Chasing Amy: The Hunt for an Elusive Elephant
/I can’t really say for sure when this started. I have a casual interest in LEGO animals and have accumulated quite a few over the years. I’m not as hardcore as Teresa, but I like to pick them up when I can. I also have quite an affection for anything Primo related and love obtaining some of the more obscure bits and pieces LEGO has produced for younger children over the years.
I don’t think I was too bothered about obtaining my own Amy the Elephant until I saw one in person. It was probably on the list of “maybe one day… if I’m lucky”, but it wasn’t something I was actively chasing. I was there at the start of Teresa’s journey into obtaining an Amy and then had the pleasure of seeing it in person just a short time later at The Great Western Brick Show (at Steam). I guess it was then that I knew I had to have one.
Teresa’s Amy the elephant hiding under the table at steam
And so began my own journey into finding an Amy for myself.
The reality was, this wasn’t going to be an easy journey. For sure, I could buy one off BrickLink if it ever became available, but the cost of postage would have been ridiculous. I had never seen one second-hand in Australia and thought it was going to be something I would never own. I wasn’t even sure it had ever been sold in Australia.
The following year, I returned to Denmark for our regular trip to the Skaerbaek Fan Weekend. And what do I spy in one of the second-hand charity stores!? Amy the Elephant! It wasn’t in great condition and I agonizingly had to evaluate if there was any way I could transport it home halfway across the world without paying for excess baggage. So I reluctantly made the decision to leave it in the store for someone else to buy.
AMy the elephant in a charity store in denmark
Back in Australia, I mentioned this to some fellow LUG members who were surprised I did not yet own an Amy as they both had one from when their kids were younger. Someone else mentioned they’d had one too but had sold it years ago. At least I could now confirm Amy had well and truly been available in Australia and there was a chance I might yet have the chance to own one. I kept searching swap meets and charity stores and even Facebook Marketplace in an effort to find my own Amy. There were none to be found.
Fast forward a while, and I was back in Denmark and was fortunate enough to attend another local second-hand market. And guess what? There was another Amy! But heartbreakingly, yet again, I had to leave it behind due to luggage restrictions. It seemed like I would never have my own Amy. They were out there, just not obtainable.
Amy the elephant at a swap meet/second-hand market in denmark
But I didn’t give up. After months of scouring Facebook Marketplace in Australia, I finally saw a listing for an Amy the Elephant. Without hesitation, I excitedly contacted the seller. It was first come, first served. They were over an hour’s drive away in a nearby town but I was willing to make the journey. It had only just been listed, I knew I had a good chance!
Sadly, it had just been picked up by someone who was local to the seller. Foiled again! The fates were not with me that day. But it wasn’t all bad news! I realised the person who purchased it was probably someone I knew and that person actually already owned an Amy of their own. I quickly made contact with them and we negotiated. With a bit of a bowtie adjustment, they ended up keeping the new Amy and sold me their old one. I finally had an elephant in the room.
My own amy, just prior to becoming part of my collection
Epilogue: The year after I acquired my Amy, I was offered an ex-shop stock one in near new condition. I turned it down as I now owned an Amy... In hindsight, what was I thinking?!
What LEGO set or element are you chasing? Tell us your story in the comments below.
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