Sorting Collectibles from Junk

August 18, 2010, By Amy Carson 2 comments

Still have those old Star Wars action figures bouncing around in a box in the attic? Sure, that's obviously collectible — everyone wants their own Han Solo encased in carbonite. But what about stuff like tools, old letters, or guns? And how do you know which comic books, baseball cards, record albums, and board games are trash or treasure?

Here's how to find out if the stuff you've been carefully saving (or hoarding) is worth anything.

Is It Rare? Is It Desirable?

This might seem obvious but rare items are things that are hard to find and not being made anymore. For example, original Star Wars action figures sell for up to 10 times more than Return of the Jedi action figures because more people were buying and saving Star Wars-themed action figures in 1977 than 1983.

Other truthisms in collecting:

• Desirability is based on condition and trends.
• Better condition makes any collectible more desirable.
• Trends are collectible fads.

Here are some items that might be collectible:

• Action figures – Always most valuable in original packaging, but who was that crazy? Barring that, look for figures from desirable eras (1977 Star Wars release for example), and ones that are in very clean/like new condition.
• African-American family archives – Genealogies, historical documents, letters, pictures. Anything that tells the African-American story is highly prized.
• Baseball cards – If they’re unusual and in excellent condition, they're probably worth something.
• Board games – Less-popular board games of your childhood are often the most valuable. Unusual games with outrageous themes or easily-broken parts (that are still intact) are most popular.
• Books – First editions and signed copies are often collectible.
• Comic books – Condition is important here, as well as story. Comics with pivotal storylines are more valuable.
• Furniture – In good condition, the older the better, though quirky trends (like plastic 50s furniture) are collectible too. Check for identifying marks and quality craftsmanship.
• Guns – Older, rarer, and good condition are the rule of thumb.
• Letters and diaries – The letters your grandfather wrote home in WWII? They could be worth something, especially if he was a good storyteller. Anything that relates to historical figures could be collectible as well.
• Miscellaneous items – Vinyl record albums are highly collectible if both the album and sleeve are in excellent condition and the band or song is at least somewhat rare. Other items that could be collectible include stamps and coins, jewelry (particularly Bakelite), old postcards (especially depicting locales), musical instruments, paintings and artwork, vintage clothing, and old knicknacks.
• Sports memorabilia – The popularity of sports memorabilia has glutted the market. It's not likely that much NASCAR memorabilia, for example, will become collectible in coming years. However, signed items are often still worth something.
• Tools – Old tools may be collectible, the older and more identifiable the better. For instance, many of Sears' Craftsman tools made before 1950 are collectible.

So how do you find out if your "junk" is valuable? Start by looking online. Search eBay to see if any similar items are for sale, and how much they sell for. On Google, search for online collectors' clubs. You can also ask a dealer for an appraisal or look up collectible prices at your local library.

It's no guarantee, but before you give away your old stuff it's worth checking what it's worth. After all, you never know how much money might be lurking in your closet, garage, or attic.

A. Carson is a contributor to Six Apart Media.