Metal lunch boxes were a staple of the 20th century. First marketed for commercial use in 1902 after children began repurposing empty cookie and tobacco tins, the metal lunchbox has evolved alongside pop culture. For many kids pre-2000s, picking out the right lunchbox was a decision of utmost importance. Not only would it have to be used for multiple months, but it also was a marker of their personality.
Any old lunchbox won’t catch a profit, but if your abandoned tins sport certain celebrities, cartoons, or other characters, it could be worth hundreds. If you happen to have a Beatles box somewhere in the closet, we’d recommend taking a second look if you’re up for making an extra $400!
Toy collectors are pretty common nowadays, and the large sums they splash out for a Star Wars figurine makes you wonder why you ever sold your childhood toys at that garage sale!
Star Wars, Polly Pockets, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Barbies all have great resale value, given the age and condition, of course. Even better, the classic Fisher-Price Push Cart Pete can get you a fast 3,000 bucks if his sad face hasn’t worn away. We'd be scrounging our attics for these valuable finds!
Most baseball card collections are worth more in sentimentality than monetary value. In fact, most cards are words less to sell than they were to buy. Essentially, you’re losing money. So why do so many people collect them?
Perhaps it’s the thrill of the hunt that drives the baseball-card craze. Not only does collecting stimulate your curiosity to learn, but it could make you some serious cash. $1 million worth of baseball memorabilia was appraised on Antiques Roadshow. A sole Honus Wagner card was appraised for even more than that collection at $1.3 million. So all we have to say is keep on collecting!
VHS Tapes are basically obsolete, especially with hundreds of streaming options available at our fingertips. So if you can’t use them, why not try to make a profit?
If you have a collection of oddities in film that never made it to DVD and original releases of classic cartoons, those are usually sold at the highest prices. And if you weren’t a particularly unique VHS watcher, you can still turn tapes into cash. While the majority of your VHS tapes are worth no more than a dollar, collectible versions can snatch at least 50 bucks!
Postcards are a thoughtful way to keep in touch with friends and family while traveling. Who wouldn’t appreciate a handwritten note sent from Finland?
In fact, signatures on postcards can drastically increase its worth; we’re talking from $50 to thousands! But any old postcard from Nana probably isn’t going to cut it. Notable names are the real moneymakers. Just keep in mind that the older the card, the more it’s worth.
Paintings are by far the pieces most often appraised highly on Antiques Roadshow. Most artworks are brought on the show by owners who have no clue as to their actual worth. Many claim that the paintings were just passed down their family without a second thought.
Perhaps that painting in the corner of your house could turn into hundreds of thousands of dollars; at least, it did for a lucky priest! He originally bought the piece in 1992 for a measly few hundred but has since been featured in art exhibits internationally and valued at over 400,000 bucks.
Just admit it. Us regular folks have one handbag that we actually use every day while the rest rot in the back of our closet. It’s okay, we’re not judging. In fact, sell some of those vintage pieces to bag collectors, which will open up closet space and make some spare cash.
Bags from big designers and in the best condition will be top sellers, but your beat-up Chanel can still make a decent amount! Any spare $100 is worth it in our book.
Comic books are a go-to gateway into reading for people who are unconcerned with the classics. Kids usually end up with a pretty sizable comics collection, given the nickel-and-dime prices of comics upon initial publication, and hold onto them into adulthood. Fortunately for the nerdy few, first-edition comics—such as for Marvel and DC—along with comics that introduce new characters can turn out to be a worthwhile investment you didn’t realize you made as a teenager!
This lucky turn-of-events played out on Antiques Roadshow when a man got his 1967 Marvel Silver Age comics appraised for a whopping $40,000. The price could’ve been bumped to $100,000 if the books were in better condition, so take care of your comics, people!
(Image via big-ashb/Action Comics Vol 1 #321 1965/CC BY 2.0 DEED/Flickr; big-ashb/Silver Surfer Vol 3 #4/CC BY 2.0 DEED/Flickr)
If you’ve ever seen American Pickers, then you know how much the odd Coca-Cola sign can sell for. Some tin advertising signs from the early 1900s can go for nearly $15,000 at auction given its condition.
It’s hard to believe that cheap advertisements can sell for so much, but it’s the truth! If the Pickers can go scrounging around other people’s property and find signs worth thousands, there’s most likely some treasures hidden in your own yard.
True vintage cookie jars can be appraised at around $1,000, according to evaluator Reyne Hirsch. If the cookie jar was well taken care of, and especially if it’s shaped like a famous cartoon character, $3,000 isn’t so far out of reach.
If you don’t have any cookie jars yourself, take a look at garage sales, flea markets, and estate sales to see if you can nab a ‘50’s jar and resell for a wild profit!
We know, we know. Costume jewelry is supposed to be the cheap stuff. Usually it is but over time it only grows in value. Pieces of fine jewelry, with their high-karat diamonds and complex settings, are obviously worth some money but costume jewelry is more elusively valuable.
The most valuable pieces are “true vintage”—meaning at least 50 years old—and have an abundance of brightly colored stones in good condition.
One of the most valuable pieces ever showcased on Antiques Roadshow was a Patek Philippe pocket watch, which sold at auction for $1.5 million. Like most other antique finds, the older the pricier.
While not every pocket watch will garner you millionaire status, many gold-plated vintage watches are currently being sold for upwards of $2,000 on Ebay, with the most valuable priced at over $50,000!
If you’d rather not become a metal-detector person scrounging the beach for valuable metals, looking inward at your own pockets is a good practice to keep.
Some half dollars range in value from $7,000 to $25,000! It’s easy to forget about our change until it annoys us with its constant jangling, so try to sell a few and see what you get!
Scent is the primary factor for selling modern perfumes at stores such as Victoria’s Secret or Bath & Bodyworks. But when it comes to reselling, the beauty of the bottle is far more important than the perfume itself.
Antiques Roadshow aired an episode in which an original design of glassblower Rene Lalique was appraised at a worth of $40,000! What we learn from this episode is even if the perfume bottle doesn’t appear too special, it could be worth more than the prettiest of the bunch.
Christmas ornaments are festive decorations that bring tidings of joy to your household… for like two months. Because of their short life on display, the value of ornaments are constantly overlooked to the point that people have no idea what their holiday hangings are worth.
Not just any ornament is worth a lot, of course, since there is an overabundance of cheaply made plastic ones today. But the vintage and collectible varieties can be sold for a pretty penny. Just search online for prices of similar pieces and determine if your collection holds a hidden treasure! Keep an eye out for blown glass and your wallet could seriously thank you.
Vintage jewelry is more than a beautiful accessory—it’s often a valuable investment and piece of history. Items like Art Deco brooches, Victorian lockets, and mid-century cocktail rings can fetch high prices due to their craftsmanship, rarity, and unique designs.
Pieces crafted from gold, silver, or platinum and those featuring precious gemstones like diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires often hold even more value. Designer or signed jewelry, such as pieces by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, or Van Cleef & Arpels, are particularly sought after. Even costume jewelry from brands like Trifari or Eisenberg can be worth more than expected.
Classic furniture, especially pieces from the 18th to early 20th century, can carry substantial value due to its quality and craftsmanship. Items like Victorian mahogany armchairs, mid-century modern cabinets, or Georgian chests of drawers are often prized by collectors.
Original finishes, solid wood construction, and ornate details such as carvings or inlays increase the appeal and worth of these pieces. Renowned makers like Chippendale, Stickley, and Herman Miller can fetch higher prices, as can rare or unique designs.
Old cameras, especially models from iconic brands like Leica, Nikon, Hasselblad, and Polaroid, can be surprisingly valuable to collectors and photography enthusiasts. Early film cameras, such as rangefinders, twin-lens reflex (TLR), and classic SLR models, are in demand for both their nostalgic appeal and craftsmanship.
Rare models like the Leica M3, Rolleiflex TLRs, or Nikon F can sell for thousands, particularly if they’re in working condition with original lenses. Instant cameras, such as the Polaroid SX-70, also have a niche market. Collectors especially seek limited editions or cameras used in notable photography, making some pieces true collector’s items.
Vintage typewriters are popular collectibles, combining nostalgia with mechanical artistry. Models like the Royal Quiet De Luxe, Hermes 3000, and Underwood Standard have become valuable due to their design, historical significance, and quality of construction. Pre-1950s typewriters in good condition, particularly those with unique features, colors, or design quirks, are highly sought after by enthusiasts and writers.
Typewriters from well-known brands, like Smith-Corona or Olivetti, often fetch higher prices. Limited editions or rare colors, such as seafoam green or pink, tend to be even more desirable.
Rare books are highly prized for their historical, literary, and aesthetic value. First editions of classic novels, especially those by authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jane Austen, and J.R.R. Tolkien, can command impressive prices.
Books with unique characteristics, such as limited print runs, original dust jackets, signed copies, or special bindings, are particularly desirable to collectors. Antiquarian books from the 16th to 18th centuries, as well as notable works from private presses, like those of William Morris’s Kelmscott Press, are also valued for their craftsmanship and rarity. Condition is critical, as well-preserved copies with minimal wear are worth considerably more.
Glass art can be surprisingly valuable, especially pieces crafted by renowned glassmakers or studios. Mid-century art glass, like Murano from Italy, is highly collectible for its intricate designs and vibrant colors. American glassmakers such as Louis Comfort Tiffany and Dale Chihuly have created pieces that are both artistic and valuable, with some fetching high auction prices.
Depression glass, carnival glass, and early American pressed glass are also sought after, particularly in rare colors or patterns. Signature, clarity, and unique features, like hand-blown techniques or one-of-a-kind designs, increase the value, as does intact condition without chips or cracks.
Military memorabilia is highly collectible, especially items with historical significance from major conflicts like World War I and II, the Civil War, or Vietnam. Items such as medals, uniforms, patches, and insignias are prized, particularly if they belonged to known individuals or were involved in notable events.
Firearms, swords, and bayonets, along with original documents, letters, and photographs, are also in demand. Condition, rarity, and authenticity are crucial—items in pristine condition with identifiable provenance can significantly increase in value.
Original paintings can hold immense value, particularly those by renowned artists or from significant art movements like Impressionism, Modernism, or Abstract Expressionism. Works by well-known artists, even smaller sketches or studies, often attract high bids at auctions.
However, lesser-known artists from notable schools or regions, such as the Hudson River School or the California Impressionists, can also fetch surprising prices if their work is of quality and historical interest. Factors like authenticity, provenance, condition, and whether the piece is a signature work greatly impact value. Unique features, such as original frames or inscriptions, can further enhance a painting's appeal to collectors.
Antique clocks are valuable both as functional timepieces and as intricate works of art. Grandfather clocks, mantel clocks, and wall clocks from the 18th to early 20th centuries, especially those by famous makers like Tiffany, Seth Thomas, and Howard Miller, are often prized.
French and German clocks, particularly ornate ones like gilded ormolu or porcelain styles, are also sought after. Features such as intricate carvings, chimes, or painted dials add to a clock’s appeal, as do rare or unique mechanisms, like those in skeleton clocks. Original parts and good working condition are essential, with provenance or unique craftsmanship further increasing the clock’s value.
Fine china can hold surprising value, especially vintage or antique sets from renowned makers like Wedgwood, Limoges, and Royal Doulton. Patterns that have been discontinued or were produced in limited runs are highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts.
Hand-painted designs, elaborate detailing, and gilding enhance a piece's worth, especially in sets that include rare items like soup tureens or coffee pots. Pieces from historically significant eras, like the Victorian or Art Deco periods, often have particular appeal. Original, intact sets are ideal, but individual pieces in excellent condition can also command high prices, especially if they bear the maker’s mark.
