When you’re decluttering, it’s easy to look at a box of old dishes, toys, records, or things passed down through the family and assume nobody wants them anymore. But some of those things taking up space in the attic, basement, garage, or back of a closet may be exactly what a collector wants.
That doesn’t mean everything old is valuable. The maker, age, rarity, condition, pattern, original packaging, and whether an item is complete can make the difference between something worth a few dollars and something worth considerably more.
So before you donate Grandma’s dishes, toss an old toy, or put everything out at your next garage sale for a couple of bucks, do a little research. These 22 categories are a good place to start.
Vintage advertising signs
Original advertising signs from recognizable brands have become popular with collectors and people decorating garages, kitchens, bars, and other spaces. Because reproductions are everywhere, figuring out whether a sign is genuinely old is an important first step before assuming it has significant value.
VHS tapes
Most VHS tapes are still inexpensive, so there’s no reason to hang onto every copy of a common movie hoping it will someday be valuable. Rare releases, discontinued titles, unusual editions, promotional tapes, and other hard-to-find recordings are the exceptions worth researching before you clear out the box.
Vintage typewriters and rotary phones
Technology that once seemed hopelessly outdated has become collectible again, particularly when it has a distinctive vintage look. Early typewriters, unusual rotary phones, desirable manufacturers, uncommon colors, and working examples are worth identifying before you donate them.
Beanie Babies
Most Beanie Babies aren’t worth the enormous amounts you sometimes see attached to online listings, but that doesn’t mean every one is worthless. Certain versions can be more collectible, particularly when they have their original tags and are in excellent condition, so look at actual sold prices rather than ambitious asking prices.
Vintage records and record players
Old records and turntables are worth checking because collectors and music enthusiasts still seek particular pressings, artists, labels, and audio equipment. Rare records and desirable turntables can command higher prices, while common albums and inexpensive mass-produced players may not be worth much at all.
Vintage wedding dresses
A wedding gown carefully stored for decades may appeal to someone looking for an authentic vintage dress. Designer, era, fabric, style, alterations, and condition all matter, so check the label before assuming an older gown has no resale market.
Vintage toys and video games
Old Barbies, action figures, metal toys, game cartridges, consoles, and other childhood favorites can become collectibles decades after children stop playing with them. Rarity matters, but condition, original packaging, accessories, manuals, and having a complete set can dramatically affect what someone will pay.
Related: 14 Vintage Toys That Are Now Valuable Collectibles
Boy Scout memorabilia
Old Scouting uniforms, badges, patches, books, pins, and other memorabilia can appeal to collectors interested in both Scouting and local history. Age, rarity, condition, event, location, and the story behind a particular piece can all influence demand.
Vintage Crayola crayons
A half-used handful of old crayons probably won’t make you much money, but an intact vintage box is a different story. Older packaging, discontinued colors, unusual sets, and boxes in particularly nice condition can make something as ordinary as crayons surprisingly collectible.
Old magazines
Before recycling a stack of old magazines, check the publication dates and covers to see exactly what you have. First issues, important historical events, famous cover subjects, limited editions, and particularly well-preserved copies can be much more desirable than ordinary back issues.
Vintage jewelry and designer accessories
Don’t empty an inherited jewelry box or handbag collection into the donation bin without taking a closer look at labels, markings, and signatures. Precious metals and stones can have value, but collectors also seek certain costume jewelry makers and authentic vintage designer handbags even when the materials themselves aren’t especially expensive.
Related: Don’t Clean Out Grandma’s Jewelry Box Until You Check These Valuable Pieces
Vintage kitchenware and cookware
Old kitchens can be packed with collectibles, including Pyrex, Fire-King, Fiestaware, CorningWare, Tupperware, cast-iron cookware, fine china, cookie jars, mixing bowls, serving pieces, glassware, stoneware, enamelware, vintage utensils, and even certain old kitchen gadgets.
Vintage cookbooks
Those stained old cookbooks shoved onto a kitchen shelf can tell you a lot about how previous generations cooked, and some editions have become collectible. First editions, famous authors, unusual regional cookbooks, historically significant titles, and hard-to-find copies are the ones most worth researching.
Antique hand tools
An old wooden-handled tool isn’t necessarily junk simply because a shiny modern replacement exists. Antique planes, drills, saws, wrenches, and other hand tools from desirable makers can attract collectors, especially when identifying marks are visible and the tool remains in good condition.
Vintage lunchboxes
The metal lunchbox you carried to school may now appeal to collectors of the era’s characters and pop culture. Popular franchises, unusual graphics, good condition, and having the original matching Thermos can make certain examples more desirable.
Antique quilts
A handmade quilt passed down through several generations may have more than sentimental value. Age, pattern, fabrics, craftsmanship, condition, provenance, and the person or region associated with its creation can all make an unusual quilt worth having professionally evaluated.
Related: How to Check if a Vintage Flea Market Find Is Authentic
Antique and vintage dolls
Porcelain dolls aren’t automatically valuable just because they’re old, and plenty sell for relatively modest amounts. Maker, markings, age, rarity, original clothing, condition, and whether the doll has been altered or repaired can make a significant difference.
Antique clocks
Old mantel clocks, wall clocks, and grandfather clocks can be collectible as both decorative objects and functioning timepieces. Check the case and movement for a maker’s name, label, signature, serial number, or other identifying marks before deciding what to do with one.
Mid-century small appliances
That colorful toaster, mixer, or blender from decades ago may look outdated, but its retro styling can be exactly what someone else wants. Recognizable manufacturers, distinctive designs, original parts, good cosmetic condition, and working examples are generally more appealing than heavily damaged appliances.
Vintage rocking chairs
An old rocking chair that’s been in the family for generations may deserve a closer inspection before it goes into a garage sale. The maker, construction, wood, style, age, condition, and provenance can help determine whether you have an ordinary older chair or something a furniture collector might want.
Old artwork
You don’t need to assume every dusty painting in the attic is a lost masterpiece, but you also shouldn’t toss unfamiliar artwork without checking it. Look carefully for signatures, labels, gallery information, inscriptions, dates, and markings on the front and back that could help identify the artist and the piece’s history.
Vintage luggage
Old hard-sided suitcases may not compete with modern rolling luggage for convenience, but their look still appeals to collectors, decorators, and vintage enthusiasts. Matching sets, desirable manufacturers, unusual designs, intact interiors, and pieces in particularly nice condition are more likely to attract buyers.
Other Topics You Might Like
- 14 Family Heirlooms People Accidentally Throw Away All the Time
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- How to Let Go of Sentimental Things Without Feeling Like You’re Throwing Away Memories
- These 7 Things Should Never Go in the Donation Pile When You Declutter
