Barry Patraw collects anything related to the Wizard of Oz. Anything which he believes to be 'remarkable and worthy of remembrance.'
To date his personal Oz stash well exceeds 20,000 items of all shapes, sizes, colors, dimensions, textures and worth. All are carefully stored in his apartment in Schaumburg, Illinois.
Barry Patraw not only collects Oz memorobilia, he's a much sought after
appraiser of everything relating to author L. Frank Baum's children's book of 1901 and the 1939 MGM movie classic extravaganza.
Patraw is gently relentless in buying, selling and trading as he keeps in continual communications with other Oz fanatics - many of whom have become friends.
'Thousands of people are inspired to buy, trade and hold dear anything intage relating to Dorothy, Tin Man, Toto, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, Glinda the Good Witch, Wicked Witch, Munchkins, the Wizard and Flying Monkeys' says Patraw all in one breath. 'But the general public - particularly if they inherit the object, or happen on it by accident - don't quite know what they've got. They want to learn its history, find out it's worth, what year it was created and how many exist.'
At 2004's Judy/Oz Exchange in Chesterton, one gentleman brought Patraw a three-generation-hand-me-down Dorothy composition doll. She was manufactured by Ideal in 1939. In mint condition. Untouched in her original box. Netting still covered her hair. 'I was thrilled,' he recalls, 'to tell him what he owned was now valued at between $3,800 to $4,200.'
Oz treasures - if one is lucky and persistent enough - can still be obtained at flea markets, yard sales and from grandma's attic. But, when push comes to shove (as it often does in the Land of Oz collectors) serious big-time spenders plop down plenty at estate sales, in antique shops, during auctions and on E-bay.
'One friend was collecting original 1939 Oz character drinking glasses,' says Patraw. Piece by piece, and for a variety of prices, he became proud owner of six classes: four OZ characters and the two witches. All he needed was Toto. He found the dog glass with a whopping price tag $2,400. But he bought it, and thought it worth every penny. He now believes his set is complete.
The appraiser is often approached to estimate the worth of Oz collectibles manufactured in 1989. That's when the market was flooded with mass-produced Oz dolls, books, toys, statues, music boxes, knicknackery, bricabacs, and games for the movie's 50th anniversary celebration. 'Not yet,' he says to the hopefuls. 'But of course keep it,' he quickly adds '...it's certainly better to have Oz stuff than not to have Oz stuff.'
Patraw appraised items at the 2004 Judy/Oz Exchange, which was sponsored by Camp Land RV Showcase, Inc. The Exchange is a key event of the Indiana Wizard of Oz Festival - the oldest and largest celebration of Oz in the country, organized by Lakeshore Festival & Events Corporation.
