While many people rumble through yard sales and 2nd hand stores hoping to find a rare work of art or an overlooked gem, many of us already have items of value just lying around the house collecting dust. Many everyday household objects from yesteryear might be worth a significant amount of money today. If you don’t believe us- check out the following list, and see how many you might have at home. You might be surprised to learn you are sitting on a small fortune.
Original Star Wars Action Figures (1977-1985)
Those small plastic action figures that cost a few cents in their time could now fund your next luxury vacation. Items from the original Star Wars Trilogy- which are unopened, and in their original packaging are the most valuable of all. Some rarer collectibles can reach prices of as much as USD 45,000. For example, if you have a caped Jawa figure from 1978, start celebrating, and figuring out what to do with an extra USD 25,000.
Vintage Pyrex Bowls and Casserole Dishes (1950s-1970s)
Nothing beats the nostalgia of a home-baked casserole, and those colorful retro staples from your grandmother’s kitchen aren’t just sentimental, but they can be valuable too. Particular patterns like the “Lucky in Love” heart and four-leaf clover design can sell for over USD 4,000. The “Atomic Eyes” pattern from the 1950s often fetches between $800-$2,000. Even more common designs in good nick can sell for hundreds of dollars, especially if they come as part of a complete set.
First Generation Apple iPod (2001)
Way back when we thought that the Walkman was the ultimate way to listen to music on the go- Oh Boy! Were we wrong- Apple released the first iPod, and we were hooked from the start. If you are lucky enough to have a sealed-in-the-box first-gen iPod, you could sell for for over USD20,000. Even used devices that are still in good working condition can sell for $1,000-$3,000.
Pokemon Cards (1990s)
That shoebox of trading cards in the back of your closet collecting dust might be valuable. First-edition Pokémon cards such as the shadowy Charizard, can sell for over $300,000 in mint condition. Yes! You read that correctly. Even more common cards for the original sets can go for hundreds of dollars if they are in good condition. Holographic cards from the first few sets can reach as much as five-figure prices.
LEGO Sets (1980s-1990s)
Unopened vintage boxes of LEGO have increased in value over the past years. Some of the less common sets can sell for over USD 10,000. The 1979 Lego Space Galaxy Explorer set can fetch upwards of USD 5,000 if still sealed in the original packaging. Even newer sets have appreciated in value for example -The 2007 Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon, originally priced at $500, now sells for over $15,000 unopened.
Original American Girl Dolls (1980s-1990s)
Early American Girl Dolls, especially the first three produced- namely- Samantha, Kirsten, and Molly, can sell for thousands if they are in mint condition. If you have the Pleasant Company versions, (pre Mattel’s acquisition), you are even luckier as these are worth even more. Complete sets including all the books and accessories can fetch anywhere between $3,000- $5,000.
Vintage Band T-Shirts (1970s-1980s)
Don’t let the fun summer days of being a band roadie be in vain. Original band t-shirts from the golden age of rock and roll have become highly sought-after collectibles. If you have an original 1979 Led Zeppelin concert t-shirt, for example, it might make you up to USD 10,000 richer. Even mass-produced band shirts from the 80s can sell for hundreds of dollars if they are in good condition.
Beanie Babies (1990s)
Not all Beanie Babies were created equally, there are a rare few who sell for whopping amounts of money. A 1st Edition Princess Diana Bear sold for over USD500,000 making its owner rich. Beanie Babies also prove that not all mistakes are bad- manufacturing errors in color or other variations can make the plushie worth more. As with most of the items listed here, that’s providing the item is authentic with original tags.
Nintendo Games (1980s-1990s)
Unopened copies of vintage Nintendo Games have sold for astronomical amounts of money. A sealed copy of Super Mario Bros from 1985 sold for over 2 million dollars. Even more run-of-the-mill games in good condition and original packaging can be worth hundreds. The Legend of Zelda games are worth a lot and are highly desirable collectibles.
Mid-Century Modern Furniture
Those “vintage” chairs and tables from the 50s and 60s might just be worth a lot more than you would guess. Original Eames chairs sell for anywhere between USD 5,000- USD 15,000 each. The iconic bubble lamp designed by George Nelson can fetch similar prices. Even pieces from lesser-known designers from this era can be worth thousands if in good nick and authentic.
Vintage Computers (1970s-1980s)
Working models of the Apple I computer have sold for around 1 million dollars, they are extremely rare, but don’t lose hope, other early computing replicas can be valuable too. Commodore 64 or original IBM PC can be worth thousands, especially with original packaging and documentation. Early Macintosh computers in working condition regularly sell for $2,000-$5,000.
Comic Books (1930s-1980s)
If you spent your youth and all your pocket money at the comic store, you might be about to cash in. There are a few select comics that have sold for record amounts of cash. While Action Comics #1 (Superman’s debut) sells for millions, other more common vintage comics can also be valuable. Spider-Man’s first appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15 has sold for over $3.6 million. Comics from the ’70s and ’80s can also be worth thousands, especially if featuring the first appearance of a beloved character.
Vinyl Records (1950s-1980s)
Pre CDs and cassette tapes, vinyl records were all the rage. Some original recordings can fetch huge amounts of money. The Beatles’ “White Album” (particularly low-numbered copies) can sell for $10,000+. Even more common records can be valuable too if they’re rare pressings or contain manufacturing errors. Original mono pressings of 1960s albums are particularly sought after by record collectors and lovers of listening to their music “old-school”.
Vintage Cameras (1950s-1970s)
If taking amazing photos has been your passion you might be interested to know that old-school cameras, especially Leica models can be worth thousands of dollars and are valuable collector’s items. A 1957 Leica MP black paint version sold for over $1.2 million. More common vintage cameras like the Rolleiflex or early Nikons can still fetch hundreds or thousands if they are in working condition with original cases and accessories.
First Edition Books (Various Eras)
It isn’t just antique or vintage first book printings that can be valuable. First-print editions of some popular modern-day books, especially those with intact dust jackets can be in demand too. A first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone can sell for over $50,000. Even more recent first editions of popular books can be worth hundreds or thousands, particularly if signed by the author.
