There may be a treasure trove waiting to be discovered in your home. In your attic, garage, basement or closet, dusty old toys, gadgets, old toys, and discarded electronics hide valuables worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars-if you can figure it out How to identify them.
There are collectors for almost all types of items, from your mom’s old casserole to the Nintendo you haven’t touched in 30 years. The trick is to distinguish what is really worth the time and effort to resell, and what is a better donation pile.
To help, Newsweek surveyed appraisers and antique experts to help you evaluate what is valuable and what is not, and get their advice on how to get the highest price.
The first step: "Pause for one minute and spend five minutes searching the Internet for what you want to throw away," said Reyne Hirsch, a long-time evaluator of PBS Antiques Roadshow. "You will be surprised at how much you can sell on the secondary market and how much you can get."
Jacquie Denny (Jacquie Denny), co-founder of the real estate sales and auction site EverythingButTheHouse.com, said that the condition of the item, its scarcity or unusualness, its connection to iconic events or popular culture figures, and its current popularity will increase it. value. "It doesn't matter how much you paid for it initially or how old it is," she added.
Looking for a cheat sheet for current best-selling products? Here are 33 commonly owned items that can put a little more money in your pocket—perhaps more.
The collection card is very hot. eBay found that compared with 2019, sales in 2020 increased by 142%. At the top of this surge are Pokemon. The renewed love for mass-produced Japanese card games has increased sales by 577% last year alone. The first two Pokemon cards sold on eBay last year both featured Charzard characters, and each sold for six figures. In 1999, the first edition of Pokemon Base holographic thick stamps, the shadowless fire-breathing dragon sold for US$350,100, while the 1999 Pokemon Base set of the first edition of the shadowless holographic fire-breathing dragon sold for US$295,300.
Don’t you have those two fire-breathing dragons in your collection? Any other cards that feature this character or other popular cards, such as Pikachu, MewTwo, and Blastoise, are run from the first production run with a circle indicating the 1st edition and will sell for one cent. In January, Heritage Auctions sold 36 packs of these first-version Pokemon card booster packs for $408,000, which is about $48,000 higher than similar booster packs last year.
However, not all first editions will receive such a high premium, although their revenue will still exceed the amount you initially spent on them. A series of cards including the characters Gastly, Horsea, Charmander, Charmeleon, Porgygon, Magmar, Victreebel, Jynx and Tangela are sold on EBTH for $325.
To see large sums of money, you need to hold Kenner toys that date back to when the original trilogy was released in the 1970s and 1980s. If the Force is with you, they will also remain in the original packaging.
At the high end, a 1978 Luke Skywalker figure with a double retractable lightsaber in its original box was sold for $25,000 at the Sotheby’s auction in 2015, but many other characters in the original packaging still Sold at a price below six figures. Javanese action figures with vinyl robes in 1978 were sold for $6,700 on EBTH in 2018, and in 1977 including Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Chubacca and R2-D2 Plastic dolls were sold for US$2,770 in another EBTH auction in 2017.
If, like most kids, you have really played with your Star Wars toy, you can still profit hundreds of them. In January, a Darth Vader-shaped storage box filled with characters was sold on EBTH for $750.
According to eBay, in 2020, cards featuring beloved athletes across all sports will also experience massive growth. Football saw the biggest increase, rising by 1,586%, while basketball followed closely, with a more moderate increase, with an increase of 373%. Hockey, football and baseball are close behind.
However, soaring interest is not always directly related to sales prices. Last year, there were no football cards among the top five sellers on the site. On the contrary, the highest honor is the 2000 playoff contender Tom Brady rookie RC Auto #144 PSA Gem Mint card, priced at $555,988. Followed by Topps Chrome Refractor Kobe Bryant Rookie RC #138 PSA Gem Mint in 1996, priced at $500,000. The top three is Topps Mickey Mantle #311 in 1952, with revenue of $428,100.
Taken together, the most popular sports trading card comes from basketball, followed by baseball, and then football. The most popular basketball cards last year were Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Zion Williamson and Mike Trout.
When eBay asked Darren Rovell, a sports business analyst, to predict what will be hot in the future, he said that he expected mainstream cards like Michael Jordan and cards like Bumblebee Tuna “The Rock” to continue to shine, including Dwayne “The Rock”. Rock "Rock" Johnson is a University of Miami football player who was sold at the PWCC auction for $13,988 in December. He believes that the vintage basketball cards of the 1980s and 1990s will regain attention, and Kobe Bryant needs them. Will meet the needs of Michael Jordan and LeBron James as he is about to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in May.
According to eBay, another most popular transaction card category belongs to Magic: The Gathering. MTG is known as the first modern trading card game and is the fourth most popular card type on the site, beating football, football, hockey and many other sports. Last year, the highest sales of non-sports cards on eBay was Gem Mint PSA 10 Magic: The Gathering Black Lotus, priced at US$511,100.
Other notable sales include: Magic: The Gathering PSA 10 Alpha Black Lotus signed by Christopher Rush for 1/4 million U.S. dollars, Magic: The Gathering BGS Alpha Black Lotus is priced at 165,000 USD.
The best-selling Magic cards are actually not those Black Lotus cards, but power of will, mind grabbing, sword to plowshare, swift mage, and Tamogoif.
The retro Pyrex tableware from the mid-20th century uses soft-toned opaque soda lime glass with interesting patterns that can bring you a sweet reward, especially if you have never put them in the dishwasher, the design is not scratched Hurt, and Hirsch said, you have a matching glass cover.
The holy grail of the Pyrex world is a work with a "Lucky in Love" pattern. This design was only produced in 1959 and has a green grass border at the bottom, embellished with green clover and pink hearts. On eBay, one piece sells for more than $4,000.
But other designs, such as the Amish butterfly pattern, have a stylized man and woman, rooster and wheat, or gooseberry, with repetitive patterns of berries, leaves and branches, and can be sold for hundreds. Last month, a set of 4 nested mixing bowls in turquoise and white Butterprint sold for $315. A set of pink gooseberry refrigerator trays with a lid sells for $199.
The condition, color, and pattern will all determine the amount of your return, but the online market shows that even a single item, such as a butter dish, can be priced from US$13 to US$92.
"In the past five years, books have experienced a real renaissance," said Danny, who will appear on the new HGTV show "Nothing is a House" which will premiere on March 19. This is especially true for the first edition-the first edition of a popular novel, biographies or recipes can reach thousands. Likewise, condition, rarity, and age all play an important role in the final price you can expect, but sites like Biblio can help you determine a reasonable estimate.
For example, the first edition of JK Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" was sold for $80,000 in 2017. "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" will be printed on the copyright page of this rare book. The first edition set of the incomplete Porter series, lacking the key first book, was sold on EBTH in October for $4,450. Classic literary works are also very popular, such as John Steinbeck (John Steinbeck) first printed "Grapes of Wrath" three years ago on EBTH sold for 2,400 US dollars, and the first edition of Julia Child in 1961 Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Culinary Art" was sold on AbeBooks for $2,000.
Books that have been out of print but are still popular with readers can also receive substantial amounts. According to a statement issued on March 2nd, people were already raising the price of Dr. Seuss’s six novels, and the company decided not to publish them because they "portrayed characters in hurtful and wrong ways."
Newsweek found that "If I Ran the Zoo", which was listed on ThriftBooks.com on February 23 for 99 cents, jumped to more than $395 after the announcement.
If you are lucky, most magazines will only bring you a few dollars in revenue. But a copy of the first issue of a magazine brand, or a copy linked to a particularly noteworthy event or characteristic pop culture icon, may be more valuable.
In 2018, the "Red Star" version of the first volume of "Playboy" co-authored by Hugh Hefner and Marilyn Monroe was sold on EBTH for $6,100, and in 1990 The same magazine in March 1991 sold the cover of former President Donald Trump for $800 in December.
Age and historical importance also help to enhance value. For example, a group of 16 issues of life magazines dates back to 1941 and 1942, when the United States was involved in World War II, and the EBTH sold for $300 in May last year, despite some gaps on the edges of the pages.
"Most of the furniture market is very weak now," Danny said. "The baby boomers are downsizing, from four-bedroom houses to two-bedroom apartments, so we see a large number of restaurants and bedroom sets." One of the few areas that remains strong? Medieval modern works from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.
In contrast, the mid-to-late 20th century oak chest of drawers in the French provincial style of the century is priced at $155 on EBTH, while the mid-century modern "Brasília" chest of drawers sells for more than $1,000. The French style is also equipped with matching mirrors, but can still be sold at one-tenth the price of mid-century fashion styles.
If you own the works of famous designers of that period such as Milo Baughman, Thonet, Eames, Saaranin and Hans Wegner, you can make more money. For example, a pair of orange and white Eames MAX-1 chairs from the 1960s were sold at Heritage Auctions for $5,000 in January.
Although true vinyl record collectors may be looking for rare misprinted album covers worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, most music lovers who like the vinyl record listening experience just want to find good copies of their favorite classic tracks.
For example, a series of classic rock albums including Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Who are priced at $1,626 on EBTH. None of that batch is particularly rare or strange. Another series containing albums by Miles Davis, Chicago, Ray Charles, Santana, John Coltrane and Isaac Hayes is priced at $967.
On its own, the album can also sell very well. After the Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti album was first printed, it was sold on eBay this month for $25.49.
With the disappearance of paper tickets for sports games, concerts, or other large-scale events, eBay predicts that these cultural relics will become collectibles. In a statement released last month, eBay said: "It is expected that tickets for the largest and most famous games will break the six-figure threshold for the first time."
For example, if you are lucky enough to participate in the Super Bowl and save your tickets, you can earn up to $4,000. According to the "Sports Collector Daily" report, the first few Super Bowls or major unpopular paper tickets provided the greatest return. Even so, the conditions and style of the ticket will be different. For example, the white stripes on the tickets for the third Super Bowl can bring you $3,000-4,000 in income, while the blue or yellow stripes will save you $200-1,000.
Some concert tickets can also be done well. Danny recalled that once Woodstock tickets were sold on EBTH for $269, just for a "small note."
If you stuffed an American girl doll from the late 1980s in the attic to bring your own child, you might want to stop before letting your little hand touch her. A 1986 Samantha doll is intact, with original clothing and accessories, and can cost thousands of dollars. One was sold on eBay for $3,300 in January, and the other was sold for $1,000 in December.
No original? Old models that have been discontinued or retired after the first year are in good condition and equipped with additional clothing or accessories, earning hundreds of dollars on eBay on a regular basis.
The newly popular holiday decorations are made by many of us since the 1980s or 1990s, and perhaps even by relatives: ceramic Christmas trees. Danny said that whether it's the classic green with frosted branches or pale pink, these light-up trees can usually sell for a few hundred dollars. For example, in October last year, a Clearbrook Pottery ceramic luminous musical Christmas tree was sold on EBTH for $300.
Danny recommends waiting until the Christmas craze starts to sweep people in mid-October before selling any ceramic trees or other holiday items. "If you want to sell it for Christmas in July, you might as well donate it to charity," she said.
13. Video game consoles and games in the 1980s
Of course, although you can currently sell the PS5 at a high price, your first console and supporting games in the 1980s may provide better returns, especially in the case of unused or rare versions. For example, last year, the unopened copy of Super Mario Bros. in 1985 was sold at auction for $114,000, while the sealed Nintendo NES Stadium Events game in 1987 was sold on eBay for $35,100 in 2015. out.
Even less compelling old games can be sold in the hundreds. The Nintendo Gamecube with a controller and a set of games is priced at US$426, while old-fashioned video game cassettes from Nintendo and Sony are priced at US$335 on EBTH. Last December, the Sega Dreamcast console with two controllers and 38 games was priced at $908 on eBay.
Maybe your child gave up the dream of a rock band in your basement, or you recently bought yourself a new guitar. No matter how you own an idle musical instrument, you can sell it for a good return.
In fact, the price of some 1950s Gibson Les Paul guitars can reach hundreds of thousands. These are rare, and so are the six-figure prices, but it is not uncommon for instruments to cost thousands of dollars. The Reverb 1974 Gibson Les Paul Anniversary guitar sold for approximately US$4,700, while the 1979 Fender Mustang guitar recently sold for approximately US$1,800.
It's not just guitars that sell well. An Albert Knorr violin was sold for US$1,361 on EBTH, a Yamaha tenor saxophone with a case was sold for US$1,970, and Ludwig 8’s seven-piece drum kit from the 1980s was recently sold at Reverb. It is priced at approximately US$1,300.
Even if you don't have an old electric guitar, you are willing to abandon it. Old amplifiers, turntables and even microphones can also bring considerable income.
"You may have a pair of older speakers or amplifiers or tuners and think that because it is too old no one wants it, but people are still willing to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for those old stereo equipment," Hirsch said.
On Reverb, the 1970 Fender Princeton Reverb 15-watt amplifier was recently snapped up for about $1,840, while the Marshall DSL20 tube combo amplifier was sold on EBTH for $522. An old-fashioned Sennheiser microphone that didn't work was sold on Reverb for nearly $160.
If turntables and record players work well, they can also bring in hundreds of dollars in revenue. Recently, the Pioneer PL-500 Direct Drive turntable was priced at US$194, and the Kenwood KD-3070 semi-automatic turntable in the 1970s was priced at US$257 on the Reverb.
Although most people’s mobile phones are now equipped with powerful digital cameras, as people rediscover the fun of printing photos and manually adjusting settings, film cameras still have some fun.
Just last month, the M6 Leica with the box was sold for $5,101, while the older model, the M4 from the 1950s, with a bag, tripod and lens attachment, sold for $3,600 on EBTH. Even just a set of Lecia lenses can reach hundreds of dollars.
Still popular? The first instant camera: Polaroid. The gold and black version with a leather case was recently sold for $553, while the more basic version was sold out for $152.
Remember those shiny pink and silver aluminum Christmas trees that Charlie Brown didn't really like? Well, they are once again popular among retro and mid-century fanatics. If you have all the branches of a tree, you can expect to make a few hundred dollars. The Evergleam brand, matching tree stands, and original boxes and branch shells increase the price you can charge.
Just this month, a 6-foot-tall silver tree with 92 branches and its original box was sold on eBay for $350, and one with 55 branches and a four-foot tree lacking a bracket The tall young tree was sold for $200 in February. Selling at the peak of Christmas, you may earn more. In December last year, a seven-foot golden tree with 122 branches and a luminous color wheel sold for $1,361 on eBay.
Stained glass products handmade in this small Italian town can be seen everywhere because they are common tourist products and are usually always worth going on the market, especially if they are in a mid-century modern style. Hirsch said that more practical items, such as ashtrays and candy trays, can sell for a few hundred dollars, while sculptures can sell for hundreds to thousands of dollars.
For example, a Murano hand-blown glass bird sculpture with a gilded work and no visible manufacturer's mark was sold on EBTH for $1,050, while a candy tray with golden bubbles and manufacturer's mark was sold for 205 Sold for US dollars, and a colorful swirl vase was sold for 150 US dollars.
19. Famous band concert poster
People like original concerts and festival posters featuring their favorite behaviors. Unsurprisingly, the bigger the name on the poster and the better the conditions, the more you can charge. On March 22, 1986, the poster for The Doors show created by David Edward Byrd was sold on EBTH for $1,500, and the 1966 Grateful Dead lithographic poster produced by Mouse Studios It was sold out at a price of $985.
20. Trendy furniture from the 1980s and 1990s
Another area of the furniture market is beginning to heat up and may even be more popular than mid-century modern: items from the 1980s and 1990s.
"This is what people buy now," said Joe Maddalena, executive vice president of Heritage Auctions. "Gen X has really entered their largest consumption cycle. They have disposable income and are not yet retirement age. They are collecting things that are nostalgic for them."
Reyne said that sofas, coffee tables, and side chairs made of wood or high-quality fabrics have strong colors and more unusual forms and usually work best. Acrylic or plexiglass scroll carts of that period also became popular again.
A pair of orange armchairs designed by Terje Ekstrom from Norway are currently priced at more than $5,000 on 1stDibbs. This is an example of this unusual design and good value for money in the 1980s.
Like books and magazines, most old comic books are of little value. Exception: Rare versions or issues, featuring the debut of popular superheroes, can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
The original copy of Superman's first manga "Man of Steel" was sold for $3.2 million in 2014, but you don't need Clark Kent to make mints. A copy of the first issue of the "Fantastic Four" series published by Marvel Comics in 1961 was sold on EBTH for $5,100. The X-Men comics from 1975 to 1977, including the 100th issue, were sold on the website last year for $1,651.
When a comic character is about to star in a new Hollywood movie, the price tends to rise, so it is worth researching the upcoming new DC or Marvel movies and trying to match your sales to their release.
22. Children's lunch boxes from the 1950s and 1960s
A children’s lunch box and thermos set from the middle of the 20th century, featuring colorful cartoon characters, TV show heroes, or big-name bands, can sell for hundreds of dollars. In January of this year, a dome lunch box with The Jetsons theme and a matching thermos was sold on eBay for $1,650, while the metal lunch box featuring the Beatles, without thermos, was priced It is 630 US dollars. Even if you don't have the most popular character or design, these vintage boxes often cost more than $40, which is not bad for something you haven't used since elementary school.
Also commonly referred to as American Sweetheart, the price of this glass is usually between $30 and $75, depending on the rarity of its color or pattern. Ruby and cobalt tones are the most valuable, but white and pink works are also sold at high prices on eBay. For example, a white American Sweetheart Monax bowl was sold for $542 in January, and a pair of ruby-colored MacBeth-Evans salad plates sold for $232 on eBay in January.
"I call it Granny Chic, but recently there is a group of people who like vintage quilts, crochet and samplers," Danny said. "In the past 10 years or so, no one was really interested in them, and now I am shocked by the price people are willing to pay."
Last year, a set of handmade quilts sold for just over US$1,000 on EBTH, while another set was sold for US$500 in January. Depending on the quality, size, and design, your old family quilt may be worth hundreds of dollars. Smaller handicrafts, such as embroidered linens or handkerchiefs, are sold in sets for between US$20 and US$65. The price of framed antique samplers ranges from US$20 to US$200.
The first sneaker designed for Michael Jordan debuted in 1985. If you were lucky enough to buy a pair in the 1980s, your sneakers could be worth hundreds of dollars or even thousands of dollars, depending on the model and condition.
According to data from StockX, a pair of 1985 original Air Jordans sell for between US$8,000 and US$12,000. If they are in their original state, they can sell up to five digits. But the value of the higher version is still two to three times the price you originally paid. For example, a pair of 2000 Air Jordan XIs sells for $850 on Sneakerhead.com.
If you have any other vintage sneakers in storage, it is worth doing some research before donating them. At a sneaker auction at Sotheby's in 2019, a pair of Nike running shoes from 1972, called "moon shoes", was sold for a record US$437,500. Although your pair may not be that valuable, sneaker collectors are a fanatical group willing to pay big prices for rare or unworn styles.
Since the 1930s or 1940s, has there been a small wall clock or table clock in your space? You can trade at a price of up to $1,000. Art Deco clocks with mirrored or geometric designs imitating skyscrapers cost as low as $50, but if your clock is made by a designer like Westclox or Telechron, your price may reach four figures.
For example, three Art Deco skyscraper Telechron clocks were recently sold for $1,500, while the 1928 Paul Frankl Art Deco skyscraper Telechron Modernique clock sold for $643 on eBay last month.
Loved by train lovers for many years, a Lionel toy train dating back to the early 20th century can bring you thousands of dollars. Therefore, please check if there are old toys of your parents or things you rummaged in holiday boxes in the attic, and see if the train that runs around the Christmas tree every year is really worth more than the gift next to it.
In January, the Lionel Canadian Pacific 2373 diesel locomotive and its car and original box were sold on eBay for $5,655, while the Lionel 2341 Jersey Central diesel engine was sold for $3,900 in February.
Danny said that we often want to display some of the Christmas decorations we grew up in in our homes, which is why many of us are now eager for retro-style gadgets from Polonaise, Christopher Radko and Anna Lee.
Among the most valuable old decorations: heavy glass blown decorations called "kugels", usually in the shape of fruits, each priced at more than $50, and designs made by the aforementioned companies from the mid-20th century onwards can It's easy to range from $20 to $100 each.
A series of original glass jewelry boxes from Shiny Brite, Santa Land, Holly and Old World date back to the mid-20th century and were sold on EBTH last month for $775. A few days ago, a similar lot was sold for $726.
The desire to recombine the mid-century modern sideboards and bar carts that many of us have with the graphic cocktail glasses, shakers, and other wine utensils that were used to decorate them in our grandparents has sprung up. The prices of era glassware produced by companies such as Libbey, Federal Glass, Hazel-Atlas, and Culver range from US$15 to US$1,500 each.
A medieval glass perforated bowl with 12 cups with a Cambridge wildflower pattern was sold on EBTH for $1,100, and a set of seven Georges Briard "It's the Cards" glasses was sold on eBay for $250 . A very cool Mirro Bullet Ice Bucket and Atomic Tripod Stand were sold on eBay this month for $257.
Modern replicas or variations of vintage sodas, cars, gas stations, railroads, bars, and alcohol advertisements can now be seen on the shelves of homes and stores across the country, but some people want the real thing. This means that if you have an authentic logo, made of metal, enamel, porcelain, or fragile cardboard, you may sell it for thousands of dollars, especially if it is large, with lights on, or with Coca-Cola Other brands, people still love today. The Pepsi illuminated logo was sold on eBay this month for US$2,328, while the ceramic Firestone double-sided logo was sold for US$1,825 in January.
Vintage typewriters from popular brands such as Remington, Underwood, Smith Corona, Hermes, and Royal can all sell for hundreds of dollars, especially if your version is in interesting colors (such as turquoise or pink) and can still be used. Damaged keys, scratches and dents will reduce the price you can charge. An orange 1969 Hermes Rocket Cursive typewriter was sold on eBay this month for $750, while the 1956 Turquoise Royal Quiet Deluxe typewriter and its original tweed case were sold for $455 last month.
32. Well-known brands of small kitchen appliances and tools
Not every piece of trash in your kitchen is worth listing, but higher quality products that can stand the test of time, such as KitchenAid blenders or Le Creuset cookware, or new hot items, such as air fryer, will do.
Last month, a Le Creuset 9.5-quart oval Dutch oven with a matching cutlery rack and a butter pan with a lid was priced at $382 on EBTH, while the KitchenAid stand mixer usually sells for $200 US dollars, but something like the cobalt blue version with attachments is priced at US$350 on the website. This is not bad considering the brand new retail price is about US$400, of course, there are no accessories. The return rate of NuWave air fryer is much lower, and the price of EBTH is usually between 35-60 US dollars.
Danny said that the outdoor toys, bicycles and sports equipment you have used are always great for resale.
She added that a pair of second-hand 10-foot Emotion kayaks were sold on EBTH last year for $750, and the owner was very satisfied because they had only been sitting outside his garage for many years. Many bicycles are sold at a resale price of US$100-200. For example, the Huffy “Holbrook” Spruce Cruiser sold for US$195 last month. Retro bicycles, such as Schwinn in the 1950s, can make you big money. For example, the green Hornet model sells for more than $1,000 on EBTH.
Danny said that timing is really important here. She said that in autumn, football supplies are very hot, while spring is more suitable for kayaking and canoeing. You want to publish the current time of the sports season or event.
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