Our Mission

The ANTIQUE TOY COLLECTORS OF AMERICA exists to preserve the history of toys, to educate its membership and the public as to the history and preservation of toys, and to share fellowship and friendship through the common bond of owning toys and sharing information about toys.

Our History

The Antique Toy Collectors of America (ATCA) is a non-profit 501(c))(3) organization founded in 1965. Its original members were from the United States but it now has members from other countries. The ATCA members collect antique toys representing a wide variety of interests and tastes, for example, early tin, wood, paper, and cast iron. We welcome inquiries from anyone about membership.

Our Policy

The ATCA does not purchase toys, appraise toys, or give valuations for toys. Nor does the ATCA offer information or advice on the purchasing or selling of toys or toy collections.

Our Story

The Antique Toy Collectors of America (ATCA) began with a simple love for antique toys. Enthusiasts with a shared passion for toys often found themselves crossing paths at antique fairs, flea markets, and train shows—venues renowned for offering the occasional treasure among old playthings.

On Jan. 23, 1965, 10 passionate collectors met in Princeton, New Jersey, dreaming of a club where people could share knowledge and joy for antique toys. That dream blossomed into the ATCA community devoted to preserving memories and treasures from the past.

In 1966, the first issue of a newsletter, The Toy Chest, was published to educate members on different antique toy collections. The publication is now a bi-annual magazine featuring stories about members and their toys written for members. Over the years, the ATCA, which incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization in 1981, has grown from a handful of friends to hundreds of members from around the world. They shared stories, reprinted old catalogs, and welcomed others into the fold. With each meeting, newsletter, trip abroad, and private collection tour, the ATCA became not just a club, but a family bonded by nostalgia and wonder.

Today, the ATCA continues to connect with people who cherish antique toys, continuing our mission of education and ensuring that the magic of childhood lives on for generations to come.