Vintage Items That Are Worth Looking for

Today, most people don’t go a day without taking a picture on their phone. But back in the day, taking a photograph was a practice reserved for the rich and famous – and they were unlike anything we create today. They took hours to print and develop, and they weren’t the colorful photos that we know and love today. Instead, they were black and white and sepia-toned, and these are the ones you need to look out for. 

Everyone loves a cookie, right? And while some people will simply eat them straight out of the packet, others love to have an eye-catching cookie jar in their kitchen. But if yours has made its way up into the attic over the years, you might want to head up there and brush the dust off your cookie jar. That’s because some cookie jars have become collectibles, and can sell for up to $500.

Nowadays, it seems as though everyone wants to fill their home with high-end appliances and crockery like KitchenAid mixers and Le Creuset cookware. And while most people opt for modern releases, what many don’t realize is that these brands have been around for decades – and there are people out there willing to shell out some serious cash for the old-school releases. So, do you have any in your attic?

During the 1980s, ceramic Christmas trees had a real moment. They were normally either white or green in color and covered in different colored festive lights. At the time, you would be hard-pressed to find a home that didn’t have one of these Christmas trees in it around the holidays, but when trends changed and people began to think that these decorations were tacky rather than tasteful, many people got rid of them. 

As you can probably tell by the name, Depression glass was created during the Great Depression. Major food brands often offer this glass free of charge with their products to encourage shoppers to buy it, and this type of glass could be distinguished by its unusual colors – often pink, green, and yellow. And while most people simply threw this glass away when finances began to recuperate, it’s worth checking if you still have some. 

Trends are never linear, and what was considered tacky and inappropriate one decade will become the talk of the town the next. This has been the case for vintage band T-shirts, which were once considered to be garish and over-the-top. But they’ve seen a resurgence in popularity over the years, with collectors doing everything they can to get their hands on older, vintage T-shirts from the golden age of music. 

In a world full of laptops, computers, phones, and tablets, typewriters may seem like a waste of time. But the reality is that some collectors love the clunk and the authenticity of a real typewriter, and some people think that they’re cooler than ever. This is especially true for iconic typewriter brands such as Royal, Smith Corona, Remington, and Underwood. So, do you have any of these in the attic?

Nowadays, new Murano Glass will set you back a small fortune. Hailing from a small island in Venice, Murano Glass is unique in terms of its production and colouring, and some people will travel across the globe to buy some to call their own. However, it’s only recently seen a resurgence in its popularity – which meant that there was a time when it was extremely affordable and easy to buy.

Although many people simply buy a bottle of perfume and then throw away the bottle when it’s empty, it’s important to remember that there’s a lot of money in the perfume collectable business. This is especially true for older perfumes that were once sold in stunning bottles with eye-catching designs that have gone down in history as some of the best in the world. So, it’s worth checking the attic for any old bottles your nana decided to keep. 

The Art Deco movement went out of fashion during the 1940s, but it’s now considered to be one of the best artistic movements the world has ever seen. From fashion to furniture and architecture, many collectors love the bold geometric forms that came with it and do everything they can to fill their homes with relics of this impressive era. And one thing they love more than anything is Art Deco clocks. 

Costume jewelry has always been cheaper than real jewelry. After all, the general purpose is to look good and make a statement with your outfit – and sometimes, this means that cheaper materials and faux diamonds are used. And while you may assume that this means costume jewelry is worthless, it seems as though the opposite is true. Many collectors love costume jewelry, and are constantly seeking to add new pieces to their collections. 

Although most kids now buy lunch at school or take their lunch in a plain lunch box, the 1960s was a different era with different trends. And most kids would walk proudly into school with their themed lunch box under their arms. From lunch boxes of TV shows to superhero lunch boxes or even just celebrity-themed lunch boxes, there were so many different options on offer – and collectors now absolutely love them.

Although Cabbage Patch Kids are still around today, they really hit their peak during the 1980s and 1990s. There wasn’t a single kid in the neighborhood who didn’t have one of these dolls, and most people tried to make their collection as big as could be. As a result, you might still have a few of these in your attic – and it’s well worth trying to fish them out of their box.

By the time the 1980s came around, vinyl records were replaced by cassette tapes before being replaced by CDs, then iPods, and then streaming sites. As a result, many people decided to get rid of their records to stop them from taking up unnecessary space. But some people kept their vinyl records and turntables in the hope that they’ll see a resurgence in popularity – and that’s exactly what has happened in today’s day and age. 

If you fancied yourself as a musician back in the day, you might have stocked up on everything you needed to make your own music – from reverb units to amplifiers. Like many others, you may have given up on your dreams of being the next Kurt Cobain when life got in the way, but did you keep your electronic music equipment? If you did, you might want to head into the attic and grab it. 

There was once a time when American Girl Dolls were all the rage. Young girls begged their parents to buy them the latest release so that they could add to their collection, and many ended up with countless dolls to their name. But when Barbie came along, the American Girl Dolls faded into the background, with young girls preferring the petite blonde instead. Do you still have some of yours, though?

During the 1950s, colorful Pyrex dishes were all the rage and everyone’s mom would head to every store in town to pick up the latest color so that they could add to their collection. But as with all things, it didn’t take long for them to go out of style – so the dishes got pushed to the back of the cupboard or shoved in the attic for safekeeping. 

Back in the day, when scoring tickets to music events didn’t bankrupt you or force you to remortgage your house, event tickets came in paper form. They were often designed with the particular artist in mind, and they became somewhat of a keepsake for music fans who wanted to stick the tickets up on their walls. And while they were eventually taken down, you might want to check whether you threw them in the trash or not. 

Although cars are now all the rage, there was once a time when kids would grow up with a train set in their playrooms. These train sets came with carriages, train tracks, and even train stations and other buildings to make the whole situation as realistic as possible. And while most kids grow out of trains, there are others who continue to love them well into adulthood – and these are the ones looking to add old train sets to their collections. 

In today’s day and age, there are many people who prefer the old to the new. And while the photography world is full of modern cameras, Photoshop, and even AI technology, there are some who want to fight back against this modernism by using relics from the past – like old film cameras. In fact, they’re after the cameras that you or your grandma may have used back in the day.

It’s not hard to come by modern silverware, but vintage silverware sets were in another league. Many collectors love the history and the craftmanship of these older sets, and they set their sights on specific brands and makes to add to their own collections. And there’s a high chance that you have an old silverware set sitting in the back of your cupboard – so, would you be willing to sell it?

Next time you head into your attic, keep your eyes peeled for any old magazines. And while you could spend hours reminiscing on the old fashion, music, and celebrities and taking the old quizzes, there’s a much better reason why you’d want to brush the dust off them and give them your attention. That’s because many of these magazines have since become major collectors’ items, and people will pay a fortune for them. 

Nowadays, retro is cool again. From ’00s fashion to ’90s music and even old-school arcade games, it now seems as though everyone wants a piece of this retro life. This will work in your favor if you have old arcade games gathering dust in the basement or hiding in the back of your garage. That’s because many of these machines will sell for thousands to the right kind of bidder. 

When you think of the ’80s, you probably think of flower power and a rise in technology. But the 1980s was also the prime time for furniture production. During this decade, manufacturers and brands decided to bend the rules of what was considered ‘normal’ furniture and create pieces with bold colors, intriguing shapes, and quirky fabrics. And while decades have passed since this was trendy, this type of furniture is now hotter than ever again.  

You probably don’t need us to tell you that Beanie Babies are now super famous. Although they were once considered to be regular soft toys, they’ve now become known as the ultimate collectors’ item – especially the rare special edition Beanie Babies. In fact, a Princess Diana Beanie Baby sold to the highest bidder for a whopping $350,000 back in 2022 – and there are many others that are worth a fortune. 

Since its release, LEGO has always been extremely popular – but there’s no doubt about the fact that its popularity has ebbed and flowed over the years. Right now, LEGO is extremely hot again, and new sets are released on an almost weekly basis. And while some LEGO fans love these new releases, purists prefer the older sets and are willing to shell out a small fortune to get their hands on them.

Although you can pick up cheap books at your local bookstore or online from places like Amazon, there’s a very big difference between everyday books and first-edition books. What’s more, some people buy first-edition books without even realising that they’re first-edition, which is why it’s always a good idea to check the books that are sitting in your attic. If you have any first editions, you could be sitting on a goldmine. 

Let’s be honest; everyone has at least one pair of sneakers in their house. You might even have some Air Jordans, but you can’t just sell your 2020 sneakers on eBay for hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you have limited edition Air Jordans or have vintage Air Jordans that are in impeccable condition (bonus points if they are still in the box), then you could be onto a winner, though.

When you were younger, your grandparents probably gifted you random coins that you didn’t want. But while you may not have appreciated them at the time, we hope you chose to hold onto them – or at least keep them in the attic just in case. After all, coin collecting is an expensive business, and those who collect coins will happily spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to add rare coins to their collections. 

Although Star Wars is now regarded as one of the most impressive movie franchises of all time, there was a time when movie executives were worried it would be a flop. As a result, they only asked Kenner to release a limited number of toys in preparation for the first film’s release. Of course, it immediately surpassed all of their expectations and they ordered another toy company to make even more of them.

Hot Wheels are still around today, so you might be surprised to see them on this list. And while you can’t just head to the store and buy some Hot Wheels to sell for $175,000, you can head into your attic to see if you have any old Hot Wheels laying in a box somewhere. If you do, there’s probably a wealthy collector out there who really wants to buy it off you.

Although it’s not as common nowadays, there’s a high chance that you spent your younger years with posters on your bedroom walls. Your posters may have been of your favorite celebrities, your favorite movie, or maybe even your favorite album. But did you ever buy any concert posters and stick them up there? If you did, it’s well worth checking whether you kept them and stuck them in the attic for safe keeping. 

You may have dreamed of owning a Rolex watch when you were younger because you loved how expensive and elusive it was. But one thing you might not realize is that they aren’t the only expensive watches in the world. So, this is something to consider if you were gifted a watch that wasn’t a Rolex during your earlier years as you may have been gifted something that’s worth way more than you think. 

Musicians are purists through and through, and they don’t just appreciate the music that instruments make. They also appreciate the instrument itself – from the craftmanship to the history. That’s why they’re constantly on the lookout for iconic guitars to add to their collection. This is also the case for electric guitars, with collectors doing everything they can (and pay anything they can) to get their hands on rare Fenders and Gibsons. 

Did you love comic books growing up? If you did, we really hope you didn’t throw them away as you got older, as they could now be worth a fortune. After all, there’s a huge amount of money in the superhero collectables world, and comic books are often the most expensive of them all. This is especially true if you have a rare copy or the very first comic of a major franchise. 

Everyone knows that Pokémon cards are a collector’s item. After all, most kids have gone through the motions of buying packs of cards, trying to fill up their books, and trading with others in their class until they have all of the shiny ones they want. But while some cards are easy to find, other cards are extremely rare – and these are the ones that will sell for a fortune if you have them. 

Whether you’ve inherited your grandfather’s record collection or you’ve just created your own from thrift stores and second-hand websites, it might be time to go through what you have an see whether you have anything special. Of course, you might think all of the music is special – but are the records themselves rare? If they are, you could be sitting on a hefty music fortune without even realizing it.

Although they may have never received the international acclaim that other trading cards have received, Magic: The Gathering cards are hotter than ever. Fans of the game do everything in their power to build up their collection and fill the gaps in their books, and it seems as though they’ll stop at nothing to get their hands on the ones that they really need to get a full set of cards. 

Although many other dolls and toys have made their way onto this list, none of them come close to the Barbie doll. Made by Mattel, the Barbie paved the way for a whole empire – from dolls to movie franchises and more. And while millions of Barbies have been released over the years, many limited edition, rare Barbies have also been released since she first made her mark on the world.