| MB=Mint BOX | |
| A new term to add to your collecting vocabulary |
Mint in BOX is a familiar term to collectors. But what about a Mint BOX, what do you do with the really cool boxes that the new jars come in?
For years cookie jars came in fairly nondescript boxes. Many came in plain brown boxes, that might or might not even have the name of the item contained. Others might have a line drawing or even a picture "pasted" on the plain brown box. It was around 1996 that Warner Bros. switched from selling their jars in plain brown cardboard boxes to slick, glossy, colorful boxes. Batmobile, Gossamer, Space Jam were all packed in colorful boxes that really caught my eye. But when the Wizard of Oz jars were produced in 1997 -- Warner Bros. outdid themselves and started a trend towards making the packaging as neat as the jar inside.The graphics on the cookie jar boxes were really terrific and made the box a collectors item by itself! Many other, but not all, companies now use graphically enhanced packing. Vandor is one company that comes to mind that does great packaging. And since the majority of their items are licensed, the box takes on a new importance.
Collectors have a hard enough time finding room for their cookie jars, much less the big boxes they come in. When the jars came in plain brown boxes, the decision wasn't too hard to make -- but now what? At the beginning, I started to just break down the box and keep it folded in storage. Then another dilemma started, the companies realizing they had to come up with a better way to protect the jars, started using Styrofoam made to fit the particular jar. Now, should I break down the box and toss the Styrofoam, or should I try and save it all. If there is any chance that I will be storing the jar away or want to sell it anytime in the future, the fitted box is almost a must.
When selling jars lately, I've been asked if the box has any creases, dents or scuffs! Now you not only have to describe a jar in precise terms, but the box too. Recently there was an auction on eBay for two cookie jar boxes from 1993. The boxes (ONLY!) brought $87.50 and $90.00.
All collectors should strive to keep their collection in the best condition possible for later re-sale value, even if you don't plan to sell anytime in the foreseeable future. And the trend in cookie jars is now starting to follow other collectibles, e.g. Hallmark, toys, figurines -- keep both the jar and the packaging as mint as possible.
Most collectors have already realized the packaging is important, the only problem is .....ROOM!
