What is the secondary market, and why
are some nutcrackers so expensive now?

The manufacturer will make an unlimited amount of those in the regular line, depending on the demand from the collectors. The limited editions are just that--limited to a certain number, and when that number is reached, there will be no more made again. The Americans like limited editions, so there are more and more done this way. When all of a certain design are produced, and the wholesalers have sold out, then the prices will start to soar if it is a design that people like. The retailer then has to trade with other dealers, buy from collectors, or perhaps buy at retail prices himself in order to obtain them. This in itself will double the price of any nutcracker. And if the dealer is lucky and has some old stock, he has a right to increase the price! After all, these are items that have been around for a number of years, and he has had to rent storage for them, pay taxes on inventory, and has had his money tied up for years. The collector has had several years in which to purchase these at issue price, but get all excited when they find that the nutcracker has increased in value. My advice is to start a series that is just beginning, not try to jump in the middle of a series that has escalated high in price. If you do buy, just be sure that the nutcracker is in its original box, is in mint condition, and again, buy from a dependable dealer.

Prices are set by demand in the secondary market. The Collectors Information Bureau gathers information from dealers from actual sales that have been made, and gives a price range that the collector can expect to pay. This organization is not in the retail business so their prices can be considered a reliable source of information. The "2000 (10th Edition) Collectibles Price Guide and Directory of Secondary Market Dealers" is published by the Collectors Information Bureau and you can check with your book store or library to find it. If you definitely want this book, contact me to order. Not all of the nutcrackers are in this book, only those that have escalated the most. However, the book also gives the secondary market of many, many collectibles and is a good resource book.

After all of this, my main message is that you collect those you enjoy! It is better to have a single really good piece meant for you than a lot that you don’t really care that much for.