We reveal to you the little detail to check on this video tape which could well raise the stakes.
If you thought your old VHS tapes were just gathering dust, think again. These little plastic boxes could well hide a real treasure. Indeed, certain emblematic cartoons from our childhood are now sold at a high price. The video cassette market is booming, and one film in particular is reaching dizzying heights, estimated at up to 14,000 euros by connoisseurs.
Since the advent of streaming platforms like Disney+ or Netflix, VHS have become relics of another time. However, their value continues to increase. For what ? Because they embody a tangible part of a past that many wish to preserve. They offer a physical testimony of cinematographic productions that have been forgotten or cannot be found in digital version. From B-movies to blockbusters of the 1980s and 1990s, demand is exploding. Some institutions like Yale University have understood this well, since in 2015, it acquired a batch of 2,700 VHS tapes to keep a trace of this cultural heritage. Many cassettes have never been digitized, and their gradual disappearance makes them even more valuable.
But not every VHS is worth thousands of dollars. To achieve such ratings, certain criteria must be met. Among the most popular cassettes, one category stands out: Disney animated films. These intergenerational masterpieces continue to fascinate. Between 1984 and 1993, Disney launched a collection called Black Diamond, identifiable by a black diamond-shaped logo affixed to the edge of the cover. For example, an edition of Beauty and the Beast can reach 8,000 euros. But this is another title that exceeds all expectations. Please note that a copy of the cartoon Mulanin its 1999 edition, was recently estimated at 14,000 euros. At the time, this cassette was one of the last in the Black Diamond collection.
So why such a surge in prices? Their rarity. The cassettes in this series were produced in limited quantities, and many were discarded or damaged over time. As you can see, the next time you take a look at your old VHS tapes, be on the lookout. A black diamond or the words “Black Diamond” on one of them could well earn you big!
