All I want for CHRISTMAS...

Festive childhood memories often revolve around unwrapping that dream present – but what if you kept it and how much might it be worth today?

- Emily Diamond

There seems to be an inexplicable universal phenomenon around Christmas, in that it always manages to bring out the inner child in even the most sceptical of adults. Whether it’s the magic of those traditional tales about Father Christmas delivering toys to children on Christmas Eve, or simply the sheer collective excitement as children await the arrival of the one toy they have dreamed of all year, the unmistakable charm of Christmas captivates the imagination.

Back in August, research by Argos revealed that a quarter of Brits had already started shopping for Christmas and a list of the most desirable toys included the latest Buzz Lightyear figurine (from Toy Story 4), a twerking Robotic Llama from Pets Alive (yes, really), an Owleez interactive pet, a Transforming Batmobile from Fisher-Price and a Battle Bus from the cult favourite online video game Fortnite.

These days, with many of the most popular ‘tech-enhanced’ toys being influenced by film and video game characters of popular culture and social media trends, there has also been a demand for classic toys such as music boxes, hobby horses and vintage corded toy phones.