How to Acquire Rare, Out of Production Dinosaur Models

By |2025-03-14T10:46:23+00:00March 14th, 2025|Dinosaur Fans|0 Comments

One of the most frequent questions we get asked is: how can I acquire rare dinosaur models?  For some collectors it is not enough to purchase the latest releases.  They are looking for retired and rare models too. Figures that they remember from their childhood.  Prehistoric animal toys that were once cherished.  Sometimes the collector sets out to obtain an entire retired range.  For example, we still get some enquiries about the Carnegie Collection.  Incidentally, this range of figures was retired a decade ago.

Carnegie Museum Scale Models. Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model.

The rare and long ago retired Safari Ltd Carnegie Collection Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The retirement of the Carnegie range of prehistoric animal models: The End of the Line for the Carnegie Collectibles Range.

Rare Dinosaur Models

Acquiring rare dinosaur models can be an exciting extension to their hobby for collectors.  Unfortunately, we have heard many stories about collectors being let down.  For example, the advertised figure does not turn out to be as expected.  It is not in pristine condition, it lacks the original product tags or packaging.  Worse still, it turns out to be a copy of the cherished figure and not an original.

Here are our top tips when it comes to sourcing rare figures:

  1. Start by finding a reliable supplier.  A specialist in museum-quality collectibles.  Look for retailers with genuine customer reviews and a solid reputation in the model collecting community.
  2. Having identified such a supplier, reach out to them.  Contact them directly.  A reliable and trustworthy supplier should welcome your enquiry. In addition, they should be able to demonstrate considerable product knowledge.  This two-way contact can help provide valuable information about the quality and availability of figures.
  3. Ask for photographs.  Trusted companies should be happy to send out additional images.  For example, at Everything Dinosaur we often photograph individual models and email these images to the potential buyer.
  4. Make sure that any prices are clear and unambiguous.  There can be hidden costs, especially if purchasing from overseas.  Extra charges can occur due to customs, tariffs or additional costs for postage.  A transparent pricing structure helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures you know exactly what you’re paying for.

By following these steps, you can build a collection of rare prehistoric animal figures that will impress any enthusiast. Happy collecting!

Contact Everything Dinosaur: Email Everything Dinosaur.

Visit the retired or rare section of the Everything Dinosaur website: Retired or Rare Prehistoric Animal Figures.