Department 56 Christmas villages have been a beloved holiday tradition for decades. Many collectors spent years building their villages, carefully adding new buildings, accessories, and figures each Christmas season.
Eventually, many collectors or their families reach a point where they ask an important question:
What should I do with a Department 56 collection?
Whether you're downsizing, helping a family member sell a collection, or have recently inherited a Christmas village set, this guide will help you understand how to sell a Department 56 collection in Canada.
Why Department 56 Villages Are Still Popular
Department 56 has been producing Christmas village collectibles since 1976, and the brand continues to have a large and active collector community.
Popular series include:
- Snow Village
- Dickens Village
- Christmas in the City
- North Pole Series
- Heritage Village Collection
Many pieces remain desirable among collectors, especially retired buildings or items produced for a limited time.
Because of this ongoing collector demand, Department 56 villages regularly change hands in the secondary market.
Selling a Department 56 Collection Can Be Challenging
While Department 56 villages are collectible, selling them individually can be time consuming.
Each item must be:
- Identified and researched
- Photographed
- Listed online
- Packed carefully to avoid damage
- Shipped securely
For collections containing dozens or even hundreds of pieces, the process can quickly become overwhelming.
This is especially true for families who inherit a collection and may not be familiar with the hobby.
What to Do If You Inherited a Department 56 Collection
Many people discover Department 56 villages after inheriting them from a parent or grandparent.
If that’s the case, you might be wondering:
- Are these pieces valuable?
- Should I sell them one at a time?
- Is there a store that buys collections?
- How do I ship fragile buildings safely?
The good news is that there are collectors and specialty shops that actively purchase Christmas village collections.
Selling to a knowledgeable buyer can often be the easiest and safest option, especially for larger collections.
Where to Sell Department 56 Villages in Canada
There are several options available when selling a Department 56 collection.
Online marketplaces
Sites like eBay allow collectors to sell individual pieces, though this often requires significant time and effort.
Local marketplaces
Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji can work for small groups of items but can involve unreliable buyers or long selling times.
Specialty collectible stores
Stores that focus specifically on Christmas villages and holiday collectibles often purchase collections directly.
These buyers understand the market and can usually evaluate collections quickly.
Selling Your Department 56 Collection to Vintage Villages
Vintage Villages is a Canadian shop that specialises in Christmas village collectibles, including Department 56 and Lemax.
We regularly purchase Department 56 collections from collectors and families across Canada.
Our goal is to make the process straightforward and easy for sellers.
Many people choose to sell to Vintage Villages because:
- We specialise in Christmas village collectibles
- We purchase entire collections
- We are based in Canada
- We aim to make the process simple and transparent
If you're unsure about the value of your collection, we are happy to take a look and provide guidance.
What Information Helps When Selling a Collection
If you're thinking about selling your Department 56 village, it helps to gather a few basic details:
- Photos of the buildings and accessories
- Any original boxes or packaging
- The names or item numbers (if available)
- An estimate of how many pieces are included
Even a few simple photos can often be enough for an initial review.
Vintage Villages Buys Department 56 Collections
Vintage Villages regularly purchases:
- Department 56 Dickens Village
- Department 56 Snow Village
- Department 56 Christmas in the City
- Department 56 North Pole Series
- Retired Department 56 pieces
- Large Christmas village collections
If you have a collection you are considering selling, we would be happy to review it.
Contact Vintage Villages
If you're looking to sell a Department 56 collection in Canada, feel free to reach out.
Send us photos or a list of the items in your collection and we can help you understand your options.