Rare collectibles – Myst Puzzle and Extremely Rare Jim Henson Muppet

I have a confession to make.

I am a packrat.

It\’s not like when I die they are going to find stacks of National Geographic magazines in my house, but I do have a tendency to hold on to stuff that I think is cool.

My old software collection always blows away people who visit my home. Perhaps I\’ll make a video of that someday.

Today I was sitting in my home office and happened to notice two very rare and collectible items that I will share with you now.

The first one is related to the classic computer game Myst, originally released in 1993. (Yes, Myst is that old!)

When I launched WorldVillage.com, the makers of Myst were getting ready to release the sequel, Riven. I spoke with them about doing a promotion on my site. It was called The Myst Trivia Challenge.

One of the prizes provided by Broderbund, the software company that was releasing the title, was a very cool item. It was a Myst Puzzle in a Bottle.

It\’s just as it sounds. It\’s a plastic bottle with a Myst label on it. Inside the bottle are puzzle pieces. Simply open the bottom of the bottle and have fun with the puzzle.

As it turns out, there weren\’t very many of these made and I was keen enough to keep one for myself.

I track this on eBay in case anyone ever auctions one off, but I\’ve yet to see one in more than a decade. I have a hunch it would sell for several hundred dollars to a true Myst memorabilia collector.

The second item is so rare that most people don\’t even know it EXISTS!

What if I told you I had a Jim Henson Muppet creation so unknown that not even the Muppet collector sites list it?

It\’s true!

When I was growing up in the Chicago suburbs, Continental Bank (\”It\’s the big bank with the little bank inside\”) offered a premium for people opening a new savings account.

It was a Kangaroo hand puppet designed by none othen than Jim Henson himself!

I absolutely loved this puppet… so much that it went with me on all my travels (I was a kid, ok?), and it became very… well… shall we say worn?

About seven years ago I found one on eBay that had barely been touched. It was in near mint condition. Needless to say, I snapped it up right away.

Need proof that this is really a Jim Henson creation? Check out the tag stitched to the bottom of the Muppet.

I have looked all over the web and only found one other discussion where someone mentioned this Muppet. I find it amusing that people don\’t even know this creation exists.

And I\’m pleased to own it. :-)