Pexels
Surprisingly valuable items can often be found throughout your home, tucked away in your attic, cabinets, and closets. From forgotten family heirlooms to overlooked thrift store finds, these treasures possess hidden worth waiting to be discovered. Here are 11 collectible household items that you can sell to earn some extra cash.
1. Vintage Cameras
123rf
Classic film cameras, particularly those from iconic brands like Leica, Rolleiflex, or Hasselblad, can be valuable to photography enthusiasts and collectors. For example, a Hasselblad in good condition with a single lens can fetch a little over $1,000. However, vintage cameras may have issues like cloudy or moldy glass due to their age, which can detract from their value or require repairs.
2. Rare Stamps
123rf
If you have your grandfather’s old stamp collection sitting in the closet, it’s possible that it may contain a rare stamp or two. Stamps that were never used, expensive at the time of purchase, and produced in lower volumes can be very valuable, especially if they’re old. If you don’t have the time to research each stamp individually, you can bring the whole collection to a stamp and coin shop to get it appraised.
3. Collectible Currency
Pixabay
Old paper currency and rare coins with errors or unique designs can be worth much more than their face value. Collectors are also interested in purchasing currency with uncommon, low, or repeating serial numbers. For example, a bill with a serial number that ascends or descends in perfect order could be worth as much as $6,000.
4. Rare Books
123rf
First editions or signed copies of books are valued by literature enthusiasts and can be sold for hundreds or thousands of dollars. Check your bookshelf for older first editions written by popular authors such as Mary Shelley or Hemingway. Books with distinguished provenance, such as copies that were owned by a celebrity or president, are also collectible. You can usually determine if your book was connected to an important person by looking for inscriptions, stamps, or signatures on the first few pages.
5. Historical Maps and Atlases
Unsplash
Antique maps, atlases, and cartographic items from specific regions or time periods can be sought after by collectors of historical and geographical memorabilia. Old, original maps and atlases can usually fetch higher prices on the resale market than newer or reproduced ones.Collectors also tend to prefer large maps with decorative elements like scrollwork that are in good condition and can be put on display. Additionally, you may be in for a big payday if you’re lucky enough to own a map by a famous cartographer such as Gerardus Mercator or Gerard de Jode.
6. Antique Woodworking Tools
123rf
Antique hand tools for woodworking can be worth several hundred dollars if they’re in good condition and uncommon in some way. For example, a block plane in a rare size such as a Stanley Type 2 No. 110 can be resold for nearly $500. So if you inherited a bunch of old woodworking equipment, rifle through the boxes and see if you find anything unique.
7. Vintage Pyrex
Unsplash
Certain patterns and colors of vintage Pyrex dishes, especially those from the mid-20th century, can be highly sought after by collectors, fetching hundreds of dollars on the resale market. According to House Beautiful, you should look out for the following rare, in-demand designs: turquoise, diamond, pink daisy, starburst, and snowflake.
8. Dutch Ovens
Unsplash
Another money-maker you may have hiding in your kitchen cabinet is a Le Creuset or Staub dutch oven. Certain discontinued styles and colors are considered rare and collectible, driving up their resale price. For example, hen-shaped Staub dutch ovens have sold on eBay for as much as $1,000.
9. Designer Clothing and Accessories
Pexels
High-end designer clothing, handbags, shoes, and accessories from luxury brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, or Hermes can retain their value or even appreciate over time. This is especially true if they’re in pristine condition, part of limited edition collections, or vintage. If you don’t have any designer brands in your closet, you may get lucky and find high-end items at estate sales or thrift stores in wealthy areas.
10. Blacksmithing Anvil
Unsplash
Another surprisingly valuable item that you may have sitting in your garden is a cast iron blacksmithing anvil. They’re highly sought after by blacksmiths because they’re not frequently made anymore. The larger and heavier your anvil is, the more you can charge for it since they’re usually sold by the pound. So if you’re just using your anvil as a lawn ornament, consider selling it to earn a couple hundred or thousand dollars depending on its weight.
11. Antique or Vintage Spinning Wheels
Pixabay
Spinning wheels became a popular home decoration in the eighties, so many of the ones on the resale market are purely decorative. But if you happen to own a genuine, antique spinning wheel that still works and has all its parts, you could resell it for several hundred dollars or more. Working spinning wheels are hard to come by because very few companies still make them, so they’re highly valuable to yarn lovers and knitters!
Turn Unused Items Into Extra Cash
Pexels
With spring approaching, now is a great time to clean out your closets and cupboards to see if you own any of the collectible items on this list. You never know—your household items that are just sitting around collecting dust could be worth serious money! If you find some hidden treasures in the corners of your home, consider listing them on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or Craigslist to pad your savings or fund a summer vacation.
Read More
5 Belongings To Sell For Extra Cash
How I Carve Out Time for My Side Hustle
Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance and lifestyle writer. When she’s not busy writing about her favorite money saving hacks or tinkering with her budget spreadsheets, she likes to travel, garden, and cook healthy vegetarian meals.