Contrary to what various online articles claim, it's a myth that owning so-called 'Black Diamond' Disney VHS tapes could set you up for an early retirement. However, one Disney VHS that could earn you some money is the 'banned' 1989 edition of The Little Mermaid, which made a splash on its release, but for all the wrong reasons. The video tape caused controversy among parents, who believed the castle depicted on the box had phallic design elements.
Subsequent VHS covers for the movie were released, making the original 'taboo' version extremely rare, and therefore valuable. One sealed copy sold for a whopping $3,640 (£2,697), with the earnings reportedly donated to charity, while another fetched $1,000 (£741).