What do you think is more valuable. A standard Tenyo item or a Doug Henning packaged Tenyo item?

Thanks
AA

The Henning/Steinmeyer pieces are rarer but are poly-bagged so some of it goes to the question of how much you value packaging.

I have no idea why people would pay more for the Doug Henning version, unless for the Floating Lady/magician which has another picture on it. The other tricks are EXACTLY the same but in ... plastic bags. The manual is different (at least for my Tunnel Of Darkness) but basically the same of course.

I agree Killertweety that in most cases collectors would prefer the originals with packaging. Have not seen any examples other than the floating lady where buyers would pay any extra for a DH version. Who knows that could change in future years.

Like it or not, the Henning versions are worth more and collectors do and will pay more for them.

A. Doug Henning's name is associated, this alone adds another layer of collectibility to the tricks.

B. Doug Henning versions are scarce (I wouldn't call them rare).

C. A completist will stop at nothing to acquire these Tenyo versions, often over paying in the process.

D. They are only worth more polybagged with original instructions (sans the floating lady). As mentioned, other than the abominable Floating Lady w/Henning magician head, they are identical.

I have several Henning Tunnel of Darkness, Wonder Window, and See Through Card.

Best,

Tom

Tom, I hope you are right as I have a number of Henning items as well. However have not seen evidence of that in the auctions. The few trades I have done the other person has all ways wanted the original over the DP version. What you say makes sense just not sure it is playing out that way in the market. Would be interested if you have tracked any pricing on the DH items. Interesting topic.

John

My eBay data points due indeed indicate Henning Tenyo fetches more money, but this is not consistently true.

What you will find is that tricks that have not appeared on eBay in a long time or to anyone's recollection fetch large sums. This is true even when accounting for shill bids and fake closings. For instance, not long after a standard Tenyo ToD sold for approximately $100, I sold a Henning ToD for $150ish. This may have been because one had not appeared in some time just as much as it may have been because it was a Henning ToD, or both.

I will say that the $330 shill bid standard Tenyo ToD was the highest closing I have seen for a ToD, so it wouldn't be inaccurate to assert that the standard Tenyo ToD is actually more valuable. The problem with this conclusion however is that this closing was a shill bid (did some investigation) and that consistent selling points are more indicative of actual value than outliers (both high and low). From my data, the Henning tricks consistently fetch more than standard Tenyo, but again, this may only be due in part to them appearing less frequently versus actual collector interest.

I would value a nr-mt unopened Tenyo ToD at about $150 and a Henning at about $200 on good days (this is based on what I have seen both sell for). With this said, it's quite possible you may get the Henning for far less and pay far more for the Tenyo ToD.

Houdini103126

What do you think a Henning See Through Card would be worth vs a Tenyo See Through Card?

Thanks,
AA

In my humble opinion, I would say a Henning version would be worth about $75-100 with the standard version being worth about $50-75.

Tom

Interesting thread.

I have been dealing with auctions (not Magic auctions), for a long time. Writing about, selling, and participating in them.

The simple rule is, things are worth what people will pay for them. What I mean is is a potential buyer of any any item determins what he or she will pay. Of course other factors are part of the equation, such as what a similar item sold for in the past, condition, and rarity.

Desire, however, is probably the main ingredient. When someones emotions come into play, prices can go anywhere.

<-------Looking for a Floating Lady (Tenyo) sealed.

If there is a Henning available, that too would be nice.

While I would pay a little more for the Henning version then the Tenyo, I would not pay more than 20~25% more. Some people might, others may not.

Doug Henning Squeeze Play and See Through Card on big auction site for $19.99 each with no bids and only 3 hours left in auction.

I guess the auction site Tenyo collectors are not as keen on Doug Henning Tenyo as the Magic Café collectors are.

The only Doug Henning Tenyo items that should be worth more (except for Floating Lady which has the caricature of Doug on it) are the three magic sets Tenyo made with the tricks. Do any of you have them?

Polybagged Doug Henning Tenyo with original instructions are rare (moreso than you might think) but are less desirable as a whole because of their packaging or even lack thereof.

IMHO, the sets Richard refers to are very rare. In fact, I have never seen a set on eBay, albeit I could have missed a listing, but I rarely do.

The DH Floating Lady can command big bucks.

I have several Doug Henning tricks in original polybags with instructions. They are appealing to Doug Henning collectors which broadens their appeal beyond Tenyo.

As you don't see DH Floating Ladies much (no pun intended , expect to pay $250-$350 for one on eBay. Like it or not, that's the price range they fetch on eBay. If you get one for $250 or less, you've done well.

I happen to have Doug Henning magic set A (Zig-Zag Cig,Nest of Coins, Finger Chopper and Floating Lady).
Interestingly though the picture on the box is that of the standard Floating Lady not of the DH modified one.

I have never seen the other 2 sets though, just a picture of set B.

Congrats xl18 for actually having something from Doug Henning that might be worth something.

I think the the auction tonight proves that there is very little value and interest in the Doug Henning Tenyo. The See Through Card went for $19.99 and the Squeeze Play for $24.

I think the value of them was ramped up here on the Magic Café because people have some significant quantity on hand from a store find and they are trying to represent them to be more than they are.

Since they are not worth much, I just opened a Doug Henning Squeeze Play and found out some interesting things that should even make that Doug Henning items plummet more.

The plates are thinner than the standard Tenyo version and they are gloss finished rather than matte. The matte will not show scratches and finger marks as much and will look better over time.

The cup is larger and you have to put your own white tape around the rim which is not wide enough to cover the area so it does not look correct.

The white and red disks, or should I say, tan and red disks are discolored.

The instructions are not as detailed as the original and not on the traditional Tenyo glossy stock.

Of course there is no packaging.

Doug Henning is not Houdini.

So the fact that it sold for such a low amount makes sense.

I have my used original Tenyo Squeeze play that the cup has small cracks in. I was hoping to put the Doug Henning version in the Mint box I have to make a Mint Squeeze Play for my collection but since the trick is so different than the Tenyo, I can't even do that.

Late Breaking Thought - Maybe my Tenyo is the one that is different and the Doug Henning is like the earlier Tenyo Squeeze Play.

Who Knows. All I know is that Doug Henning Squeeze Play is a BIG DISAPPOINTMENT.

+ 10000

You have to be very careful reading too much into eBay Tenyo data unless you study it consistently.

Historically Doug Henning Tenyo has faired very well so I disagree that there is very little value or interest in Doug Henning Tenyo.

a. Certain tricks will always command more interest than others.

b. I have seen non-Doug Henning Tenyo, like Mystery of the High Hat go for $40ish BNIP one closing and have seen a possible shill bid closing of $280ish opened packaging within a couple weeks of each other!

c. eBay closings are all over the map, often with no apparent reasoning other then how frequently the trick has appeared on eBay.

d. The bottom line is that Doug Henning Tenyo are nothing more than Tenyo tricks so they are at the very least worth NO LESS than any standard Tenyo trick by the same name.

e. Historical data shows that open packaging and brand new in package (BNIP) matters very little as a predictor for valuation. One week a trick will go for more opened than it did unopened the following week.

A couple others and myself study eBay Tenyo closings relentlessly so that we may try to have a good understanding of what this stuff is actually worth. High/Low outliers aside, I can base the above on factual closing data.

If you truly watch eBay Tenyo closings, you'll realize just how unpredictable and volatile the market is.

I never knew DH Squeeze Play was different from Tenyo's. Can you make a picture of the DH ánd the Tenyo version camparing both Azzam?