I think I may have been a pirate in a previous lifetime, because I love the treasure hunt. Nothing gets my heart going quite the way searching through thrift and consignment stores does. So after my stint in corporate America, I guess I picked a pretty spot-on second act. And one of things I’ve learned in all these years of treasure hunting and selling treasures is that there are quite a lot of items that are worth collecting from thrift and consignment shops like mine. If you too could have been a swashbuckler, here are a few things that you may want to keep an eye out for. They are items surely worth collecting from thrift and consignment stores.
One of The Best Items Worth Collecting From Thrift and Consignment: Depression Glass
Depression Glass is a type of clear or colored, machine-made glass that was made and distributed in the United States betwen 1929-1939. The pieces were often given away or sold at a very small cost during the Great Depression, hence the name. Depression Glass became highly collectible starting in the 1960’s. At thrift and consignment stores, treasure seekers can find most pieces of Depression Glass for just a few dollars, but considering that a set of 8 cherry blossom pink, Jeanette glass mugs can sell for up to $5,000 (yes, you read that right), and sets of Uranium glass can garner $10,000 or more, it seems definitely worth keeping an eye out.
Vintage Toys Are Also Worth Collecting
The type of Tonka dump truck (circa 1964) that my brothers used sit on top of and ride down the driveway (yes, they were a bit of a handfull for my parents) just sold on eBay for $100. And it was a wreck! Covered in rust, but with original paint, some collector snapped it right up. The truck initially cost under $10. Oh my! If you found this at a thrift store for $18, wouldn’t you be a happy camper? Or if you scored the Ace Stores Tonka truck? That baby is on eBay for a whopping $2899! And it’s not just trucks. A vintage Barbie doll, in the original box, just sold at auction for $13,500! Ken couldn’t even afford to take that girl for coffee. So the next time you’re out searching for treasure, be sure to look for vintage toys.
And Finally, The One That Always Blows My Mind: Vintage Corningware And Pyrex, OMG!
At this very minute, if you’re so inclined, you can buy a piece of vintage Corningware on eBay for $99,000. Yup, almost $100 grand for a casserole dish! But in shops like Consignments Ltd. you can usually get vintage Corningware and Pyrex (with some exceptions) for under $25. Wouldn’t you love to discover that what you paid that for was actually worth so much more? Consider that on your next pirating advenuture?! Arrrrgggg.
For more on the Pyrex craze, check out my previous blog: Hidden Gems of Consignment and Thrift. And for more on value, you might want to read: Thrift Is Not Just About What It’s Worth.
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