27 collector's items you might not know you own
lovemoney staff
10 April 2017
Hidden cash in your home?
Got a few old G.I. Joe toys, first editions of classic books or Beatles LPs hidden away at home? Among the junk gathering dust in your loft or basement, there could be well be a sought-after collector's item or two. Check out our pick of items from back in the day that are worth a small fortune.
Bandai Tamagotchi Ocean: $300 (£240)
A major craze during the late 90s, Tamagotchis were snapped up in their millions. You may not think these mass-produced virtual pets would be worth anything these days, but collectors will fork out up to $300 (£420) for the scarcer Tamagotchi Ocean from 1997. Other Tamagotchi models can still be worth around $50 (£40).
Smashing Pumpkins' Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness 12” vinyl album UK special edition: $540 (£430)
Rare, numbered UK copies of the Smashing Pumpkins' 1995 album with extra tracks sell for $540 (£430). A highly popular album at a time when vinyl was in decline, collectors are buying up the LP in part due to its fantastic artwork.
Hasbro Transformers Megatron action figure: $750 (£600)
Had Transformers in your home back in the 90s? Let's hope you kept them in good condition somewhere safe. The rarer action figures are worth hundreds of dollars nowadays. In 2016, this Megatron figure from 1995 sold for $750 (£600) on eBay.
Tiger Electronics Original 1998 white Furby: $800 (£640)
Another toy that sold by the bucketload, the Furby was super-popular in the 90s. While later versions aren't worth very much, early examples attract high prices. This Original Furby in white from 1998 realized $800 (£640) in an eBay auction in May 2016.
Lego King's Mountain Fortress set: $1,000 (£800)
The most wanted Lego pieces and sets achieve surprisingly high prices at auction. This King's Mountain Fortress set for instance retailed for just $57.99 (£46) in 1990 – nowadays an example in mint condition can fetch up to $1,000 (£800) at auction.
Konami Castlevania Nintendo NES game: $1,000 (£800)
It's a good idea to see if you've got any old Nintendo NES games in your loft, basement or storage facility too. Collectors will pay big bucks for cult games such as Castlevania. Netflix is releasing a serialized adaptation of the game later this year, so it's likely the going price will surge.
Sony TPS-L2 Walkman with Guardians of the Galaxy case: $1,200 (£960)
If you were one of the lucky people who bought or was gifted this early Sony Walkman in 1979, complete with Guardians of the Galaxy case, and still have it, you could be $1,200 (£960) richer – these special edition personal stereos are highly coveted.
Mattel Masters of the Universe Laser Light Skeletor: $1,200 (£960)
He-Man toys sold like hot cakes in the 80s. If you were a fan of the TV show and bought the merch, you could be sitting on a goldmine. A Laser Light Skeletor from 1988 in perfect working order can fetch up to $1,200 (£960) at auction. Action figures that have been played with (ie out of the box) are still worth some money, typically between $10 and $100 (£8-£80).
Nirvana's Bleach 12” vinyl album marbled edition: $1,200 (£960)
If you were into grunge music, that old record collection may be worth more than you think. This red and white marbled special edition copy of Nirvana's 1989 studio debut is worth up to $1,200 (£960).
Mattel Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt Series: $1,550 (£1.2k)
Mattel released the Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt Series in 1995. The toy company only made 10,000 of each vehicle, a relatively paltry number. As a result, collectors will part with ridiculous sums of money to get hold of a mint specimen. Other Hot Wheels series and loose models out of the box fetch considerably less, however.
Tales From the Quadead Zone VHS tape: $2,000 (£1.6k)
This bizarre horror movie from 1987, which is all about a zombie clown, is as cheap and nasty as they come. However, the movie has become a cult classic, and collectors are willing to pay up to $2,000 (£1.6k) for a VHS copy.
Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks VHS tape: $2,100 (£1.7k)
Schlocky horror B movies on VHS attract ridiculously high prices. These cassettes, which tend to be few and far between, have garnered a cult following who are more than happy to pay through the nose. In 2016, a 1986 VHS copy of Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks, an Italian horror flick from 1974, sold for $2,100 (£1.7k) on eBay.
G.I. Joe Mobile Command Center: $3,000 (£2.4k)
Remember getting one of these beauties in your Christmas stocking back in 1982? The G.I. Joe Mobile Command Center averages around $1,000 (£800) at auction nowadays, but unopened sets can make anything up to $3,000 (£2.4k).
Kenner Star Wars Early Bird Certificate Set: $3,000 (£2.4k)
The first Star Wars merchandise item made by Kenner, the Early Bird Certificate Set was sent out in 1977 to fans who had completed a certificate and mailed it to Kenner. Sets that come with the original certificate, and they do exist, fetch up to $3,000 (£2.4k) at auction nowadays.
Lego Trains: $1,500-$3,000 (£1,200-£2,400)
Lego has been one of the most popular toys in history, with its endless opportunities for fun. Vintage Lego has proved to be something of a good investment recently, with some collections soaring in value by 110% in just six months. Lego trains do particularly well, and the larger sets in mint condition can fetch between $1,500 and $3,000 (£1,200-£2,400).
Rare Detective Comics featuring the Riddler's first appearance: $3,500 (£2.8k)
If you were a Superman fan and still have a few old editions lying around, you could be sitting on a goldmine. Sellmycomicbooks.com recently paid $40,000 (£32,000) for an early Action Comic featuring Superman's second ever cover. If you have a stack, look for rare or early appearances of popular heroes and villains – this Detective Comics where the Riddler appears for the first time is on the market for $3,500 (£2,800).
Bruce Springsteen's Spirit In The Night 7” vinyl single: $5,000 (£4k)
Mom or Dad into the Boss? Have a nose in their record collection for a copy of Spirit In The Night, one of Springsteen’s early singles on Columbia Records. While most copies of the record have probably been worn down through use, mint condition editions are known to fetch up to $5,000 (£4k).
Ty Inc. Peanut Royal Blue Elephant Beanie Baby: $5,000 (£4k)
Millions of Beanie Babies were sold during the 90s and while most of them are worth very little, the more unusual examples can go for thousands of dollars at auction. This rare Peanut Royal Blue Elephant Beanie Baby is thought to have a value pushing $5,000 (£4k).
Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are first edition: $6,000 (£4,800)
Maurice Sendak's beloved Where the Wild Things Are is as popular today as it was in 19963 when it was first published. A first edition of this children's classic, complete with original sleeve and dust cover, can be worth as much as $6,000 (£4,800). Less well-preserved copies can fetch up to $3,000 (£2,400).
Pez Softhead Mickey Mouse Dispenser: $7,000 (£5.6k)
Remember these cheap throwaway candy dispensers? Cult Pez collectors can't get enough of them and the most desirable examples realize thousands of dollars at auction these days – this 1979 Mickey Mouse version is worth up to $7,000 (£5.6k).
The Beatles' Please Please Me 12” vinyl album early pressing: $7,500 (£6k)
It may be time to raid the record collection. Early UK Parlophone pressings of the Beatles’ debut album are extremely valuable. If your copy of the Beatles' debut LP has a black and gold Parlophone label and songs credited to Dick James Music Company rather than Northern Songs (like most copies), you could be looking at a cool $7,500 (£6k).
J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye first edition: $9,000 (£7.3k)
This controversial coming-of-age is a classic read at least once throughout many students’ academic careers, and it's probable someone in your family owns a copy. Check if it's a first edition – these copies are seriously in demand and sell for up to $9,000 (£7.3k) at auction.
Apple Lisa 1 Computer: $10,000 (£8,000)
Lisa was one of Apple's first computers that looked like what we expect them to look like today, rather than just a circuit board. It was expensive when it launched in 1983, but it had a graphical user interface and even a mouse. The original model with two 5.25″ floppy disk drives, later replaced as they didn't work very well, is the rarer and if you have one it could sell for over $10,000 (£8,000).
MITS Altair 8800 Personal Computer: $12,000 (£9.6k)
The MITS Altair 8800 was the first personal computer to sell in large quantities, and there's a good chance thousands of models still exist, languishing in storage or in dusty attics. If you come across one, put it up for auction – collectors will pay up to $12,000 (£9.6k) for a mint condition model. Less pristine ones can still fetch $3,000 (£2,400).
Magic: The Gathering Alpha Black Lotus trading card deck: $27,300 (£21.8k)
Fans went crazy for Magic: The Gathering during the 90s, and they still do. Launched in 1993, these decks of trading cards have fetched a fortune at auction. Sealed Alpha decks can make up to $8,700 (£7k), while the limited edition Back Lotus deck can fetch up to $27,300 (£21.8k). As many as 1,100 examples exist, so get looking.
'Joanne Rowling' Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone first edition: $55,000 (£44k)
Rare first edition copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, published in 1997, are worth up to $55,000 (£44k) today. You need to look for a print line inside the book that reads 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 and the crediting of 'Joanne Rowling', not J.K. Collectors are very specific with Harry Potter first editions, so do some research and make sure you have the right one!
J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit first edition: $80,000 (£65k)
You never know, you might even stumble across a Tolkien first edition if you're lucky. You’ll be able to cash in up to $80,000 (£65k) for a pristine first edition of The Hobbit which, like The Lord of the Rings, has also made its way to cinema screens around the world.
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