Site explained

My (Simpsons) world ... and welcome to it!
If you're looking for hot news and cold truth about toys and other merchandise from "The Simpsons" TV show, you've come to the right place.

Welcome! This site is Collecting Simpsons!, an uncensored (and unofficial) guide to merchandise from "The Simpsons."

Never says 'D'oh!' That's me, this site's editor, William LaRue, with some of the 4,000 Simpsons items in my collection, including an official studio crew jacket with Simpsons patches. A few of my favorites Syracuse.com. Simpsons Archive. EntertainmentEarth.com. (Site sponsor) eBay.com auction site. (Site sponsor)

My name is Bill LaRue. I'm both a longtime fan of "The Simpsons" and devout collector of Simpsons merchandise. In addition to running this Web site, I'm the author of the book "Collecting Simpsons! An Unofficial Guide to Merchandise from The Simpsons" (December 1999, KML Publishers). This site's Books page includes more details about the book, including how you can order a copy.

I launched this Web site in October 1996 as a labor of love that seems less like labor and more like love every day. Even if you're not a collector or a fan of the show, I hope the sheer volume of fun and good-natured excesses here will make it worthwhile for you to return again and again.

On these pages you'll find descriptions and typical values for well over 1,000 Simpsons items -- from dolls and action figures to compact discs and calendars. This site is chock full of photos, interviews, top-10 lists, reports on new products, and links to other sites offering merchandise for sale. I typically update this site several times a week.

Our collecting book Autographed copies of our book, "Collecting Simpsons! An Unofficial Guide to Merchandise from The Simpsons" are available for $9.99 each plus shipping at Half.com.

The site is dedicated to the proposition that being a fan of "The Simpsons" can extend beyond the joys of watching one of the best shows on television. In fact, some of my fun maintaining this site comes from knowing that much of the content will come as a shocker to plenty of loyal viewers -- many of whom are too young to remember that, a decade ago, part of the initial Simpsons phenomenon was a tidal wave of licensed merchandise.

Although the general public's appetite for Simpsons goods faded in the early '90s, there remained a small but dedicated bunch who never lost interest. And as the years passed, a growing number of others caught on to the fun of collecting toys and other merchandise featuring characters from the show.

And now with a surge of new Simpsons merchandise in the U.S. since early 2000, these indeed are good times for collectors.

Getting into collecting
I confess. I used to think people were crazy to get so wrapped up in collecting toys and other items of pop culture. It seemed an odd diversion of time and money, even if a lot of collectors justified their addictive hobby by predicting it would someday put their kids through college.

My opinion didn't change even in 1990 when I bought some Simpsons dolls from Burger King, and my wife bought a Bart coin bank, doll and a key ring. We didn't plan on starting a Simpsons collection. We just loved "The Simpsons" and wanted a few keepsakes.

Years passed. Then in 1995 I was digging through boxes in my basement when I pulled out the Simpsons dolls and began chuckling over their strange but compelling appearance. That's when it struck me that it would be fun to see if I could find other Simpsons items. That set me off on a merchandise hunt that became such a pleasure that I launched this site in 1996 as a way to share the fun.

When I started, recalling the flood of Simpsons merchandise in 1990, I thought it would be easy to put together a good collection. "Gee," I told myself, "I'll just head out to the mall and pick up some stuff." Boy, was I wrong.

By 1995, almost all of the Simpsons merchandise had disappeared from U.S. retail stores. I found a few Simpsons items here and there at close-out stores, as well as flea markets and garage sales. I also ordered a few things from merchants advertising in Toy Shop magazine.

But it wasn't until I began searching online that I found success on a regular basis. Through Prodigy, CompuServe and America Online, I tracked down the Pull-String Talking Bart doll, a giant Homer arcade doll, the Marge beauty bag set, the "Simpsons Don't Have a Cow" dice game, and lots more.

When those sources pretty much dried up in 1996, I began posting notes and reading through Internet newsgroups. It was a gold mine. Since then, I've centered my collecting efforts on the Internet, especially the eBay.com auction site, where Simpsons goods are abundant, although the competition sometimes pushes prices past affordability.

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Sponsored link: As of summer 2001, more than 4,000 Simpsons items were available at the eBay.com auction site.

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4,000 ... and growing
My collection of Simpsons merchandise today easily tops more than 4,000 items, counting all the variations, as well as promo items and news clippings that generally aren't featured on these pages. Thanks to the recent wave of new Simpsons merchandise -- including a line of fabulous action figures from Playmates Toys -- the size of my collection seems limited only the depth of my wallet, the patience of my spouse, and space in my home.

People sometimes ask where I put all this stuff I collect. I have Simpsons merchandise displayed around the house, including posters in the children's bedrooms and the Bart-O-Lounger sericel in the family room. Most items, though, are carefully stored to avoid damage from sunlight, moisture and variations in temperature. It's hard to believe, but some of the items in my collection are now more than 10 years old and are increasingly susceptible to damage.

Believe it or not, my life doesn't revolve around Simpsons merchandise -- or writing about it here. I make my living as the TV critic for The Post-Standard daily newspaper in Syracuse, N.Y. Of course, this Web site isn't authorized or produced by my newspaper or its owner; I am solely responsible for the content of Collecting Simpsons!
 
Also, "The Simpsons"™ is a registered trademark of 20th Century Fox Film Corp. I am in no way affiliated with the company, which has not authorized this Web site. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

A few other points:

1. The guide isn't a sale list
Please note that none of the items listed on Collecting Simpsons! are for sale from me. However, if you're looking for Simpsons merchandise, there are links (including sponsored one) on many of my pages to other sites offering items for sale. You can also check out the Q&A or the Lots-O-Links pages to find sources for Simpsons stuff.

2. Not always an endorsement
Throughout this Web site, I provide sources for Simpsons merchandise, many of which are sponsored links. A "sponsored link" means I get a small commission if someone clicks on the link and buys merchandise or registers at the site. I try to use sponsored links only for companies with good repuations. However, except where noted, these aren't my endorsements or recommendations. As with any mail-order purchase, it's wise to be careful.

3. I love your e-mail
Feel free to write to me. One favor, though: Read through the site a bit, especially this introduction and the Q&A page, before firing off an e-mail. These pages answer most basic -- and many detailed -- questions about Simpsons merchandise.

4. Devoted to licensed goods
Collecting Simpsons! focuses almost exclusively on licensed Simpsons merchandise originally sold at the retail level in the U.S. and overseas. That's not to say that clever bootlegs, customs and other non-licensed items aren't worthy of interest to some collectors. I'm just not interested in devoting a lot of time and space focusing on items that are both illegal and often poorly made.

5. Very much a work in progress
I gathered the information here about Simpsons merchandise from a review of my own collection, discussions with other collectors, and research from published sources. When available, I've included a copyright year for each item -- although it's important to note that this isn't necessarily the year that the item was manufactured.

I have tried to be as accurate as possible in describing merchandise. But for the sake of improving legibility, I use mostly lower-case letters in reprinting package writing that is often in ALL CAPS. Also note that some merchandise originally made with packaging is sold at the retail level or traded without packaging -- or even with totally new packaging.

The descriptions I provide are based on items as I found them. I welcome any additional information about variations in items or their packaging. Also feel free to offer any other additions or corrections to Collecting Simpsons! Like Homer's stomach, this is a work in progress!

6. Typical prices, not the highest
In the guide, I list typical prices for Simpsons merchandise in U.S. dollars in recent months. The first dollar amount listed with each item is an approximate value in mint condition without packaging. The second figure is the value of the item in mint condition with near-mint original packaging, if such packaging exists. Almost always, items in lesser condition would have significantly lower values.

While it's true that collectors can find higher selling prices for Simpsons merchandise from some dealers -- and especially from some of the bidding on eBay. But the values I list here try to reflect average prices, which will certainly fluctuate over time.

7. Defining mint condition
An item in "mint" condition has absolutely no flaws. While it's common to find toys in that condition, their packaging rarely meets that standard. That's why I list values for packaging in "near mint" condition -- which means it may show extremely minor wear but is otherwise like new. Most collectors seek mint items in original packaging, which accounts for their higher values listed here.

The Big Picture, the first part of a five-part report on Simpsons collecting.

Copyright 1996-2001, William LaRue

Updated: 8/19/01