It starts the same way every time: you’re cleaning out the attic or garage, brushing dust off a half-collapsed box, and wondering why you’ve held onto this stuff for so long. But believe it or not, some of it might be worth a small fortune.
No, not your baby blanket or the VHS player with a missing cord. We’re talking about those forgotten pieces of pop culture, design, and tech that collectors are now fighting over on eBay and at auction houses. If it’s weirdly well-preserved or delightfully retro, it might just pay for your next vacation.
To that effect, here are 10 everyday items from the ’70s and ’80s that could be worth way more than you’d think.
Comic Books
You don’t need a mint-condition copy of Action Comics No. 1 to cash in — though if you do have that, you’re looking at seven figures. While many comics from this period have minimal value, certain specific issues from the late ’70s and early ’80s can be highly sought after. These are often key issues, featuring major character debuts or early issues from popular or significant runs.
In high condition, such comics can fetch hundreds, and top-tier key issues in exceptional shape can be worth thousands. Check your parents’ stash or that old milk crate in the basement. Anything with early Spider-Man, X-Men, or obscure horror runs might be your ticket.
Lunchboxes
Kids carried these to school every day, banged them up, lost the lids, and somehow, a few survived. The right lunchbox, like the one themed like The Jetsons, Star Wars, or The Beatles, can bring in serious cash. A Jetsons set with a thermos once sold for $1,650. Even dented or faded ones might surprise you.
Old Sneakers
If you held onto a pair of Air Jordans from the ’80s, a pair of deadstock Nikes from the early running boom, or rare Kinney NBA sneakers with upside-down “Swoosh” logos, you might be sitting on gold. Collectors go wild for original designs, especially if they’ve got the box.
A pair of 1972 Nike Moon Shoes once sold for over $400,000 at Sotheby’s in 2019. Even beat-up Jordans can pull in thousands depending on the model, with peak examples like Michael Jordan’s game-worn 1985 pair fetching $615,000 at Christie’s in 2020. Vintage Converse from the ’70s and ’80s can also be highly valuable; rare pairs like Jordan’s 1984 Olympic Converse previously held the game-used auction record in 2017 for sneakers.
So if you somehow managed to get your hands on Sneakers worn by celebrities or tied to historic moments, you can bet that they will fetch premium prices.
Dolls
Barbies from the ’50s and ’60s are famously valuable, but even ’70s and ’80s dolls are going up in price. 1980s American Girl dolls, especially if they have their original clothes, can fetch $400 or more. If some of them, like Samantha, Kirsten, and Molly, are in mint condition with original accessories intact, they can sell for $1,000–$2,500.
Beyond Barbies and American Girls, other vintage dolls can also be quite valuable. For instance, a Kenner Blythe doll from 1972 can fetch up to $4,500 or more. Original Little People, the handmade precursors to Cabbage Patch Kids made before 1982, might be worth about $5,300. Additionally, rare editions or complete sets of Strawberry Shortcake items from the 1980s can be sold for hundreds of dollars. Then there are rare Barbies, such as special holiday editions or those from overseas markets that are quickly gaining traction in the collector’s market.
Vinyl Records
Vinyl’s comeback has been loud and proud, but not all records are created equal. First pressings of rock, soul, or punk albums in good condition can go for hundreds, sometimes thousands. First pressings of Nirvana’s Bleach (1989) on white vinyl typically fetch $3,000 or more, with sealed copies reaching $10,000.
Albums with misprints, rare covers, or cult status are the real gems. If there’s a milk crate in the garage with Fleetwood Mac (test pressings of Rumours sell for well over $100, sometimes exceeding $5,000), Bowie (Space Oddity featuring Japanese pressings with inserts or gold vinyl variants are a top-tier collectible), or early hip-hop, it’s time to dust them off.
Vintage Typewriters
That old typewriter in the hall closet might be worth a significant amount. Models from Hermes, Olympia, and Remington, especially in unusual shades like orange or turquoise, have become serious collector’s items.
While few typically reach thousands, desirable models in excellent condition can fetch substantial prices. For instance, one bright orange 1969 Hermes 3000 sold for $750 on eBay. If yours still works and has all the keys, you’re already ahead.
First-Generation Video Games
An unopened copy of Super Mario Bros. from 1985 sold for $2 million in 2021, shattering previous records. That’s not typical, but vintage Nintendo (Rare titles like Bubble Bath Babes (NES) sell for $3,299.99 if they are new/sealed), Atari (Games like Gamma Attack (Atari 2600) sometimes sell for $20,000–$50,000), and Sega gear (MUSHA (Sega Genesis) sells for $1,938 if it is new) still holds serious value.
Even used games in good condition or original controllers can sell well. If your NES is currently collecting dust next to your copy of Duck Hunt and a tangle of wires, plug it in—and maybe even list it.
Film Cameras
Before smartphones, people actually carried cameras, and some of those old-school rigs are now serious collector bait. A Leica M6 with its original packaging can sell for upwards of $5,000, especially if the camera is in excellent, near-mint, or mint condition and includes the original box, manual, and other accessories.
Even simpler models from Canon, Nikon, or Pentax can fetch good money. Standard models like the Canon AE-1, Nikon FM/FE, or Pentax K1000 in working condition regularly sell for hundreds of dollars ($100−$400 or more, depending on condition and included lens/accessories). More professional models like the Nikon F3 or Canon F-1 can fetch over $300−$800, sometimes pushing towards $1000 or more for exceptional examples or rare sub-models.
Action Figures
He-Man, Star Wars, G.I. Joe — if any of those names ring a bell, you should probably give your attic a once-over. Collectors will pay top dollar for original action figures, especially if they’re still in the packaging. Even loose figures in good shape can be worth something.
One Eternia playset from the Masters of the Universe line reportedly sold for over $7,000 on eBay, and a rocket-firing Boba Fett Star Wars prototype sold for $525,000. One rare G.I. Joe figure, the 1982 Snake Eyes (straight-arm series), to be exact, has sold for $26,400, and a 1983 G.I. Joe Cobra Commander Series 2 has fetched $4,080.
Posters and Promo Art
Movie posters, band flyers, and even store displays from the ’70s and ’80s are increasingly gaining collectible status. Condition is everything, but if you’ve got an original Star Wars one-sheet, such as an authentic first-printing Star Wars one-sheet from 1977, it can sell for several thousand dollars, with especially rare versions, such as printer’s proofs, commanding even higher prices.
A vintage Led Zeppelin tour poster (these posters can fetch you thousands if they are original and in excellent condition, but most later or mass-produced posters are worth much less), or even old cereal box cut-outs with famous mascots (most sell for hundreds rather than thousands unless they are extremely rare or in mint condition), it’s worth a look.