20 Vintage Items That Sell Best

There’s old stuff in your garage or basement that could make you a load of cash. Don’t believe it? Check out vintage items for sales on online sites like eBay and Etsy.

Over the past couple of years, a developing memorabilia-centric market has been growing steadily as nostalgic baby boomers, Gen Zs, and even millennials ardently hunt for stuff from their younger years.

Want to know what’s likely to make you money? This well-researched article gives you a list of 20 vintage items you have and will likely sell best.

What vintage items sell best?

1. Vintage concert T-shirts

Back then, they were just basic tees, a ‘been there and got the t-shirt’ status badge. Now, the right vintage concert t-shirt could earn you big bucks. Some hot ticket ones are Michael Jackson’s 1984 Thriller Tour, Nirvana tour crew from 1993 or stuff from the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Run DMC, and a bunch of other popular bands.

In 2011, a seller who copped a Led Zeppelin tee from their 1979 Knebworth gig for $123 sold it for $10,000. 

Today, you could earn hundreds or thousands of dollars selling vintage concert clothing as long as it’s authenticated and in good condition. Learn more about selling vintage clothing here.

2. Boomboxes

They’re a powerful symbol of social connections and communal bonds created from hanging around together, listening to and exchanging music at street parties, parks, and apartment blocks.

Though quite sizeable and heavy, their popularity grew out of blast in the 80s with the emergence of hip hop and was considered a status symbol by urban youth. The manufacturer’s intent was to create a mobile home stereo in line with evolving needs at the time.

Certain boombox models are considered Holy Grails and can fetch hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Collectors consider the design, size, music player formats, portability, bass quality, equalizers, and speakers.

3. Board games 

Boardgame collectors want undiscovered games or those difficult to find, complete with all the pieces, preferably still in the original box. These board games, in turn are worth thousands of dollars.

The Milton-Bradley brand for instance is responsible for some of the most popular board games ever made such as Candyland, Operation, Dark Tower, and The Game of Life.

Other board games that are selling well online are: The Mansion of Happiness from the 1800s valued at $1,250, The Mighty Hercules based on a 1963 TV series at $289, and CandyLand from 1984 at $101.

4. Vintage sneakers

People were surprised when a pair of old sneakers that weren’t preowned by a famous person sold for $15,000 on eBay. According to the product description, the sneakers were, “produced by Apple exclusively for their employees in the early 1990s.”

Nike happens to be one of the dominant old sneaker brands that have consistently high prices. 

A good example is the 1972 Nike Waffle Racing Flat “Moon Shoes, which, according to countryliving.com sold for $475,500. Old Adidas, too can sell for a tidy sum as seen from a pair that fetched $ 1500 on eBay.

5. Retro video games

Your gaming days may be firmly behind you, but guess what? Your old stash is probably worth something. Incredibly, there are old video games worth hundreds to thousands of dollars, and even more depending on rarity, condition, and antiquity.

Collectors are drawn to them because they’re considered more authentic, innovative, and with a simplicity that takes less time to play.

Common ones like Super Smash Bros fetch $70 for a cartridge in average quality. High ticket ones are Super Mario Bros (1983) $30,000, Air Raid (1982) $ 33,000, Stadium Events (1986) $ 41,300 and the Nintendo World Championships Gold (1990) $ 100,000.

6. Vintage comics

The love for comics never seems to wane, no matter how old you get. What’s more rare, vintage comics in good condition could be worth hundreds to thousands of dollars, especially if you meet a collector that values your collection.

Someone once paid $3.2 million for a 9.0 CGC-graded copy of Action Comics #1 in which Superman first appeared. 

While not all vintage comics can fetch such huge amounts, there are certain indicators that can show you whether what you have is likely to sell for good returns. Examples are superhero first appearances, limited editions, rarity, and pristine condition. Here’s an article explaining more about how to know whether your old comics have value.

7. Pokemon cards

This was a popular 90s hobby that had whittled down but is now picking up again.

If you’ve got pokemon cards, they’re valuable if they’re first editions, are limited, and in the best condition, that is, not stained or ripped. The holographic ones and those released between 1999 and 2000 – known as ‘shadowless’ Pokemon cards are the most valuable.

While average cards are worth $10, a check on eBay or pokemonprices.com, shows the collectibles sell for thousands of dollars.

But before selling to the first bidder, do thorough research to ensure you get the best value for them.

8. Kansas quarters

Turns out misprinted or original coins can be worth more than their original value. This was evident when the unlikely printing error of 2005 Kansas state quarters saw them become valuable collectibles.

Instead of reading ‘In God we Trust,’ grease build up in the coin die filled up the T in trust to read ‘In God we rust’.

eBay price listings show that Kansas quarters can sell for $ 25 – $75 a piece, and some valuations have them at $100. Not a bad deal for something that could be lying in a coin purse or jar somewhere.

9. Old China sets

These are common valuable collectible items. That said, vintage fine bone china can sell for a ton, especially if it’s rare and from a famous manufacturer. To determine the value of your china set, here’s what to look for: The brand, pattern or design, location (Limoges in China and German-made china are most popular), and age.

It’s worth knowing the value of your china dinner sets in case you’d like to sell them or pass them onto a loved one. If you’d like to know whether what you have is valuable, consult a trusted antique dealer for accurate valuation. Read this article to learn more about how to sell fine China. 

10. Vintage lunch boxes

In 1950, a lunchbox featuring Hopalong Cassidy, a popular TV cowboy, was released and sold 600,000 units in its first year. Another one with Roy Rodgers was released by a separate company setting off this craze started by Disney.

Back then, the right lunch box was a status symbol that created an impression on your peers. So, it’s no surprise that these vintage lunch boxes are now collector’s items.

Popular ones were Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck that can sell for $ 2,050, The Jetson at $2,650, and Superman for a whopping $16,000.

11. Vintage Pyrex

Plain old Pyrex has a good run as a collectible. This cookware that has been around for over 40 years and was even in many households till 20 years ago is on-demand and quite functional too, especially the coffee percolators.

Pricing depends on desirability (certain color and patterns) and condition. While some may fail to turn a pretty penny, a four-color, four-piece mixing bowl set can cost from $45 to $65.

Some patterned collections, like the 1959 Lucky in Love heart and four-leaf clover design, are valued at about $4000.

12. American Girl dolls

More than 32 million American Girl dolls have been sold since their creation, with their website drawing over 45 million visitors each year.

This line of 18-inch (46 cm) dolls released in 1986 by the Pleasant Company brand (before it was sold to Mattel) is a valuable collectible. The first three dolls released in 1986 are among the most valuable to collectors.

The 11 original Pleasant Company historical character dolls, especially if they’ve been retired, can fetch hundreds if not thousands, on eBay. To fetch you a good coin, only the oldest, mint, in-box dolls with authentic paperwork included are worth it.

13. Old typewriters

You’d think with all the modern gadgets around, old typewriters would be gone and forgotten. Not so, apparently. Seems people still need a piece of the past with them. Yet even with this need, certain factors determine their value like age, rarity, brand, font type, condition, and popularity in the typewriter-collecting community.

With interest mostly driven by nostalgia, an old typewriter’s value depends on the price the right buyer is ready to pay. As collector interest has increased over the years, prices have improved. Some time back, you couldn’t expect more than $10, now it’s double the rate with the possibility of more.

14. Railroad items

Though not all railroad items are worth much, there are certain rare railroad memorabilia that are valuable and worth significant amounts. Those from the steam era or prior to the 1930s are tipped to be the best deal.

The rule of thumb is to know how to recognize them when you come across them, particularly if they’re underpriced.

A rare bit worth about $35 is a piece of sheet music from 1912, entitled ‘Song of the Great Big Baked Potato’ and a dining car menu shaped like a baked potato also worth $35. Badges, pins, and other railroad smalls are valuable too.

15. Vintage postcards

Postcards became popular around 1870 when stamps were launched. But the real moment (the Golden era) was in the 20th century when the divided back was introduced, and millions of postcards were produced. 

Their value is dependent on a number of factors that include:

• Condition
• Rarity
• Age
• Subject matter
• Whether the artist’s signature is included 
• Country of manufacture
• Whether it’s a photo card or printed

A postcard’s value largely depends on the collector. Some people have been known to spend hundreds of dollars on a postcard despite it’s less than mint condition, all because it held poignant memories for them.

16. Equestrian paintings

Ardent horse lovers indulge their interest by investing in outstanding horse art pieces. Incidentally, equestrian art has been around for longer than horse racing and is always in high demand.

Interestingly, a rare watercolor painting by Henry Farny, mistaken for a $200 print that was gifted to a young woman by her departed grandmother, was appraised for $200,000 – $300,000. It was an old painting of horses in a Native American plantation.

To know whether what you have is a valuable check at the back where most paintings have details of the work, the artist, the sellers, and even the price. If you decide to seek expert help, go to a trusted and reliable source.

17. Old concert posters

Old concert posters have increasingly been appealing to collectors and are quite undervalued compared to other collectibles. Unfortunately, very few of them are in mint condition, one of the key prerequisites for a valuable collectible.

So if you’ve got any concert poster from the 60s onwards of concerts by Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors or The Grateful Dead (and more), there’s a possibility of getting good returns.

Besides music fans, other collectors view these posters as works of art and specifically use them to complement their interiors. It’s considered prestigious to have these pieces on display as the perfect conversation starter.

18. Art Deco Clocks

Art Deco (Arts Décoratifs), is a design style characterized by rich colors, bold geometry, and decadent detail work. It was highly popular in the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s and brought in glamour and luxury. It’s therefore not surprising the kind of influence this style had on clocks.

Since there were many produced, there are plenty out there for selection. However, these types of collectibles depend on an individual collector’s preference, and only they can determine the real value of your art deco clock.

In the past, price ranges have fallen between $25 – $50. The French and the Swiss were the best art deco clocks manufacturers, and in the US, there was Ingraham, Seth Thomas, Waltham, and Telechron.

19. Vintage duck decoys

These old decoys are considered collectible art pieces, a hobby that has been there since the 1960s when the first decoy was sold at an auction for $10,000. This sale captured media attention and, with it a rising interest in the collection of duck decoys.
Elmer Crowell was one of the most famous carvers whose carving of a preening Canada goose fetched $684,500 at an auction in 2000, the highest ever paid. There was also high quality factory produced decoys that are also valuable collectibles.

Decoys range in price from literally a few dollars to a few thousand, depending on factors such as who made it, the condition and rarity of species.

20. Baseball cards

Some of the most valuable baseball cards were printed before World War II and had legends like Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, and more.

Due to scarcity, many of these pre-war and even high-grade post-War vintage baseball cards can be highly valuable.

Besides these, there are other variables to consider like condition, who was the player, year of production, and an authentic autograph that can be verified. The card can be worth thousands of dollars.

9 Places to Sell Vintage Items

1. eBay

This is a thriving online marketplace open to all sorts of traders selling brand new, gently used, or vintage stuff. There’s something for everyone as long as you comply with the listing requirements. eBay’s unique selling point is a broad inventory of mass-produced items and awesome prices. It’s a bargain hunters’ paradise. 

Pros

• Hassle-free product listing since each listing can be duplicated.
• Access to a wide global market, with over 177 million active users.
• Easy to build a following and grow popularity for your products.

Cons

• Exorbitant 10% commission fee 
• Risk of scams from some dodgy buyers
• Unfavorable dispute resolutions

2. Sheepbuy 

Sheepbuy is an upcoming online marketplace. If you choose to sell here, you won’t be charged a commission on your sales, and, if you’re on the basic tier, you can have up to three active listings free of charge, at any given time. 

Pros: 

• There are No Selling Fees!
• You can sell items for free in the basic tier.
• Paid plans are economical, starting at $2.99 a month.
• No long term commitment. Cancel any time.
• Hassle-free listing.
• Payments are strictly between buyers and sellers via PayPal.
• Buyers can rate Sellers.
• No Penalties are incurred for sharing contact information between buyers and sellers.
• No penalties are incurred for selling outside the site.

Cons: 

• The site is in Beta.
• Listings can’t be duplicated.  
• Since all transactions are between buyers and sellers, the only protection offered is through PayPal.

To find out more about our tiers and enjoy selling for free click here.

3. Etsy

Etsy is a versatile online space that specializes mostly in original, unique, and handmade crafts, craft supplies, fashion accessories, and interior decor items. 

The platform also allows you to sell vintage items that are over 20 years old, and as long as you position correctly and have relevance, there’s no reason why you can’t build a following. Etsy isn’t ideal for bargain hunters.

Pros

• Access to 40 million active users in search of unique handmade products.
• High price promise favorable margins
• Hassle-free listing
• A variety of payment options are available
• Adequate forums to network and seek support
• Great customer service

Cons

• Possibility of having copycats replicate your items, making pricing extremely competitive
• Listings can’t be duplicated so this could take time and extra resources 
• Higher fees as compared to selling directly

4. Craigslist

This has been a vital platform for first time resellers who’ve used it as an easy and rewarding way to break into online selling. There’s nothing you can’t sell here. Unlike other platforms, you don’t need an account for product listings unless you need to relist an item that didn’t sell.

Pros

• Easy to sell large, high-value items
• No listing/selling fees
• Quick and easy to list
• Identity protection with anonymous posting

Cons 

• Less reliable and/or professional buyers
• Lack of enforcement or regulation, you’re pretty much on your own
• Spam filters – too many listings can get your account blocked
• Lack of ad/listing customization
• Smaller buyer base

5. Flea Markets

At this kind of marketplace, you’ll set up your items on the morning of the event and then take the unsold items away when the market ends. However, there are permanent flea markets that charge a monthly fee. This would be ideal if you’re a regular seller.

Pros

• Buyers are mostly bargain hunters. 
• Sense of urgency encourages fast sales. 
• There are lesser chances that the buyers will mess up your merchandise and booth.

Cons

• Need to free up time to man the booth if temporary.
• No time to create attractive displays.
• Highly likely to damage the items as you set up, set down, and transport
• Lack of strong community networks because it’s a temporary set up.

6. Ruby Lane

Ruby Lane’s specialty is selling vintage clothing plus antiques, books, art, jewelry, pottery, and collectible items that appeal to vintage collectors. It’s got 1.1 million unique visitors monthly.

The site showcases featured items and shops to ease buyers’ access and shopping experience. To list on it, you’ll pay a one-off fee of $100 and monthly fees of $69.

Pros

• Fantastic inventory of quality vintage pieces. 
• Sellers are subjective to their own pricing, you may sometimes see unreasonably high pricings or; too low pricings!
• Where bargains are few and far between, buyers have more options on quality designer and top label vintage pieces. 

Cons 

• Being an exclusive high-end vintage marketplace, it has limited inventory compared to Etsy and eBay.
• Fees may be too high to start selling.

7. Facebook

Facebook introduced the Marketplace in October 2016, and approximately, more than 800 million people use Facebook Marketplace every month from over 70 countries to discover, buy, or sell items.

Pros

• Opportunity to engage your local community through social sharing
• Real-time alerts for new offers  
• Ability to create a local store and buyer base  
• Easy to list and sell
• Real-time feedback with buyers to build your brand

Cons

• Buyer can retract offers at any point of the transaction regardless of the costs you’ve incurred.
• Doesn’t have the same protections as eBay
• Fraudulent offers and unscrupulous buyers  
• Only available on mobile app
• Can be somewhat time-consuming.
• Self-storage of merchandise until sold

8. ArtFire

This online marketplace specializes in handmade goods, vintage items, and crafts supplies from sellers all over the world. It’s very similar to Ruby Lane and Etsy and considered a viable Etsy alternative by low-end sellers.

Pros

• It’s diverse inventory means that alongside clothing, you can shop for a vintage decor sign or vintage china for an upcoming dinner party. 
• Emphasis on supporting small business owners.
• Stellar customer service.
• Support to sellers with marketing strategies and promotions.

Cons

• The diversity could make some buyers overwhelmed opting to shop elsewhere for specific items.

9. eBid

This online auction is a global marketplace. eBid uses its own online payment service, PPPay, to allow for payment, although Paypal and Skrill also apply. 

Pros

• No fees per listing and low fees per sale.
• Many options for store customization.
• Auction-style listings can drive higher revenues for sellers.

Cons

• Very little monthly traffic to the site.
• No option for store analytics.
• Fees associated with creating featured listings.

What is the most valuable vintage toy? 

That would have to be Stefano Canturi’s barbie, which was labeled the most valuable barbie in history.

When Mattel (Barbie dolls manufacturer) asked Canturi, a famous jewelry designer, to ‘create a world-first – the rarest and one-of-a-kind Barbie’ – that’s exactly what he set about to do. He was given complete freedom to stylize Barbie from head to toe.

From the hair, the make-up, the wardrobe, and even her pose. But of course, the highlight of his Barbie masterpiece was the cubic diamond collar necklace.

The doll was auctioned for charity at Christie’s in New York for $302,500.

How can you tell if an antique is worth money? 

There are five key indicators of a valuable antique:

1. Rare: If the pieces were few from the start, few remained, or they have a unique color, design, or shape.
2. Visual appeal: If they’ve got outstanding aesthetics and are viewed as works of art.
3. Desirability comes in if the item is highly sought out and in demand.
4. Authentic: Is the item the actual one or an imitation?  
5. Condition:  Is it worn out? Because if it is, the value decreases.

Conclusion 

While this list of 20 vintage items that sell best is by no means exhaustive, at least you’ve got an idea of what to look for before the garbage trucks cart off the valuables.

Select a suitable description for your shop, a place to sell, and be on your way. Good luck!