10 Shockingly Valuable Items You Might Own

Vintage T-Shirts

Vintage tees are among the most desirable secondhand items, especially if they’re tied to a popular musical act, major sporting event, or widely recognized brand. Shirts with logos of icons such as the Rolling Stones or the New York Yankees, for example, are bound to be hot sellers. Of course, as with any used item, condition is key, and shirts in pristine shape are more likely to net big bucks than clothes with holes or tears.

If you have any vintage tees sitting in your closet, it may be worth listing them on eBay, where used merch regularly sells for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. In fact, according to a Defunkd recap of the most expensive tees sold on eBay in 2024, a 1988 Harley-Davidson shirt sold for $13,500, while many other concert tees from various ’90s rock acts sold for several thousand apiece.

Cookie Jars

While the cookies inside an old ceramic cookie jar may be rich in sugar, the jars themselves are often rich in value thanks to their nostalgic appeal. High-quality jars made in the early to mid-20th century often command hundreds of dollars on the secondary market.

For instance, eBay sales for a 1940s Hull Pottery Little Red Riding Hood jar regularly exceed $100, which is a fine payday for something that may otherwise be gathering dust. But there are also some exceedingly rare jars, such as an Alice in Wonderland model from the 1950s, which sold for a staggering $2,300 in March 2025.

As you can see, cookie jarvalues  vary widely, depending on several factors. Condition makes a difference, as superficial chips and cracks can negatively affect value. Additionally, popular characters (such as Alice and Little Red Riding Hood) are typically worth more than generic designs. And you should always examine the bottom of your jar for a maker’s mark, which can help determine the object’s authenticity and boost the overall price. As you would imagine, replicas or recreations of genuine vintage jars aren’t worth as much.

Classic Cameras

Though not all vintage cameras are valuable, some brands often fetch a substantial amount on the resale market, especially models that are still in working condition. Cameras with old film rolls are particularly desirable, as you won’t find many modern cameras that still use film — which many photographers consider to be a superior quality than digital.

Leica is one particular brand to look out for. When it debuted in 1925, the Leica 1 was the first commercially available 35mm camera. This made Leica a particularly popular brand, as evidenced by its enduring value to this day. Take, for example, a Leica M2, which was manufactured from 1957 to 1967. Nowadays, an old Leica M2 model sells for as little as $5,000 in average condition and up to $12,500 in mint condition. If you think you may have a valuable camera of your own, head to CollectiBlend to check what it might be worth, or visit a local antique shop to find out more information.

Vinyl Records

When it comes to vinyl records, many people mistake age for value. Just because a record was pressed in the 1950s doesn’t make it intrinsically valuable, especially if it was recorded by a less popular artist. However, some vinyl records can be worth a small fortune if they meet certain criteria, such as being a limited edition pressing from a major artist. 

As with all other antiques, condition is paramount. Vinyl collectors are willing to fork over more money if the record sounds good and the packaging contains all the original inserts — even better if you happen to have an album in its original shrinkwrap, as people will pay a premium for that pristine quality.

If you think you may have some valuable vinyl records, websites such as Discogs can help determine their resale value, or you can head to a local vinyl store to speak with someone more knowledgeable. You could luck into something extremely valuable, such as an original pressing of 1962’s Introducing… The Beatles, which once sold for $10,000. 

VHS Tapes

When was the last time you used a VHS tape? It’s probably been a while, but if you’ve kept your tapes stored in a secure, temperature-controlled location, you may be in luck. Despite the fact that VHS and VCR technology is effectively obsolete, some old tapes are sought after by collectors. This is especially true for Disney lovers, who are willing to pay $50 to $300 for old home releases that are still in decent condition.

If you happen to have a VHS tape still in its original shrinkwrap, you could be sitting on a small fortune. People are willing to pay a premium for unopened tapes and will shell out even more if the tape has been authenticated and graded by Certified Guaranty Company (CGC), one of the foremost VHS authenticators. Some examples of the most valuable VHS collectibles include an original Star Wars tape that sold for $114,000 in 2022 and a Back to the Future tape that fetched $75,000 the same year.

Old Sports Cards

The sports card industry is now thriving and can prove to be a profitable hobby; copies of LeBron James rookie cards, for example, can garner hundreds of thousands of dollars. But decades ago, collecting cards was a hobby common among children who would shell out a quarter for some baseball cards and a stick of bubblegum. And if you’re still holding on to any of those old cards, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn how much they’re worth in today’s booming market.

This is especially true if the card is in good condition (no tears or creases) and if it features the likeness of a sporting legend such as Johnny Unitas or Mickey Mantle. One 1952 Mantle rookie card once sold for an incredible $12.6 million. 

Trusted companies including Beckett or third-party sites such as SportsCardsPro are helpful resources for determining the value of these cards. Local card shows are also an excellent place to bring vintage cards, as interested vendors may be willing to offer you cash on the spot — just be sure to conduct some research first to avoid getting ripped off.

Fishing Gear

Old fishing rods, reels, and lures can be surprisingly desirable items, especially if they date to the middle of the 19th century. Take, for instance, one of the most valuable pieces of fishing gear ever sold: a “giant” Haskell minnow lure that was patented in 1859 and that fetched $101,200 at auction. Other vintage lures manufactured throughout the 20th century have also been known to fetch thousands at auction.

But your gear doesn’t have to be antique to be valuable, as newer pieces from more recent decades are also highly sought after. Modern lures and reels regularly sell on eBay for $10 to $20 and up, so selling those items in bulk can amount to a sizable payday. If you own 50 lures you’re looking to sell, for example, that’s potentially $1000 to the right buyer. You may even be lucky enough to own a Jack Charlton Titanium Fly Reel from 1995, which is estimated at a whopping $30,000 in value, as there were only 20 of this highly-sought after titanium model ever made.

Scout Memorabilia

If you were a member of the Boy Scouts of America (now known as Scouting America) or the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A, your old vest and badges could be worth thousands. It can be difficult to part with these sentimental childhood memories, but if you can bear it, some devoted collectors may be willing to pay you handsomely — hundreds to thousands of dollars for the right badges.

Scout Patch Collectors is a helpful online resource where you can learn more about the value of your old scouting memorabilia. It also allows you to buy or sell memorabilia with Jason Spangler, a decades-long collector who claims to have paid as much as $15,000 to purchase peoples’ scouting collections in the past. If you’re extremely lucky, you may possess an exceedingly rare patch, such as the French scout patch from the 1947 World Scout Jamboree, which once sold for $71,000, making it the most expensive patch sold.

Pyrex and Tupperware

Pyrex and Tupperware are two of the most widely recognizable kitchen brands from the 20th century, with Tupperware maintaining a widespread popularity even today. As noted by Martha Stewart, an original four-piece set of Pyrex can sell for as much as $65 — this can amount to several hundred dollars if sold in bulk, which is a great profit if you originally bought the Pyrex back in the 1950s for less than a dollar each. But the real value lies in certain especially coveted designs such as the 1956 Pink Daisy and 1983 Colonial Mist variants, which can sell for $100 to $500 per set, depending on the condition.

It’s also worth noting that people pay more for certain visually striking Pyrex designs, with some rarer models selling for more than $1,000 on eBay as of 2025. Original Tupperware sets may sell for a couple dozen dollars a bowl, which adds up quickly if sold in bulk. This 45-piece set of vintage Tupperware, for instance, sold on eBay for $299 in March 2025.

Christmas Ornaments and Decor

Many families have a tradition of passing down ornaments from generation to generation, meaning a lot of modern Christmas trees are adorned with vintage ornaments originally created long ago. This is good news for anyone who’s kept those ornaments in quality condition, as old ceramic Christmas trees and vintage Hallmark ornaments from the 1970s are among the most in-demand holiday decorations today.

Looking at eBay sales, you’ll find older ceramic Atlantic Mold Christmas trees regularly net several hundred dollars per listing. Vintage Hallmark ornaments from the 1970s can also easily sell for $50 or $60 a pop. Rarer ones can even sell for hundreds apiece, especially if they come boxed in the original packaging. So if you’re hoping to make a few extra bucks for holiday gifts this year, selling off a vintage ornament or two could be the boon you’re looking for.