Additional Coverage:
- 32 Collectibles That Are Now Probably Worthless (cheapism.com)
Your “Treasures” May Be Worthless: A Guide to Decluttering Disappointments
Many of us hold onto possessions for years, sometimes decades, convinced that our carefully selected “treasures” — be they investment purchases, meticulously assembled collections, or cherished family heirlooms — will eventually yield significant financial rewards. These items might occupy a place of honor on a mantelpiece, or they could be stashed away in boxes, crowding basements and attics.
Unfortunately, the reality often falls short of our hopes. Goods we were certain would appreciate in value frequently turn out to be worth very little, or at best, not much more than their original cost. Here’s a look at common collectibles you might want to consider decluttering, clearing space, and perhaps recouping a small amount of cash.
Vinyl Records
While vinyl records are experiencing a resurgence, don’t expect those long-neglected albums from your teenage years to fund a college education. Only rare, pristine original pressings, ideally kept in climate-controlled, dust-free storage, command substantial prices.
Most new collectors opt for reissues, and veteran collectors seek flawless originals. Otherwise, your collection is likely worth pennies on the dollar.
(For quick cash, consider online platforms that buy used CDs, DVDs, and video games.)
Stamps
Like many collectibles, the value of stamps is highly variable, heavily dependent on condition, age, and rarity. Casual collections of aesthetically pleasing but common stamps, especially those ripped from envelopes or from children’s sparsely filled albums, typically hold minimal value. This is especially true for most U.S. postal stamps issued within the last 70 years.
Wheat Pennies
While news of rare coin finds occasionally sparks a treasure hunt, don’t expect a jackpot from your wheat pennies. These coins, while worth more than their face value, generally fetch only 3 to 4 cents, or a few dollars at most, making it unlikely to generate significant wealth.
Beanie Babies
The intense Beanie Baby craze of the 1990s is a distant memory. While some early plush toys with original, untouched paper tags once commanded high sums, the market became oversaturated after 1998 due to massive production. Consequently, most Beanie Babies today hold little resale value.
Happy Meal Toys
McDonald’s Happy Meal toys can be collectible, with complete sets sometimes reaching hundreds of dollars. However, this only applies to items in mint condition, with original packaging, including the Happy Meal box itself. Given that these giveaways are almost immediately opened and played with, most used toys are not valuable.
“Brown Furniture”
This term refers to the sturdy, dark-wood pieces common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as cabinets, sideboards, and dining sets. While museum-quality works by significant designers still hold value, everyday home furnishings have seen a decline in both aesthetic and monetary appeal.
Modern tastes favor Art Deco and mid-century modern pieces, relegating many “brown furniture” items to the back of antique shops with low price tags. (Specialized online marketplaces can be an option for reselling antique furniture.)
Comic Books
Unless you’ve unearthed ultra-rare issues from the early days of iconic superheroes like Superman, Batman, or classic Marvel characters, your comic book collection is likely more about cherished memories than financial gain. The market for common comics is currently saturated, particularly as baby boomers downsize. Condition remains paramount for any potential value.
Costume Jewelry
The costume jewelry market is driven by fleeting trends and pop culture. While iconic pieces from noted designers in excellent condition can command top dollar, the vast majority of mass-produced costume jewelry, designed for widespread affordability, fills low-priced tables at flea markets. Missing rhinestones or faulty clasps further diminish value.
Model Train Sets
Despite their nostalgic appeal, the sheer quantity of model train sets produced, combined with typical play wear, means most individual pieces and sets hold limited monetary value. While some rare models might fetch more, many 1960s models can be acquired for just a few dollars.
Serving Platters
That pristine china serving platter passed down through generations may hold immense sentimental value, but its monetary worth is often negligible. With numerous reproductions and revivals of vintage patterns, authenticating and assessing rare, collectible pieces is difficult for amateurs. Only immaculate platters from highly recognized lines may be valuable; most are cherished for family history alone.
Children’s Books
While certain first editions of Dr. Seuss classics, for instance, can fetch high prices, these instances are rare and appeal to very specific collectors. Most children’s books, having been “loved” with bent pages, crayon marks, or stains, and frequently reprinted, have little resale value beyond their sentimental worth.
Precious Moments, Norman Rockwell Plates, and Hummel Figurines
These once-popular collector items have largely fallen out of favor. Precious Moments bride-and-groom sets, Norman Rockwell commemorative plates (even with certificates of authenticity), and Hummel figurines often sell for very low prices online. The market for these items has significantly declined as ardent collectors age.
Cabbage Patch Kids
The Cabbage Patch Kids mania of the early 1980s saw parents vying for these dolls. However, as with many youth-oriented collectibles, condition is everything. Unless your doll has remained untouched in its original box, expect minimal, if any, return on investment.
Vintage College Pennants
While vintage felt college pennants carry tradition and sentimental value for alumni, their monetary worth is typically low. A common pennant, even with signs of age, might only sell for a small sum.
Hot Wheels
Introduced in the late 1960s, Hot Wheels cars were beloved playtime toys. The immense quantity produced and the fact they were frequently played with mean that most individual cars, even from the 1960s, sell for just a few dollars.
Select Barbie Dolls
While certain rare Barbie dolls command high prices from dedicated collectors, the vast majority of Barbies, especially those that have been played with, hold little financial value. Even limited-edition dolls can often be found for under $30.
Autographed Sports Memorabilia
This category is notoriously complex due to the prevalence of forgeries and mass-produced signed items. While some authenticated signatures are incredibly valuable, the jersey bought at a local convention center is likely worth little unless you personally witnessed the signing. (Consider specialized online marketplaces for selling authenticated sports memorabilia.)
Baseball Cards From the 1980s and 1990s
Baseball cards from the late 1980s and early 1990s are largely worthless due to a massive overproduction during that era. Collectors from that period are now finding themselves with a glut of common cards, meaning you’ve likely struck out on these as an investment.
Cookie Jars, Souvenir Bells, and Salt-and-Pepper Sets
These common household collectibles, once popular for display or as gifts, now generally sell for very low prices online, often under $10 for individual pieces or sets. Their abundance and decreased collector interest mean they are more likely to gather dust than appreciate.
Vintage Playbills
Despite the perceived luxury of Broadway shows, the advent of the internet has significantly reduced the value of most vintage Playbills. A 1964 Playbill for “Funny Girl” featuring Barbra Streisand, once valued at hundreds, now sells for around $10. Their value today is primarily sentimental.
Farm Tools
A past decorating trend for vintage farm tools led to a market flooded with reproductions, and current aesthetic tastes lean away from this style. Consequently, items from pitchforks to sickles can easily be acquired for under $50.
Unremarkable Vintage Clothing
Cleaning out a closet might reveal dozens of old dresses, but unless they feature designer labels, popular silhouettes, or distinctive details in pristine condition, they are largely just old clothes. Vintage collectors are particular about provenance and condition, meaning most common 1950s prom dresses, for example, might fetch around $75 at most. (Online marketplaces specializing in vintage items or fashion-centric resale sites may be better options for selling gently used clothing.)
Carnival Chalkware
These kitschy carnival souvenirs, once admired in antique shops, have lost their collector appeal. Easily dented and damaged, it’s rare for an example of “chalkware” to fetch more than $25 today.
Thomas Kinkade Collectibles
Despite the common belief that an artist’s work appreciates after their death, the sheer volume of Thomas Kinkade’s “Painter of Light” pieces has limited their resale value. Many ornaments and framed prints can be found online for under $50.
Hess Trucks
As with many toys, most Hess Trucks were played with, reducing their value. Only the very first truck from 1964, in pristine, untouched condition, might command a significant price. Most models, especially from the 1970s onward, sell for under $40, reflecting a collector base that doesn’t typically drive skyrocketing prices.
Longaberger Baskets
These handcrafted baskets, once a booming secondary market in the 1990s, have seen their value stagnate. While some large collections or exceptionally rare pieces might be listed for more, individual baskets typically hold limited value following the company’s closure in 2018.
Pogs From the ’90s
The Pogs fad of the 1990s saw these tiny, round collectibles flood homes. Today, they are largely worthless, with individual Pogs usually selling for under $1. Even larger collections realistically only fetch around $10.
Pez Dispensers
Surprisingly, despite the numerous cool and nostalgic designs, most Pez dispensers hold little monetary value. Collectors can typically expect to sell individual dispensers for only a couple of dollars online, with entire collections not worth significantly more.
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- 32 Collectibles That Are Now Probably Worthless (cheapism.com)