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The History of Hallmark Christmas Keepsakes
The practice of decorating trees with ornaments was one that was brought to the US by those arriving from Europe to settle in the States. It can be traced to around the mid 1840s and the business really started to take off at the end of the 1800s when the Woolworth stores sold and made big profits off cheap but desirable Christmas tree decorations.
It was much later in the 1970s when Hallmark first entered the Christmas Ornament business - six glass balls stood as the initial offering in what was to become a highly sort after and collectable business - Hallmark Keepsakes - Keepsakes. What made the Hallmark ornaments stand apart from the competition, is the same thing that makes them unique today - they are all dated, they are unique and they can only be purchased for a limited period of time - when they are sold, they are sold; leaving the collector to seek out sites such as eBay in order to trace their coverted piece!
Each year the ornaments reflect the time in which we live and the collection has expanded to over 3000 pieces in a variety of mediums, colors and themes. What started as a glass ball has changed very drastically over the years with the latest collection of ornaments not only featuring some of the old favorites -such as one of the many series pieces that Hallmark has produced over the years - Lionel Trains, Celebration Barbie and Madam Alexander; to a beloved favorite character or theme - Mickey Mouse, Scooby Doo and Star Trek; to something that reflects the time and place we find ourselves in today - yes, the 2006 collection features a MP3 player, a Cellphone, a large cup of coffee that looks remarkable similar to one we would find at a well known nationwide coffee chain and a laptop!!
Hallmark Keepsakes have a huge following and indeed, the pieces are coverted as much for the warm memories they bring - as the investment opportunity the offer! How many other Christmas Ornaments have their own fanclub.....yes, 19 years ago - Hallmark introduced the 'Keepsake Ornament Club' - members get some of the first peaks at the newest collections through their magazine and the Dream book - which premiers the collection each year; and even get their own club Ornaments - pieces that tend to become very popular very quickly due to the fact that they are not widely available to the general public unless you joint he club!
Christmas Ornaments as Investments?????
And back to the investment piece - search Hallmark Ornaments on eBay and you will see the tremendous price some may climb too - for example, the Star Trek pieces tend to sell a lot more than the maybe $14 they first commanded, just search - Hallmark Star Trek, just today there is one already up to $100 - but the it has been known to fetch almost $400 and a piece from another collection entitled Here Comes Santa - originally would have left change from a $10 bill in your pocket...now you may be lucky to find it for under $700!!!!
Such is the investment value of Hallmark Ornaments, that the world of the collector is split in two - those who decorate their tree's' - yes we are taking multiple trees here, with their collection, and those who would never dream of even opening the box. You see - the piece becomes much more valuable when it is in absolute MINT condition - the box should be unopened and free from creases or rips, the ornament should be inside, in original bubble wrap or plastic casing,and the collectors card - a card with an illustration of the Ornament and information about the date / title should accompany the piece!
As you may notice from the pic at the top, we fall into the former category...the ornaments are displayed for all too see...but there again we also carefully preserve the boxes and cards, painstakingly putting each piece back into its respective carton at the end of the Holidays....a task that just might have to go someday as it takes HOURS!!
Where do we buy the Ornaments?
Well buying the current years collection might be easy enough....as early as July, the current years collection will debut in a Hallmark Gold Crown Store. A little later, you may also be able to find many of the pieces (but not all as a significant amount are Gold Crown Store - Gold Crown exclusive) in local Department and Drug stores around town.
It is not easy to predict what will become a 'hot property' but the series ornaments are always a good bet as years down the line people look to complete a collection with one they missed or broke.
Also ask what is selling out quickly - as we have said, when they are gone, they are gone so if something is flying off the shelves in August, it is a pretty good bet that come the Fall you may already be able to commnad more than you paid if it is no longer available in the stores especially if you consider the common misconception that Hallmark hang on to designs for you to buy them years down the line - they DON'T! Once they are sold, they are sold and Hallmark does not sell past designs - they simply do not have them available for retail!!
A possible indicator of what may become valuable down the road, is to look for those pieces that are VERY relevant to the current time - a piece made for a hot movie for example. In 2003 Hallmark Produced a finding Nemo Finding Nemo piece to coincide with the movie....just a year later this piece was selling for more than twice its original retail price...and by the way, this link may not produce the piece as it does not pop up too often any more!
What to look for in the 2006 collection
Maybe this year look at Superman - 'Superman Man of steel' sure to be hot as the movie debuts - Superman (by the way, these are not for sale just yet so these links will be better used after July though I have seen some 2006 pieces already available on eBay!!)...at $15 this is sure to double in value rather quickly! Another hot movie - Disney's Cars 'Lightening McQueen and Mater' Disney Cars - so this will also be a hot ornament!! The aforementioned 'tech' pieces - the IPOD and Cell phone are sure to go well as they reflect life now in 2006! And of course.....look at the series Ornaments of 2006>>>>
What are Hallmark Series Ornaments??
Hallmark has made over 100 different series ornaments..these may be related to popular culture such as the 'Celebration Barbie' and 'Star Trek ' series, or feature classic Characters such as Raggerty Ann and Andy, Madam Alexander and Lionel and of course there are also the family series....once bay arrived we had to collect Baby's 1st, 2nd, 3rd Christmas and so on. Here is a look at some of the series pieces:
Celebration Barbie!
Barbie has long featured in the Hallmark Keepsake Collection - and the appeal is obvious. First Barbie is an icon - beloved by little girls and older followers alike. Secondly this is a piece that will appeal to two groups - those who collect Hallmark and those who collect barbie. Barbie also takes on many guises, which gives Hallmark plenty of opportunity to make pieces that reflect both her classic and contemporary side. In the past we have seen barbie as Cinderella, as a Ballerina, as a Biker but the Celebration Barbie - Barbie pieces are truely unique and spectacular. This year sees the debut of the 7th Ornament in the series and this piece is always set apart from the rest - it typically has a later debut date - collectors wait for this one to arrive and are rewarded with barbie in all her finery - a crown or other elegant headwear, a beautiful gown and lots and lots of detail. These do appreciate in value though it may take a few years as they are often widely available. Current retail - $16 - look to make over $20 after 5 years, this will propbably be one to keep to extend the value!
Harley Davidson
Again another piece with dual appeal - those who collect keepsakes and those Biker fans!! Harley These pieces feature different bikes from years past and this year we see the 8th in the series for offer. These are incredibly detailed with wheels and handlebars that can be steered. There is also a miniature series, tiny ornaments of about a inch or less in height and the Harley Miniture also marks its 8th anniversary this year!
All American Trucks
This year we see the 12th in the series available !!!! These feature all the classic makes - the ones we see less and less of on the roads these days!! Ford models, Chevy models.....and to add to the Christmas cheer each car is taking home the family tree..hence the reason it is allowed on my tree....I am a bit of a traditionalist in that I like my tree to be festive....this little addition of the tree qualifies this serier .....these are all metal with wheels that move. Again the attention to detail is unparalled!! All American Truck
Puppy Love
This favorite series is well established!!! For this year we see the 16th addition to this collection!! This collection features a variety of dogs breeds is a festive manner - from the playful puppy with Santa's hat in his mouth to last years Westie in his little Christmas basket to our 2003 Boxer above in a little Fetive box (alas ours will need replacing this year as 'some' little toddler decided he needed to be removed from his box!!) - Puppy Love. a great collection when you consider our love of pets....and for the cat lovers among us, there is the sister collection -
Mischievious Kittens
A slightly more recent addition than the puppies - number 8 is released this year! Always up to no good - attacking something related to the season, you cannot help but laugh at these highly annimated resin pieces. Both the puppy and kitten series have traditionally been at the lower end of the Keepsake pricing spectrum!
Cool decade
Just in case you have forgotton the year - these cute cuddly creatures have been here to remind you for the past 6 years with the 7th addition to debut this year! cool decade All these pieces have a very similar look - with a snowy winter animal perched upon a clear 'ice' cut out of the current year! Leaving you change from $10 these are not really a great buy for the short term investor but a great buy for your tree! Also in this price range you can find the Snow Buddies series with number 9 appearing this year; and the Snowball and Tuxedo series with number 6 being introcuded in 2006!
Non series Keepsakes
If you do not want to get the series pieces....then there are some INCREDIBLE finds!! Hallmark really puts the bells and whistles on some of their collectables! I love the fact that some of these ornaments talk, light up or move.....like my
Wizard of Oz - Horse of a different color...
I love it when guests see this one....with light changing effects and sound...just plus into one of your Christmas lights and it is good to go...or the 2002 piece:
Gingerbread Cottage
This one not only looks good enough to eat...but smells it to thanks to the addtion of a gingerbread airfreshner inside which activated by plugging this into to a Christmas light socket...light effects too just make this one simply amazing!!
Hallmark makes some incredibly detailed elaborate pieces, that may set you back a little more , but they add an interesting dimension to your tree. lternate with the simpler pieces and some stand out works - with moving characters, sounds, smells, actions to really make the family tree stand out.
Yes, there are many different designs...some series, some not. Some with simple sentiments such as :
There are those that mark a favorite character:
In short, Hallmark Keepsakes have something for us all - the collector, the person that wants to commemorate a special someone, the investor....you can use Ebay as a gret source to start, build or even sell your collection and its something we can all have fun doing!
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