts.  However, buyers should beware of the presence of forgeries...perhaps even the seller is unaware and mistakenly believed it to be real.  If paying a premium for an item strictly because of the autograph, then it is worthwhile to have it authenticated by an expert in the field of Gilligan's Island related autographs.

Toys and Merchandise - Gilligan's Island collectors can find a wonderfully fun array of toys, games and merchandise featuring their favorite group of castaways....for example, the figures of the Skipper, Gilligan and the Professor pictured above.  Other types of toys include trading cards, board games, Matchbox car and even a floating island by Playskool. 

Cast Photos - Cast photos from Gilligan's Island cover a spectrum of settings and include everything from candid snapshots to professional headshots. Mass-produced studio photos were often distributed to studio visitors and are more common than personal snapshots and candid photos.  Ask the seller if they know the history of the photo and how it was acquired to give your purchase a more personal story.

Books Featuring Gilligan's Island and Sitcom Favorites

You have memorized the song and watched every episode ten times....but still want to know more about Gilligan's Island and other favorite sitcoms and television shows?  Believe it or not, there is a great selection of books available that give you just that inside look and behind the scenes peek of your favorite characters.  Some that are available include:

• Inside Gilligan's Island : A Three-Hour Tour Through The Making Of A Television Classic by Sherwood Schwartz 
• Hogan's Heroes : Behind the Scenes at Stalag 13! by Brenda Scott
• From the Holocaust to Hogan's Heroes : The Autobiography of Robert Clary by Robert Clary
• Dreaming of Jeannie : TV's Prime Time in a Bottle by Stephen Cox
• The Addams Chronicles: An Altogether Ooky Look at the Addams Family by Stephen Cox
• Bewitched Forever: 40th Anniversary Edition by William Asher
• I Love the Illusion: The Life And Career of Agnes Moorehead by Charles Tranberg
• Elizabeth Montgomery: A Bewitching Life by Rita E. Piro

Tips Before You Buy the Island...

• Research, Research, Research - Learn as much as you can about your desired Gilligan's Island collectible.  Not all sellers are knowledgable about their piece and may not be able to accurately depict it.  If their description and/or photo leaves a question in your mind, then remember to ask the seller before the auction ends.  This lets you clear up things before the sale and keeps both you and the seller on the road to a successful transaction. 
• Understand eBay Jargon - Check out the list of eBay acronyms so that you can more quickly distinguish NM (near mint) from MNB (mint no box).  Informed buyers make smart buyers!
• Use different keywords - The Advanced Search option provided by eBay lets buyers search titles or the title and description or completed items. Keep in mind that not everyone will precisely list an item as a 1991 Gilligan's Island Pinball Machine by Bally.   Rather than getting discouraged...expand your search, you might discover a piece listed simply under gilligan's pinball or gilligan's bally.   Another helpful hint is to misspell your search terms...like giligan.  Changing your search increases the chances of finding your item. Save your search on your personalized My eBay page and receive an email notification when a new listing is posted.
• Remember eBay Stores - eBay offers buyers another area for collectors through eBay Stores featuring collectibles from our favorite television shows. With great inventory selections and frequent updates, you just might find the perfect Gilligan's Island novelty.  If you are still in search of a particular memento from Gilligan's Island, be sure to post a notice to sellers in eBay's Want It Now section.
• Bid Safely and Smartly - Review the seller's feedback rating are their customers consistently happy with their purchase?  Do they have experience selling television memorabilia?  Are items sold "as is" or with a "satisfaction guarantee"?  Is there a shipping/handling fee? If you win the bid, keep in mind that PayPal provides buyers with a safe and secure means to purchase items without revealing their credit card numbers to sellers....this is a welcome (and free!) alternative.
• Enjoy the Tour - In conclusion....remember the fun that Gilligan and the gang always had...and make it yours! eBay is a fantastically fun way to peek through an amazing selection of Gilligan's Island memorabilia.  Discover pieces you did not know existed, meet other fans of Gilligan's Island and '60s television, and remember....your dream vintage treasure from Gilligan's Island awaits!