You might think that some of your old stuff is just lying there taking up space, but in reality, it could be worth a lot more cash than you actually realize.
A wall that waited
It’s not like concert posters need to look fancy or anything, that’s not the point, because, yes, some of them do look like posters someone bought after a show. That’s exactly what they are. The ones that come from legendary ‘60s and ‘70s bands tend to fetch the highest prices.
Hendrix? The Grateful Dead? The Doors? They’re all good. As long as yours doesn’t have tape all around the corners, but does have bright colors, you could be in for a pretty good price. Some have sold for $10,000, some for even higher.
Not just kid stuff
There’s a real trick to sports cards that a lot of people don’t recognize. No, a shoebox full of random cards for the 1990s isn’t going to be worth much, but older sets and regional-exclusive ones are usually pretty valuable.
It’s not like you need a full set, either, because single rare cards in mint condition could be worth quite a lot. You know the kinds, the rookie ones and the ones of famous sports stars that never really got mass printed, those are the ones collectors love.
Little wooden sleepers
They’re just wooden ducks. That’s what so many people believe about duck decoys, they’re just wooden ducks, nice to look at but nothing more than that. Or are they? Old hunting decoys made by known carvers can easily sell for a few thousand, while bigger names sell for more.
It’s the maker and paint that really matter here, along with the shape and the region. For example, a Joseph Lincoln bird actually sold for over $1 million. Don’t expect that kind of price for any cheaply made ones, though.
Metal with a memory
You’d be surprised at how much some people will pay for old advertising signs for brands like Coca-Cola and Texaco. They don’t make them like that anymore. Porcelain gas station signs, in particular, are popular with collectors, along with old neon food signs.
Interestingly enough, rust isn’t usually too much of a problem because people know that the signs are old. You won’t get much from a heavily repainted one, however, so you might want to keep yours all-natural.
A box with rules inside
You might not think a board game would be worth much. It’s just a bit of fun, nothing too important, right? Wrong. Most of the old games aren’t going to get you much, sure, but the early editions and handmade versions can be pretty valuable.
Any rare political or historical games are usually worth a bit as well because they’re often out of circulation. A 1933 special edition of Monopoly once sold for nearly $150,000, while a rare 1909 game sold for over $5,000. Missing pieces are going to hurt the sale value, of course.
Fabric with names and history
Keep an eye on quilts with dates or names on them, as well as ones connected to a special community, because they could be worth something. That includes the ones you might’ve only kept for family reasons, too.
There was a Civil War memorial quilt, made by Mary Bell Shawvan, that had an estimated value of $20,000 to $50,000. Pretty great going for a bit of fabric. Just make sure yours are in the right condition because old fabric has a way of wearing out.
Lunch from another era
Metal lunch boxes weren’t exactly made for collectors. But with the right character and artwork, the price bumps up quite a bit, like the 1954 Superman lunch box. A mint-condition one of those can sell for over $13,000.
Some of the other models are worth a bit, too, including a yellow Toppie lunch box that’s worth around $6,000 in mint condition. A slightly rougher version sold for over $2,700. Take that as a sign to check your garage for any good-condition lunch boxes that you might have lying around.
A tiny tool with a twist
A corkscrew seems simple enough. You use it for a second to open a bottle, then you put it back into the drawer, next to a bunch of other stuff that doesn’t seem worth anything. However, check the date on your corkscrew.
The ones with real silver parts or rare patents are the ones that collectors are happy to pay good money for. For example, a Victorian Old London Bridge corkscrew sold for around $77,718, while a Columbus one fetched $21,600.Â
A jacket with a story on it
The thing with military jackets is that the value doesn’t come from the jacket itself. No, it’s the name inside and the patches, along with the unit and old paperwork, that can really make it worth something. It’s even better when you can trace where it actually went.
In fact, collectors are big on World War II jackets in particular, and they’ve paid as much as $22,500 to get their hands on one. You’ll just need to make sure it’s an authentic one.
Weaving that waited quietly
Look closely at any baskets you might have, and you might notice something special, as long as it has the right maker, tribe, weave, design, and ownership history. The best ones? Real Native American ones, like the Paiute pictorial lidded baskets by Lucy Telles.
Sotheby’s listed them for sale between $70,000 and $100,000, while a Washoe basket by Dat So La Lee was valued between $50,000 and $70,000. All that for a hand-woven piece of art doesn’t seem so bad, does it?
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
12 collectibles that lost value over time
For decades people saved toys, figurines, and old keepsakes hoping they’d one day be worth real money. Most often that didn’t pan out. These examples come directly from collectors who’ve watched demand fade over the years. These are but a few examples of how collecting often falls short of the dream.
