There’s a bit of sadness when you look at the stuff we throw away. You look at that battered old toy and think, who needs this junk? What you don’t know is that time can make garbage magical.
You forget that the little trinkets from your childhood, the boxes they came in even, become more valuable with each passing year. It’s a sad truth that most people realize just seconds after dropping it off at the recycle bin.
Here are 10 things you probably already threw away, but could have been worth a fortune.
Vintage Pyrex and retro kitchenware
Old Pyrex has gone from cupboard staple to auction house darling. Once considered an every-woman’s wedding gift in the 1950s, serious collectors scour garage sales for rare examples of vintage opalware.
Serious bucks are changing hands these days, we’re talking hundreds, even thousands of dollars for just one dish. It’s the epitome of everyday household trash turned treasure. Before you dump your stack of patterned casseroles in the donate bin, see what they’re worth.
First edition and antique books
It’s odd how collecting books works. Things of the greatest value in the business often appear to be completely worthless to the naked eye.
Someone might assume you need to go hunting for two-century-old volumes to find something of value, but a first-print edition of a contemporary classic could be the holy grail to a bookseller.
It’s all about the specifics. Correct printing. Correct year. And don’t forget the original dust jacket.
Old vinyl records
You may have some vinyl in your attic collecting dust, but before you throw them away, know that there really is such a thing as a “vinyl revival”.
Although most popular thrift-store records are worth no more than a few bucks, hidden gems may be tucked away in those boxes. Limited pressings or albums from legendary bands have been known to be treasure troves.
The value of vinyl records can change based on minor printing differences such as label color variants or jacket sleeve typos, or a promotional-only designation. That $10 Nixon album may very well sell for $1,000 if you find the right buyer.
Vintage board games
When you see a battered, sticker-covered box of Monopoly or Risk, it’s tempting to think of it as garbage. But competition for vintage board games is fierce.
Many collectors search for games from the 1950s through the 1970s in complete condition, with every miniscule wooden house or cardboard dog still nestled inside.
Entire armies of these games were waged, lost, and relegated to the trash. To find one in un-played condition is nearly impossible. Rarity matters.
Vintage clothing (Band tees, Retro streetwear)
The distressed-looking apparel hanging in your trendy boutique may not always be reworked. Sometimes, it’s actually vintage pieces straight from the 80’s or 90’s.
Vintage band shirts from metal bands or tour worn shirts have become closet fine art in the present world. While others may view an old faded shirt with holes as a rag to clean the car, some view it as a $500 piece of work.
Antique or rare coins and currency
Everyone has heard tales of the lucky penny worth $1 million dollars. That may be extreme, but chances are you hold nickels and dimes that are worth more than face value.
Crazy things happen. As mentioned, coins don’t just become rare because they are old. Mistakes happen all the time. Coins with a “double die” error that blurs the lettering and those minted during metal transitions offer a chance to increase your pocket change’s value in the bank.
VHS tapes of rare films
Before you throw away that box of old VHS tapes from the attic, hold up. Sure, average Disney titles aren’t worth anything, but lost films that never got released on DVD/streaming can fetch a pretty penny.
Horror/Cult collectors will pay top dollar for rare titles (bonus points if they feature that awesome grainy 80s artwork). Boxed, first-print copies of so-called popular films such as Star Wars/Back to the Future have sold in recent years for thousands.
Vintage jeans (e.g., Early Levi’s 501s)
Your worn-out, ragged jeans may be worth more than a tailored designer suit. Savvy denim hunters scour for vintage Levi’s 501s from the 1950s and 60s, made with rare denim and a level of craftsmanship that no longer exists.
The holy grail is discovering one with the “Big E” stitched on the red tab or those elusive hidden rivets on the back pockets. A fashion expert who values vintage garments could pay $2,000 for jeans that you would normally throw away.
Retro electronics (Classic consoles and gadgets)
Retro gaming is a booming billion dollar industry these days and collectors will pay you handsomely. The demand is great for not only video games but consoles as well. People who grew up playing Sega, NES want those games and consoles to look as good as possible.
A working original NES or Sega Mega Drive is nice. But if you stumble across the OG cardboard box and instruction manual in your drawer, you could be set for life. To some people, these consoles aren’t toys, they are functioning antique technology from the 80s and 90s.
Vintage toys in box (e.g., Polly pocket, Classic playsets)
You’ve all seen those hard plastic playsets or antique dolls at garage sales, but what you really want as a collector is one new box. Some toys from the 70s and 80s have become almost mythical in stature; original Polly Pockets, Star Wars figures, or He-Man toys can fetch big bucks.
The sad thing is that these were toys meant to be played with and ruined. It’s unlikely you’ll find any of the small accessories that came with the toy today. Finding toys still in their original box and complete with their accessories can lead to substantial monetary gain.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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