Explore the World of Coveted Collectables

We think there’s never a wrong time to invest and purchase antique reproductions or vintage items, but as antiques continue to become increasingly popular, many may wonder: which are the most coveted collectibles? What sort of collection is rare?

Collectible items considered some of the most sought-after aren’t necessarily pieces of art painted by masters or furniture created by master cabinetry makers. There are many collections out there that are incredibly valuable based on nostalgia, rarity, and even mistakes.

Toys

If you have a collection of old toys gathering dust in the garage, inherited one, or found a few through thrift or estate sales, these could be worth a surprising amount. While some items may be worth hundreds, thousands, or even millions of dollars, it’s not all about the potential financial value. There’s an increasing trend among consumers being drawn toward cultural nostalgia for the toys that defined their childhood.

1999 Pokemon card, Charizard, 1st Edition Shadowless

In 2022, the first edition Holo Charizard was sold at auction for $420,000 at the PWCC, the largest trading card marketplace in the world. This set the record for the highest-ever paid base card for that year and the third-highest price paid to a public market for any Pokemon trading card.

1st Edition G.I. Joe Action Figure

1964, and Hasbro released a $4 action figure called G.I. Joe. The G.I. Joe toy at its time was an innovation as it was one of the first action figures that were poseable, unlike any other toy on the market at that time. It was advertised as having “twenty-one moveable parts,” throughout the first year of production, the figurine underwent several changes to help speed up the manufacturing process by using new molds. That resulted in several figures having noticeable differences between 1964 and 1965.

In 2003, the 1st edition of the G.I. Joe action figure was sold for $200,000, and despite improvements and changes to the figure over the years, the 1st edition of G.I. Joe is still considered extremely valuable to collectors.

Madame Alexander Dolls

First created in 1923 by Beatrice Alexander Behrman, also known as Madam Alexander, they were initially made from composition material, molded sawdust, and glue. In the 1950s, the company began using hard plastic for the dolls, making them more durable and more accessible to manufacture.

The value of a Madame Alexander doll depends on several factors, including the doll’s condition, rarity, age, and whether or not any original accessories or packaging remains. However, some of the dolls created in the 1950s were sold for as much as $25,000.

1969 Mattel Volkswagen Beach Bomb

With only two models of the initially .98 cent Mattel-made Volkswagen Beach Bomb confirmed left in the world, this ultra-rare toy vehicle is worth about $150,000 today. When an item becomes scarce, it inevitably attracts the attention of collectors, driving up the price as it is almost guaranteed that they will have the honor of owning something that nearly no one else in the world does.

Comic Books

There are a large number of comic books that are much sought after by collectors and fans. Just a few of those include:

1. Action Comics #1, 1938 – This comic is valued at between $250,000 and $6 million, as it is the world’s first appearance of a hero called Superman.
2. Superman # 1, 1939 – The first solo comic dedicated to Superman is valued between $90,000 to over five million dollars.
3. Captain America Comic #1, 1941 – Making their first comic appearance, this first edition introduced the Cap and Bucky. It’s valued between $10,000 to $3,120,000.
4. Marvel Comics #1, 1939 – The first ever printed Marvel comic book featuring the Human Torch and The Angel, estimated to be worth anywhere from $130,000 to $2,427,000.

Kitchen and Home Décor

Vintage and antique kitchenware still holds its unique charm, and many have an unexpected monetary value. More than just nostalgic keepsakes, these are often considered sought-after treasures, each with their own stories that can reflect the culinary and cultural history of times gone by.

Here are a few vintage kitchen items and home décor that add a touch of retro to a home and can be worth a shocking amount of money depending on their condition.

Griswold and Wagner Cast Iron Cookware

Renowned American brands Griswold and Wagner are a much-beloved addition to collectors of vintage kitchenware. Known for exceptional durability and nearly unparalleled quality, these cookware pieces were primarily from the late 19th and mid-20th Centuries.

Griswold and Wagner have extremely distinctive markings on the bottom of their cast iron cookware items.

• Griswold Heat Ring – The heat ring is a small rim found around the outside of the bottom of earlier skillets and a few other cast iron pieces. Its purpose is to slightly raise the pan’s bottom from old wood range cooktops to help equalize heat. Sometimes, they may be called Smoke Rings, Fire Rings, or some other name—though they are incorrect since the heat ring was not designed for anything other than distributing heat.
• Next, an unmistakable sign you own a Griswold, and Wagner is the maker’s mark at the bottom of the pan, with the named GRISWOLD inside a cross and two circles as their registered trademark. There are variations in trademark sizes; some have the word GRISWOLD in italics or slanted text.
•  In 1957, Wagner and Griswold came under the same ownership, and the Erie, PA Griswold production shut down, and all production was transferred to the Wagner foundry in Sidney, Ohio. Later, cast iron cookware featured the Griswold cross with “Made in the USA,” by the 1970s, the cast iron pans featured both Griswold and Wagner trademarks along the bottom.

Home Décor:

• Equestrian and Hunting paintings depicting historical scenes, with the value heavily influenced by the size and intricacy of the frame.
• Federal Era and Style Bull’e eye mirror with its symbolic style of the eagle and 13 balls motif representing the original colonies. Genuine Federal pieces are precious.
• Genuine Persian rugs.
• 1st Edition books.
• Advertising signs.
• Vintage guitars.
• Lamps.

Valued collectibles are a constantly fluctuating market, and price points for these items almost always rest on their condition. For the new collector, your enthusiasm and willingness to do the research will help you immensely improve and grow your collection. Do not hesitate to seek out and take the advice of experts and specialists, and enjoy your collecting!