Barbie for boys is valuable if he didn't see active service

Action Man dolls and accessories from the 1960s and early 1970s can be worth hundreds of pounds if they are boxed and in mint condition.

Ms Lisa De Simone-Porreca, a specialist at Christie's doll department in London, says that until recently Action Man featured in only a few lots at their several doll auctions each year. But on February 25th, as many as 22 lots will be devoted to Action Man - the first time Christie's has had so many in any one sale.

"Not every Action Man doll is collectable. Imagine how many little boys have had Action Man in their youth. What the collectors are looking for are the very early Action Men. Usually you can tell they're early because they don't have flocked hair [fabric which made the hair more realistic]. Their hair is plastic. So we're looking for early dolls, as early as possible, preferably with plastic hair. Preferably never played with. In mint condition in the box," she says.

Very rare Action Men like Lancer, a British Cavalryman or Highlander in full regalia with kilt, are keenly sought after. So too are early accessories - in mint condition in their original boxes. "That's what makes [items] collectable, rare and desirable," she says.

Action Man is an important doll. "He is a Barbie for boys. He's the first doll of its kind made exclusively for boys where you can change his outfit. He's quality and he involves the imagination. With most children's toys, today, sadly you just plug it in. But with an Action Man, you had to plug your imagination in," she says.

He was originally an American, called GI Joe but in 1966 GI Joe stopped being produced in the US. He fell out of favour because of the growing controversy surrounding the Vietnam war. So in 1966 he came to the Republic and Britain with the label Action Man, manufactured by Palitoy. GI Joe was a soldier but Action Man was not necessarily a soldier. He could be a football player, a mountaineer, an astronaut, etc. "GI Joe was definitely ready for combat. Action Man is just ready for action," she says.

General Mills, which produced Action Man under the name Palitoy Toys, was disbanded in 1984. Nine years later, Action Man was produced again with a new launch by Hasbro UK Ltd (March 1993). Three years before GI Joe was relaunched in the US. These are as yet too recent to be collectors' items but they could be some day. "Maybe in 30 years' time they will be. But your son should keep the box. The box is very, very important," she says.

Sample lots from the February 25th sale include an Indian Chief and Indian Brave with their scout accessories, including a survival raft (estimate: £280£350 sterling; [€407-€509]). Another, Tank Commander, sports a radio with headphone in the original box with some Emergency and Equipment Centre jackets and accessories (also estimated at £280-£350).

The most expensive item is a rare 17th/21st Lancers-dressed British Cavalryman with blue eyes and flocked hair in its original box (estimate of £700-£900). A lot of boxed unopened Action Man accessories including equipment, emergency outfits, a bunk bed and a grey coat are estimated at £250-£300. An Action Man sharp shooter footballer with various accessories is estimated at £300-£400. But remember these values are for rare, unplayed-with Action Men in perfect condition.

Mr Ian Whyte of Whyte's in Dublin says there is some interest in Action Man in the Republic. While just one or two Action Men in a sale will be "no big deal", if a collector came in with a good collection, that would create quite a lot of interest, he says.