Many of us have thrown away our childhood toys, or cast them aside to gather dust in the attic.
But for the lucky few who have taken care of those once-prized possessions, there could be a small fortune waiting to be claimed.
Sets of the popular Polly Pocket toys are selling for thousands of pounds on eBay as enthusiasts strive to complete their collections.
A search of the online marketplace reveals that one sealed set from 2008 is being sold for a staggering £7,795. A dozen other listings offer toys for £500 or more.
Disney variations of the play sets are also proving to fetch a small fortune with a 1997 Peter Pan playset priced at over £1000 while an Aladdin set is listed at £800.
Nostalgia: A Polly Pocket Sea and Sunsets set is selling for a whopping £7.795 on eBay
The Polly Pocket dolls became a childhood staple for 90s kids with their portability and eclectic styles after their first release in 1989.
They were originally created by designer Chris Wiggs, who designed a doll small enough to fit into a house he’d made inside of a powder compact, before licensing the creation to Bluebird Toys.
From the early 1990s they were distrusted by Mattel, who went on to buy the company and redesign the line in 1998.
The dolls were priced at around £10 during their original release, but prices have escalated thanks to a hunger for vintage toys still in their packaging.
![A later set that comes with clothes to dress the doll up in is selling for £1,115.63 online](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/05/20/47C7C94500000578-5240173-image-a-89_1515185086166.jpg)
A later set that comes with clothes to dress the doll up in is selling for £1,115.63 online
![An older, more original, Polly Pocket that is still in its original packaging is selling for £1,900](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/05/20/47C7C94900000578-5240173-image-a-90_1515185090054.jpg)
An older, more original, Polly Pocket that is still in its original packaging is selling for £1,900
While vintage editions of the toys do have extortionate asking prices it is later models that are fetching the highest prices on eBay.
Mattel redesigned Polly Pocket in the late 1990s the doll became two to three inches tall and was made of plastic.
Users could dress her up in rubber clothing and accessories, giving her a more lifelike appearance, and it is these sets that are priced highest with an unopened 2002 Swim Party listed at £1,115.63.
When it comes to evaluating the dolls the auction site first recommends looking for hinges whether you are buying or selling.
The site adds: ‘The doll’s finish should be smooth, without chips or fading. Check the case for cracks and the interior for damage.’
Advising on price points eBay recommends shopping around in order to gauge what sellers should be pricing their products at.
![Disney Polly Pocket sets still in their originally packaging can sell for a lot of money](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/05/20/47C7C95100000578-5240173-image-a-91_1515185094348.jpg)
Disney Polly Pocket sets still in their originally packaging can sell for a lot of money
![This Polly Pocket Peter Pan set was selling for an incredible $1,800 on the auction site](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/05/20/47C7C94D00000578-5240173-image-a-92_1515185140903.jpg)
This Polly Pocket Peter Pan set was selling for an incredible $1,800 on the auction site
The guide continues: ‘Research specific sets to get a clear indication of their current market value and what they look like when they are in good condition.
‘One of the easiest ways to judge value and rarity is to check eBay’ s completed listings. This shows similar and identical products recently sold as well as the prices for which they sold.’
It is unclear why the dolls have become such a collector’s item but eBay is keen to emphasise that there is no set monetary value to the toys.
The site reads: ‘Polly Pocket dolls may or may not increase in value in the coming years.
‘The motivating factor behind collecting these items should not be the value of the items in time.’