30 years of the Haunted Mansion
Page 4 of 5
Hitchiking Ghost Beanies
The Art of Spending Money, er, Collecting
If you’re into doing a little collecting, any of the previous websites is a good place to start your research. Even if they don’t list specific items, you’ll get an idea where in the history of the mansion your piece falls.
There are three basic categories of Haunted Mansion collectibles. Pre-opening collectibles: Various books, promo pieces and even a game or two were released under the Disneyland Haunted Mansion banner after the building was erected in 1963, but before the show began in 1969. Classic collectibles: Games, gadgets, souvenirs, records, and other promo pieces that were released after 1969 and before 1979, the ten year anniversary. Modern collectibles: Items issued between 1979 and present day.
As with other collectibles, scarcity because of time or limited edition, add value to these items. Of course, a few items from versions of the attraction in other theme parks, special merchandise, and some collectible art falls between these basic guidelines.
One website of note to collectors is the Marc Davis Collectors Society. The celebrated Disney Legend has a justly deserved following. Of course, part of this site is devoted to his work on the Haunted Mansion.
Some of the out-of-print magazines featuring articles on the Haunted Mansion have become quite collectible as well. Issues of the Disneyland Line and the Disney News have sold for upwards of $40 as the rarity of the issue increases. The much sought after E-Ticket Magazine #16 has sold for as high as $70.
The most recent batch of Haunted Mansion collectibles comes from the celebration of the attraction’s 30th anniversary. Almost every item available at the event (see related story) has been available for auctioneers to buy via eBay, the most popular online auction house.
The back and front covers of the Haunted
Mansion 30th Anniversary CD
The largest markup has come on the Haunted Mansion Limited Edition CD. It was pressed on the Disneyland Forever CD maker and is limited to 999 copies. The limited edition includes a special 13th track that isn’t available on the regular 12 track CD, as well as a special insert that is signed by Imagineers Buddy Baker and X. Atencio. This CD has been auctioned for as high as $232.00 and is selling now for prices between $60 and $150 dollars. Once this initial set of auctions is over look for the value to rocket even higher as fewer people have extra CDs to sell and their availability wanes.
But beware of rip-offs online as well. The biggest fraud are the people who are trying to sell the 12 Track CD as if it is limited... or even more valuable than the $26 it costs to order it from Disney DelivEARs (1-800-362-4533). This 12 Track CD, with printed insert, is available until August 8th 1999. Another questionable item is the "Death Certificate." This is really just a printed sheet of paper that acted as a laundry list of merchandise available at the event. Yes, it was limited to the number of attendees, but it's been selling for over $150. That's a price the limited edition CDs are barely justified at.
Older collectibles that had dropped from favor were boosted by this 30th Anniversary fete. The 25th Anniversary CM watch which was valued at $250-$270 at the NFFC conventions hadn’t been moving at that price. Now there are bidders on eBay who are willing to pay upwards of $400 for the watch. Records, books and other Haunted Mansion collectibles are also selling at a fast clip.
A word of advice. Be sure to bid wisely. Do your research on an item. Check a Tomart’s Guide or past auctions on eBay for a relative value. If you’re lucky you’ll come home with a collectible that means a lot to you.