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Is there any particular value to be found in old minis. I have a bunch of Partha minis circa 1977-1979 that are just packed away and was wondering if they would be worth anything. I figure probably not, but I really don't know what else to do with them. I'd give them to my niece, but I'm concerned about lead content.

You could be surprised!

Some of those really old ones are rare as can be and collector items. I'd spend some time checking the net to find sale prices on similar items.

Hmm, I'll see what I can dig up. Along with the Ral Parthas, there are several that have a hand-scribed MM or HM with a copyright symbol and date (most of these are 1979). Most of these have hex shaped bases. Anyone perhaps know the origins of them?

pics would be nice...

All I have is my crappy phone camera, but I'll see if I can borrow my neighbor's camera (freaking amazing for close detail).

Try Stuff of Legends
http://www.solegends.com/maingallery.htm

I have been rummaging through/stripping my old minis and I discovered what was apparently a wizard from an old set called Draconians (pic not my mini).

Even after all this time it is still one of the better miniatures I have ever seen. I'm astounded by the quality of detailing on it. There is texture on its clothes so fine that I almost can't see it by the naked eye without putting a wash down to bring it out. I will definitely be repainting mine to try and repeat the enjoyment I had painting it the first time around.

So even if minis are old, they may still have some value. Of course, who knows in this economy how much money you'll get for them. I have a sneaking feeling the miniature collector base has become stuffed full of cynical GW-centric players who won't even look at a miniature unless if fits neatly into a GW-made internet-approved army list, but I like to think that there are still some people out there who still collect quality miniatures for the sake of collecting quality miniatures.

And by the look of the prices an unseen Ral Partha Battletech Marauder can fetch on eBay, it looks like I'm not entirely wrong.

Maelstrom808 wrote:Hmm, I'll see what I can dig up. Along with the Ral Parthas, there are several that have a hand-scribed MM or HM with a copyright symbol and date (most of these are 1979). Most of these have hex shaped bases. Anyone perhaps know the origins of them?

HM could be Heartbreaker Miniatures.

Depending on who wants them they can be fairly valuable. I would be very cautious about passing them on to a young person. They almost definitely have lead content on them, wash hands after handling them.

If you get some pics up here I imagine people might start to PM you and make some offers.

Stuff of Legends link is good, there's also this for identification:
http://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

Wow, that link is perfect Ambull. It has the pictures that I need since most of them have only a date for identification on the bottom (at best). I talked to my neighbor and should have the camera tonight or tomorrow.

As for the lead content, I pretty much figured as much. I got them as a kid 25 years ago or so and never did much with em other than some D&D games, but I really don't want to expose my neice to em.