• Know Your GI Joe History

• Collect GI Joe Action Figures

• Learn GI Joe Lingo

• Find GI Joe Action Figures on eBay

• Buy GI Joe Action Figures With Confidence

Know Your GI Joe History

Know Your GI Joe History

When Hasbro created GI Joe in 1963, the action figure was born. Response was positive and immediate. As sales skyrocketed the company introduced a wide array of related products.

Seventy-five different GI Joe-related items were produced in the early years to showcase the icon as a soldier, sailor, Marine, and pilot. Before long Hasbro also introduced Mercury Space Capsules, a Deep Sea Diver, a footlocker, a Green Beret, Soldiers of the World, and even a GI Joe Nurse, which was quickly withdrawn, making it one of the rarest GI Joe collectibles today.

The original Joe series was on the market until 1976; the "Real American Hero” line hit stores in 1982. Other key milestones in GI Joe history include:

• 1964: Hasbro introduces GI Joe, an 11 1/2-inch “action figure” with 21 moving parts.     

• 1969: GI Joe enters the Navy, Marines, Air Force, and several other military organizations around the world.    

• 1970: The “GI Joe Adventure Team,” made up of Joe and four allies, is introduced, and Joe gets a new flocked haircut.     

• 1976: New recruits to the GI Joe line include Eagle Eye, the superhuman "Bulletman" (the first superhuman team member), and even a group of aliens known as "The Intruders.”     

• 1977: GI Joe goes interplanetary in the form of a new 8-inch space-exploring "Super Joe."     

• 1982: The new 3 3/4-inch size "Real American Hero” line is introduced with 11 fully poseable action figures (including two bad guys) employing weapons, uniforms, and vehicles of the future.     

• 1988: The futuristic Battle Force 2000 hits the market with the Phantom X-19 Stealth Fighter Vehicle, Tiger Force vehicle line, and other cutting-edge weaponry.     

• 1991: The planet gets a new defender when the GI Joe Eco-Warriors take on the villainous forces of Cobra.     

• 1992: 12-inch GI Joe is back as part of the Hall of Fame collection along with Duke, Stalker, Cobra Commander, Snake-Eyes, and other old favorites, and Joe joins the Drug Elimination Force.    

• 1995: Welcome Sgt. Savage!    

• 1996: The Soldiers of Kaos, Anarchy, and Ruin (SKAR) take on the new 6-inch GI Joe Extreme.

• 1997: GI Jane, a 12-inch helicopter pilot and the first female action figure since 1967’s ill-fated GI Joe Nurse, hits the shelves.    

• 2000: Speaking seven Navajo phrases, the WWII-era Navajo Code Talker is one of several new talking GI Joe action figures.     

• 2001: The first Hispanic GI Joe joins the ranks, and the 60th anniversary of Pearl Harbor is commemorated with a special four-figure series.

Collect GI Joe Action Figures

Collect GI Joe Action Figures

There are several factors to consider as you assemble your collection of GI Joe memorabilia.

• Size: Many collectors seek the largest 12-inch GI Joes. Others search for 11 1/2-inch, 8-inch, 6-inch, 4 1/2-inch, and 3 3/4-inch GI Joe action figures.     

• Condition: Look for minimal cracks and wear and tear in vintage GI Joe action figures; original packaging is another premium asset.

• Vintage sets: Complete GI Joe sets, especially older sets, are particularly valuable (the fully outfitted Green Beret from 1966, for example).    

• Accessories and sets: Helmets, cloth first aid kits, cloth caps, and cloth cartridge belts that accessorize GI Joe action figures often fetch stellar prices.     

• Rarity: The Japanese Imperial Soldier of 1966, 1967’s Marine Jungle Fighter Accessory Set, and the Magnum Power Accessory Set (1976) are among the rarest of GI Joe memorabilia, but the most sought after is probably GI Joe Nurse.

Other collectible GI Joe considerations

Among the rarest and most unusual GI Joe curios are:

• Custom GI Joe figures: Custom-made action figures care most often created from parts and clothing of different GI Joes.    

• Eagle Eye GI Joe: Eagle Eye GI Joes feature eyes that move back and forth.     

• Kung-Fu grip GI Joe: Kung-Fu grip GI Joes from 1974 are equipped with flexible (and grippable) hands.     

• Early GI Joe: Early GI Joes have small, barely detailed feet and painted hair.     

• Super-articulated GI Joe: Super-articulated GI Joes are highly poseable figures from 2001.

• Vendor-supplied product: Pre-finished factory samples created to test fitness and tooling.

The annual GI Joe convention is a fun, family-friendly opportunity to buy, sell, and learn more about these popular collectibles.

Learn GI Joe Lingo

Learn GI Joe Lingo

GI Joe collectors and sellers use acronyms to describe GI Joe condition or specific models.

• AM: Action Man    

• AT: Adventure Team    

• CC: Classic Collection (1996–1999)    

• CNP: Complete, No Package    

• HOF: Hall of Fame    

• HTF: Hard to Find 

• MIB: Mint in Box    

• MIMB: Mint in Mint Box 

• MIP: Mint in Package    

• NRFB: Never Removed from Box    

• NRFP: Never Removed from Package 

• RAH: Real American Hero    

• SA Joe: Super-articulated GI Joes that premiered late in 2001    

• SOTW: Soldiers of the World

Find GI Joe Action Figures on eBay

Find GI Joe Action Figures on eBay

Once you know what type of GI Joe action figure you want, go to the Toys & Hobbies portal, click the GI Joe link under Action Figures, and start searching for item listings on eBay.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You'll find links for 3 3/4-inch Figures, 3 3/4-inch Accessories, 12-inch, 12-inch Accessories, Mixed Lots, and Other.  

• Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a Navajo Code Talker, type "Navajo Code Talker" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

eBay Toy Finder can also help you find hot and award-winning toys appropriate for kids of any age.

Buy GI Joe Action Figures With Confidence

Buy GI Joe Action Figures With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,000.

• eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.