If You Have Any Of These 24 Valuable Vintage Items, You Can Retire (See If You Own Any Of Them)
If you've ever wondered what the value of your old lunch pail is, or maybe that antique coin bank that is collecting dust in your attic, we're here to help! Some items that are stored away are most likely worth no more than a few dollars, but some are hidden treasures worth a decent amount of money.
Take that old lunch pail, for instance. It can be worth up to almost $12,000 while the coin bank can be valued at $10,000. If you're stuck at home on a rainy day, you might want to see if you have any of the following "antique" items lying around the house!
Julia Child's Mastering The Art Of French Cooking Cookbook
Julia Child was one of America's premiere cooking teachers, and her popularity escalated with the publishing of her first cookbook in 1961, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Child is known for bringing the art of French cuisine to American households, and the book helped push her toward hosting a cooking show, called The French Chef, in 1963.
If you or someone you know was lucky enough to hold onto one of these original cookbooks, then you're in for a nice payday. A good condition first edition book with its original jacket will run top dollar because of its rarity; we're talking up to two thousand dollars and higher!
Hand-Carved Duck Decoys
You wouldn't believe it, but remember those hand-carved ducks your grandparents might have had lying around the house? Well, they are worth a pretty penny at auctions. These decoys were collector's items in the 20th century and have now come back into style.
The thing is, collectors are now willing to pay top dollar at auctions to get their hands on a mint-condition carving. How much is top dollar, you might ask? Collectors are willing to buy hand-carved duck decoys for hundreds of thousands of dollars, up to $650,000.
Beanie Babies
The collectible stuffed animal toys known as Beanie Babies were vastly popular in the 1990s. Coming in various animals such as dogs, bears, and even goldish, the plush toys were attractive to many young kids. The question now is if your parents decided to keep all of those animals stored away in the basement or attic.
If so, you're in luck. These toys have massive resale value on auction sites like eBay. A toy in excellent condition that has the tag still attached can run up to tens of thousands of dollars. Pincher, the lobster, can sell for $35,000, and some limited edition beanies sell for $500,000.
Baseball Cards
Baseball cards are tricky because they are all valued differently. A general rule to go by is the older it is, the more money you will potentially earn by selling. If you were one of those kids that enjoyed picking up a pack of cards at the convenience store after school, hopefully, you kept them stored in a binder or box.
But those lucky souls who inherited old cards from a grandparent are in for a treat! Depending on various aspects of the card, including player, condition, and year, a single card can be sold for up to $3.12 million, such as a 1902 T206 Honus Wagner.
Super Bowl Memorabilia
Although it is relatively difficult to get your hands on Super Bowl tickets, if you were lucky enough to attend a game and held on to the ticket, you might be in for a nice surprise. A majority of these tickets have either a yellow or white stripe running across the top.
According to Sports Collectors Daily, depending on which color the ticket has, it could sell up to $200-$1,000 for yellow and up to $4,000 for white. Of course, other factors come into play, such as the popularity of the game. Super Bowl II and XII are particularly rare and will earn the seller a nice payout.
Samantha, One Of The Original American Girl Dolls
American Girl Dolls became vastly popular in the late '80s and early '90s. One of the original dolls that was released was Samantha Parkington. This specific doll was part of the BeForever doll series and was discontinued in 2008 but has since been relaunched in more modern attire.
If you had this specific doll growing up, you're going to want to make sure your mom didn't give it to the little girl next door. Samantha, in good condition with all of her original accessories, clothing, and packaging signed by founder Pleasant Rowland, can sell for up to $3,300!
Comic Books
Comic book enthusiasts are going to be happy to know that their collection is no laughing matter. In fact, depending on the edition of the comics, collectors could be sitting on a gold mine. Not to say that newer editions aren't valuable; they still sell for a few hundred dollars, depending on the comic and condition.
That being said, a rare first edition comic can be sold for up to a few million. Take Action Comics #1, the first comic to debut Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's Superman. To collectors, this comic is known as "the holy grail" and is worth up to $3.2 million.
Coin Banks
Coin banks come in various shapes and sizes, and there are some in particular that you might have stored up in your attic that could potentially be worth a lot of money. These contraptions have since grown in popularity with collectors over the years.
Since the '50s, The Mechanical Bank Collectors of America have been in search of coin banks that include a mechanical feature to deposit the change instead of it plopping straight to the bottom. According to the Barnebys auction site, a rare cast-iron column tab gum vending machine coin bank is estimated to sell for $10,000.
First Edition Books
As most first edition items are worth a pretty penny, it shouldn't come as too big a surprise to learn that first edition books are no different. Of course, the value of the book depends on the year it was published, the title, and, of course, who wrote the work.
If you're lucky enough to be the proud owner of the first edition of the First Folio by William Shakespeare, then you can earn up to $5.2 million. But don't fret; even though a majority of first editions aren't worth quite that much, you can still sell some of them for a few thousand dollars.
Costume Jewelry
Costume jewelry was in abundance in many of our homes growing up. Unfortunately, that doesn't necessarily mean our parents kept the items through the years. If you're lucky enough to have some lying around, though, especially vintage pieces from specific designers, you're in for a great surprise.
According to 1stdibs, a vintage Elsa Schiaparelli glass strand necklace and clasp earring set can run up to $2,400. That's not a bad payout for something you thought would only be worth hours of dress-up fun during childhood!
Outdated Electronics
Even though many people are concerned with having the most up-to-date electronics, there's something to be said about the outdated technology. And what we mean by that is, it's worth a lot of money if you know who to sell to! If you have gadgets such as radios, computers, gaming consoles, or even old cell phones, the right buyer will purchase them for a hefty price.
Popular Mechanics reported that in 2010, someone bought a Xerox Alto on eBay for $30,000. This piece of technology was the first mouse-driven desktop computer, and it happened to inspire the Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows designs.
Guitars And Other Instruments
It's time to dust off any old instruments you have lying around in storage because antique musical instruments, especially guitars, can be worth a fortune. Keep in mind, the piece has to be in good condition, and the older the instrument is, the more money it is worth to potential buyers.
If you happen to have a vintage 1960s Gibson or Martin guitar in your possession, you're going to want to get it appraised. You might be the proud owner of a treasure worth a few thousand dollars!
Lamps
You'll be happy to know that those funky lamps that you inherited are worth something! They don't have to sit collecting dust in your basement because they didn't fit your style. Brands such as Fulper, Handel, and Pairpoint are very attractive names to collectors, and they're willing to cough up a lot of cash to take the antique lamps off your hands.
Even if you misplaced the lampshade, collectors are so eager to get their hands on some specific brands that they're willing to purchase the base alone! It's time to start digging through your basement because a Pairpoint lamp can be sold for up to $10,000.
Vintage Lunchboxes Are Worth A Few Grand
Remember when you were a kid, and everyone had cool lunchboxes with pictures of their favorite TV show, superhero, or even a band? Well, those vintage pails are now worth a whole lot of money. The tin lunchboxes can sell from anywhere between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars.
If you were a Superman fan back in the day and happen to have the vintage 1954 Superman vs. Robot pail still, then you're looking at a very nice payday. In 2010, this particular lunchbox sold at Philip Weiss Auctions for the huge sum of $11,865.
Old-School Perfume Bottles
In the 19th century, glassblowers around the world turned perfume bottles into pieces of art. They just don't make the tiny glass bottles like they used to, and collectors have taken notice! If you happen to have bottles from companies such as Boston & Sandwich Glass Company or the New England Glass Company, make sure to keep them secure in bubble wrap until you have a chance to get them appraised!
One seller on eBay, with a Baccarat Authenticity Certificate, is selling their rare vintage Miss Dior Perfume in its original red container for $18,415!
M.I. Hummel "To Market" Figurine
This particular M.I. Hummel figurine, #49 "To Market," is an adorable little girl and boy, complete with a woven basket and flowers. It is also worth a nice amount of money if you have one in your attic, basement, or collecting dust somewhere.
Created in 1957, the porcelain figurine can be found on eBay going for upwards of $60, in new condition.
A Game Boy Color
Heading back to the 1990s, an original Game Boy (not the color!) was worth a pretty penny when someone bought it new. Now, the handheld gaming console is worth a nice payout if it is doing nothing more than collecting dust in a box somewhere.
On eBay, people are selling Game Boys for up to $200!
Sterling Silverware And Place Settings
If you have your own set, then it's time to bust out that older set of sterling silverware that was handed down to you and never use. Sterling silver sets are fairly valuable, depending on the brand and how many utensils are in the set.
Brands such as Tiffany & Co. run for a lot of money. According to 1stdibs, a used set of Tiffany & Co. King Silver Flatware Service, 155 pieces, can be sold for around $64,500. Not too bad for a set of silverware that's been collecting dust in the hall closet.
VHS Tapes
Even though VCRs are pretty much considered ancient technology, some of the VHS tapes that went inside them are still worth some money. If you have old VHS tapes lying around the attic, it's time to take a look at the titles. In particular, look out for films that were unpopular and might not have made the transfer over to DVD later.
Also, any film that was deemed controversial will be a high earner, such as Disney's Song of the South, which is considered to be the most contentious in the studio's history. Some of the highly sought after "Black Diamond" editions can even sell for a few thousand.
Stormy Weather Children Figurine
Depending on what someone has lying around their home, vintage figurines can range in price. This particular M.I.Hummel # 71 Stormy Weather, for example, comes with a pretty nice payday. On eBay, this little figurine is being auctioned off for $85.
While it might not seem like the most money in the world, it is better to have $85 in a wallet than a boatload of dust gathering around a figurine that is most likely being stored in a dark closet, crawlspace, or attic!
Vintage Dollhouses
Growing up, we bet you never thought that the antique dollhouse you used to play with would be worth a lot of money. It's time to grab the old toy out of the attic and see the make, model, and brand.
Depending on all of those factors, you could sell the dollhouse for a few thousand dollars. For example, a 1920s prairie schoolhouse model is being watched by 29 potential buyers online, and it is priced at a whopping $5,5000.
Vintage CorningWare Designs From Are Valuable
Some CorningWare designs are selling for big bucks on eBay, as buyers are likely feeling nostalgic... and very generous. According to glass expert Dean Six, "One piece of CorningWare, in a pattern not widely produced, sold on eBay recently for $7,000."
Buyers aren't just looking for function, in fact, may might not even use the dishes they purchase. But you can't put a price on memories. Check the back of your cupboard for any CorningWare relics!
Upside-Down Ball Mason Jar
It's time to look very hard at the mason jars sitting in your kitchen cabinet because some of them might be worth a few pennies. The upside-down mason jars by Ball are one of those valuable jars.
These products were only manufactured from 1900 to 1910, making their value incredibly high compared to other mason jars. This particular mason jar is considered to be a rare find, and Kate Miller-Wilson, an antique collector, says they can be valued at up to $1,000.
Jadeite Ball Jug
Many people tend to look past jadeite items in thrift stores. These kitchen wares by Anchor Hocking come in a beautiful shade of light green and are known to be worth a decent amount. But nothing is worth more than the coveted ball jug from the 1940s.
Due to the small number of pitchers that were produced, these specimens are rare, and people will even buy them damaged! The damaged products will only go for around $150 but a mint-condition ball jug can be worth up to $400.
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