This price listing is compiled and edited by Bob Reilly, who is
solely responsible its preparation and publication. It is produced based
on a Lilliput Lane market database originated and maintained by the
author and must be considered as a work-in-progress. The background
data supporting the list is constantly being revised corrected, deleted,
etc. as new information is presented and assessed. Every effort is made
to keep the list timely and accurate, but there are no guarantees that
such will be the condition of any entry. Further, it should not be construed
as official in any manner nor guaranteeing that the value of any piece
given will reflect true marketplace worth at any time. The valuations
given are primarily based on the prices set on the pieces by professional
resellers and the opinions of knowledgeable collectors and pricing services
(including auctions). Less weight is given to individual collector sales
or asking prices. Data contributions and opinions along with corrections
are welcome and will be carefully considered. The author can be reached
at: gtreilly@aol.com.
LILLIPUT LANE LISTING (US Edition)
The following pages detail the various items comprising the Lilliput
Lane Database. Please note that there are many collections included
which may not be considered as true Lilliput items having once been
offered by the firm, but since having gone on separate ways.
The item description and the version designations follow closely the
distinctions detailed by Dan Komar in his excellent work "Lilliput Lane
"The Complete Collectors Guide" There are some deviations, however,
as other details and differences have surfaced over the past few years.
The second column, "VALUE", is considered the "fair" second market price
level for that particular piece expressed in US dollars for a piece
in good condition, with a box and certificate. It is not necessarily
the lowest price obtainable, but rather represents a price that a collector
should expect to pay. Bargain prices, however satisfying to obtain,
tend to skew the appropriate price level too low, while overpriced merchandise
can have the opposite effect. The values shown are assessments based
on the data available, its source, reliability and timeliness. It is
not any kind of arithmetical average or formula derivative.
The column immediately right is an indication of the market activity
being seen in regard to the individual item. The higher the activity
level ("L"), the more reliable will be the price opinion. Moderately
active markets are designated "M", while an "S" indicates those pieces
that trade less frequently. Where no value is shown ("0") the translation
is not that of a worthless piece, but rather as one for which no meaningful
data supporting any kind of price level has been reported.
The final two columns, "RET" (retirement year) and "COLLECTION" are
self explanatory and are included to assist with piece identity and
for informational purposes.
Again, the data and opinions therefrom are mostly from reliable sources.
Corrections, additions, details regarding versions are most welcome
from any source and will be added to the database information for consideration
in rendering future price opinions. Many thanks to those corresponding
collectors who have noted typos and other errors, Particular thanks
to the several others who have updated my informational data base over
the past year.
FEBRUARY 2000 MARKET COMMENTARY
The good news is that the Lilliput second market is alive and well.
The bad news is that the prices for these resale items remains on the
lower side of what most of us collectors would like to see. Again, I
must look at the bright side and remind all the readers that it has
never been a better time to start or expand a Lilliput collection because
of the attractiveness of the prices being asked.
The Internet auction sites, particularly eBay, have had a definite impact
on the Lilliput second market. Volume has climbed from about a dozen
pieces about eighteen months ago to well over 200 pieces being offered
at any given time. In addition, UK collectors have found the venue to
be particularly effective for their buying and selling activities. The
range of items offered is quite striking.
The effect on prices is rather difficult to quantify. Without a doubt
there are a considerable number of bargains to be had at any session.
I tried to statistically sample the prices realized against my "Price
Guide". I took over 200 pieces into consideration over about a two to
three month period of time and attempted to arrive at an average discount
below my prices. The results led to a picture of wide (and wild) fluctuations
which yielded too large a standard deviation to make any averages meaningful
and reliable.
