Humble Beginnings Toy Collection Thread

Thought this might be a fun topic for discussion and pics. I was randomly scrolling through old pictures in my phone and ran across some from when I first started collecting sofubi. Coming from the western vinyl toy scene at the time, I had always known about sofubi but didn't start buying until late 2015/early 2016. I still remember those early days of buying very fondly. Every new toy that I discovered was so groundbreaking for me, triggering a never-ending sentiment of intrigue for the medium.
Over the years, as tastes have changed and focus shifted, I've mostly sold or traded away these toys. Nevertheless it's still really cool seeing how my collection started in comparison to where it is now. Do you have pictures of your collection from when you were first starting out? Post them below!

 

Haha, I wish I never would have sold most of the early stuff I bought. I wish I just would have put it in a tub and kept it. I want most of it back.

 

Like a true hoarder I've never sold any of my toys. I did trade one or two, but i've pretty much still got everything. Lol

 

I distinctly remember purchasing Cronic from the original Toy Tokyo spot on 2nd Ave. in 2009-2010, and then Blobpus… and then Skullbrain blew the doors right open.

 

I found this pic from 2015 lol

 

2009. I think this might be right before I joined SB. Is there any soft vinyl in there? Maybe Edwards the Gator? KFGU? I still have all the paper toys in a big bin and a couple of the resin toys. I miss a couple others, but tastes change!

 

I just found some old photos of my first collection circa 2012. I kinda just wish I took better photos of the whole endeavor. I also realize this isn't necessarily considered a humble beginning... went a little too hard, too fast.

 

You got me wondering what's behind those pixels...

 

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Sorry for the Insta link. I know those can be wonky. I started by collecting modern artists, in mini scale back around 2015. Sold all these off at some point, collected Keshi for a while. Then a bunch of other toys & games after that. Eventually got back into Sofubi, collecting mostly repros of older Toho sculpts at standard scale.

 

It was a custom I don't think I was allowed to show for some reason. I sold it a couple of months ago to @dago, where it belongs.

 

This is a baller beginning lol. I see a bunch of ollies that I need

To this day I still really dig JLed's stuff!

 

I started collecting retro-style soft vinyl (M1/Marmit/Toygraph) in 07 I think? This pic is from 09. Wish I still had some of these

 

These are from 2012? Around when I was let into this place
A couple of years after discovering sofubi.

 

You've always had great stuff. so much m1go goodness!

So diverse, like your collection still is. love it!

 

I started collecting in 2010, but unfortunately cannot find any collection pics from then.
This shelf pic is from June 2012, when I first started picking up more of the licensed stuff...

 

Hell yea Patrick, you started off strong! what a great shelf

 

Here's the top shelf of that case from around the same time...

 

This shelf in 2024 is somebody's car..

a year and some change into sofubi collecting (beginning of 2017), I had amassed quite a bit. still no focus or direction yet at this point

 

This was 6 years into collecting. If i kept everything i collected, I'd probably sell some stuff now--but keep these and a few other things.
This was a time in my collecting where i felt more balanced in my approach and more satisfied with how my collections would sit with me than before. Nowadays, i still kind of flow this way with how i decide on stuff. It has to give a nice vibe overall in look and feel.

 

This is the earliest stuff I could find. The real head was 2012 maybe 5 years after I started collecting. The others were 2014-2015. If I could turn back time and get those Nags back.

 

I distinctly remember seeing this collection in person once, @JoeMan. It was inspiring!

 

Fun thread!

I started collecting sofubi in 2012. First toy I bought as an adult was a Paw! from Coarse in 2011.
Anyhow, here is the only pic I have from my soft vinyl collection back then (still have them all).

 

Dang, which Ollie is this? Don’t think I’ve ever seen it before

That’s the best enma in my opinion! I don’t plan on ever getting rid of mine either

 

May 2008, not really the beginning but almost 2 years on the forum...

 

I started collecting Sofubi after 2008 but I didn't start taking photos of my collection until 2011, here's one of my shelves from that year.