Abaddon
Very hard question to answer
The collecting end is hardest of all as different collectors require different things from their models
I have a couple of standards that I usually adhere to
Firstly if I do not have the item I will buy it, no matter what the condition
I will then try to get a boxed example in better condition
Eventually I will try to get a mint boxed example, with instructions, detail packs, limited edition cert if applicable etc
In the case of the Slainte set above I have since picked up a better boxed example, the instruction sheet that accompanies it should also have the Hornby Reference number on it, plus the date it was manufactured, very important to some collectors, others would not be so pedantic
So the value increases or decreases according to your taste
Condition is also very important, played with as opposed to mint boxed are at opposite ends of the equation
Some time back I was offered a Hornby O Gauge Princess Elizabeth, very collectable and highly sought after loco
The seller had seen one on the Antique Road Show
Paint work was faultless, the wooden box it came in had not even got a paint chip on it, satin lining was still shining
The valuer on the show put a price of £2000 on the loco, the Euro was €1.50 to the pound at the time
So me jills tells me he only wants €2000 for it, there would be a handy €1000 in it for me if I could sell it on
When I saw the loco I turned on my heels straight away and back to D5
No box, thing looked like it had been hit on every panel with a hammer, paint was chipped and loads of rust etc
He told me he eventually got €750 for it as even in its bad state there was still a chap out there who was willing to buy it
So if your items are boxed and not in too bad a condition I would say look after them, it would be impossible to put a value on them till I could see them and check them out