Some things look like they should be valuable. They’re old, they’re shiny & your grandma swore they’d pay for college one day. But the truth is that a lot of “vintage treasures” are old stuff that no one’s buying.
Here are twelve of them. Which one of these do you still have boxed up somewhere?
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Blank or mass modern first-day stamp covers
Sure, envelopes with “First Day of Issue” postmarks looked impressive when they came out. But they were printed by the truckload. Unless they’ve got an interesting design or rare cachet, collectors pass them right by.
The ones from the 1970s to ‘90s are especially common. Most of the time, they trade for less than postage, and that means there’s really no point in you holding onto them any longer.
Plated medallions and replica coins
You’ve probably seen plated medallions & replica coins in plastic cases, sold on late-night TV or at roadside shops. Essentially, they’re shiny replicas of famous coins.
But they’re not real legal tender and are simply plated souvenirs with zero collector demand. Even the U.S. Mint has said they’re not genuine coins.
Late-20th-century encyclopedia sets
Big & heavy encyclopedia sets do look impressive on a bookshelf. Yet they’re just heavy. Everyone uses online references, so thrift stores & libraries don’t usually take them, and complete sets in great condition rarely sell.
People mostly use them for craft projects or to stage rooms in real estate photos. As a result, you’re hardly going to find anyone willing to pay top dollar for any encyclopedias.
1980s–1990s porcelain “collector” dolls (The photo isn’t of porcelain dolls)
Porcelain dolls were huge in the ‘80s & ‘90s, and every home seemed to have a few lined up on a shelf. However, so many were made that they’re practically worthless today.
It doesn’t matter that they’re in perfect condition, they usually go for under $10. The only ones with value are much older or handcrafted by known artists.
Carnival glass bowls and vases
People still bring carnival glass bowls & vases to antique fairs, thinking they’ve struck gold. But the truth is, most carnival glass isn’t worth much because so many companies pumped it out in the early 1900s.
There’s just too much around. Usually, you’ll get $50 or less for these, unless they’re an odd color or pattern that collectors rarely see.
Milk glass florist vases
You may see shelves full of milk glass in thrift shops. That’s the problem. Florists ordered these by the case back in the day, so now they’re everywhere.
While they may be pretty, they’re certainly not valuable. Even big ones or perfect sets rarely go for more than a couple of bucks online.
Chrome-era postcards (1945–present)
Chrome-era postcards were popular during the 1950s and do look rather cool, although there’s no shortage of them. Companies printed & mailed millions of them. Almost every family saved stacks.
Most collectors want older linen or real-photo cards, not the shiny ones. Really, the majority of chrome-era cards end up in dollar bins.
Junk-wax-era sports cards
Those who have boxes of ‘80s & ‘90s baseball cards in the garage aren’t alone. Card companies printed them nonstop back then & everyone bought them. As a result of this overproduction, most of those “rookies” and complete sets aren’t worth the paper they’re on.
Only rare errors or pristine graded cards have any real value to make them worth holding onto.
Old National Geographic runs
Chances are, you know someone who saved every National Geographic issue since the ‘60s. And so did everyone else. They printed millions each month, with most of them still being kept away in basements & garages.
Sure, the early ones, like before 1907, can be worth a bit. Yet the rest have no monetary value.
Movie poster reprints and reissues
It’s easy to mistake a “vintage-style” poster for the real thing. Collectors can tell right away.
Studios reprinted lots of them for home décor, and even official reissues are rarely valuable, only when they were printed for the film’s first theater run. Any that lack the old printer codes are mere decoration.
Matchbooks and matchcovers
Yes, matchbooks look nostalgic, especially the ones from diners & hotels. But they’re everywhere, as people used to grab them like business cards, so collectors today can buy boxes of them for a few bucks.
It’s only worth holding onto them if they’re from an early 1900s event or a landmark that no longer exists.
Silver-plated tea services
Silver-plated tea sets have such a thin coating of silver that scrapping them isn’t worth the trouble. As such, many antique shops are full of these items & they’re simply gathering dust.
The only valuable ones are the ones made from solid sterling or from a recognized artisan. Unless it’s those, it’s probably worth more to keep than to sell.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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