Alex Carson
Items of Worth
Many people store their belongings in their attic, basement, or garage. Many of these items are old. When your children get older, you take their baby things and store them away for safekeeping. When a grandparent or older relative passes away, most people store their belongings rather than throwing them out. This means that you might have something very valuable collecting dust and you don’t even know it especially if it is 70s Figurines.
Precious Moments
Precious Moments are adorable figurines. Their trademark teardrop eyes make them look incredibly angelic. Most people who grew up in the 70s have fond memories of these figurines. By the end of the 70s, many children’s rooms all over the country contained these figurines. A man named Samuel Butcher created the figurines. He was an artist and a devoted Christian. Being a good Christian,
Samuel decided to take his creative talent and dedicate it to the Lord and his faith. After attending the College of Arts and Crafts in California, he started to share the Word of the Lord through pictures.
Precious Moments Is Born
Samuel got a job working in the art department of the Child Evangelism Fellowship in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is a Christian non-profit that educates children. It was then that he began drawing pictures of children, and he called the sketches, “Precious Moments.” During this fellowship, Samuel met Bill Biel. Together, they set up a company called Jonathan & David. They featured Samuel’s Precious Moments drawings on posters and cards. When the pair received an invitation to sell their items at a Christian booksellers’ club in 1975, it was their big break.
Enesco Corporation
In 1978, the Enesco Corporation offered to turn one of Samuel’s works of art, Love One
Another, into a 70s figurine. The piece paid homage to his daughter, Tammy, and he was so excited after seeing a sample that he cried tears of joy. By the end of 1978, the company created 21 figurines based on Samuel’s sketches. They were known as the “Original 21.” People loved the figurines so much that he received letters from customers letting him know that his designs resonated with them.
Dwindling Sales
For a while, Precious Moments did great. They were bringing in hundreds of millions of dollar. When the sales began to dwindle, Enesco stopped producing the figurines. This means that Samuel’s own company, Precious Moments, Incorporated would have to manufacture and ship the products. This worked out well for Samuel, and the range grew to over 2,500 figurines. People all over the world were buying the figurines, and there was an official club with half a million members. There are at least 10,000 remaining club members today.
Worth a Fortune
If you have one of the Original 21 figurines, you could be sitting on a small fortune. One of the most valuable figurines is God Loveth a Cheerful Giver. This figurine can sell for hundreds of dollars; however, if you look hard enough, you might be able to find a buyer willing to spend thousands. In 2017, Paul Burton of Woolvey Fine Antiques & Collectibles reported seeing this figurine selling for up to $2,000.
How To Get a Good Selling Price
If you have a collection of Precious Moments figurines, you might be better off selling them as a package deal. One collector sold their entire collection as a whole on eBay for $5,000. This is quite a bit of money if you are willing to part with your figurines.
Is Your Model Still In Production?
If you have just one or two Precious Moments figurines, you should find out if the model that you own is still in production. Some figurines are no longer being made, and the price difference is massive. Those that are still in production can be sold for about $15. If the figurine is no longer in production, you can get up to $1,000. If you have a figurine that is still in production, hold onto it. You never know when Samuel will stop producing it.
The Condition
Another thing that will affect the value of your figurine is the condition that its in. You will get the most for a figurine that is not chipped. Even the tiniest flaw can cost you up to three-quarters of the value. If you have a figurine in perfect condition, still in the box, it will be very valuable. Finally, limited-edition figurines are very valuable. For example, Precious Moments collaborated with Disney, and not too many of them were made. If you possess one of them, you could be sitting on a lot of cash. If you aren’t sure if yours is a collectors edition, it will have a model number that begins in “PM” or “C.” If you were a member of the Collector’s Club, your figurine will be signed, which will increase its value that much more.
Cash In the Attic
If you have Precious Moments figurines that you are willing to part with, you should take a close look at it. If you have one of the Original 21 or a collector’s edition, you could be sitting on a small fortune. If you still own these ’70s figurines, they could make you a lot of money.
