Hey, do you remember being a kid in the 1970s? While many of us were busy having fun, tons of highly valuable items were surrounding us. From toys to electronics to household items, what we once considered junk is highly valued by collectors today for big bucks. Before you go cleaning out your attic, check out these surprising, and very valuable, items from the 1970s.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. Original Star Wars Action Figures (1977-1979)
- 2 2. First Edition Stephen King Books
- 3 3. Apple II Computer (1977)
- 4 4. KISS Lunchboxes (1977)
- 5 5. Vintage Levi’s (1970s)
- 6 6. Original Atari 2600 Games (1977-1979)
- 7 7. Original Skateboard Decks
- 8 8. Original Pokémon Cards (1990s)
- 9 9. Vintage Band T-Shirts
- 10 10. Vintage Pyrex
- 11 11. Original Magic: The Gathering Cards (1993)
- 12 12. Original Hot Wheels Cars
- 13 13. Vintage Coleman Camping Gear
1. Original Star Wars Action Figures (1977-1979)
If you have the original Kenner Star Wars figures, you could be sitting on a gold mine. A 1978 Luke Skywalker figure can be sold for 25 THOUSAND dollars. Not to mention the vinyl-cape Jawa that was recently auctioned off for 45 THOUSAND dollars. If you have any Star Wars figures, even if they are loose, you could get a couple hundred bucks if they are in good condition.
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2. First Edition Stephen King Books
If you have a dusty copy of the movie “Carrie” (1974) or “Salem’s Lot” (1975), you could be sitting on thousands of dollars. First editions of Stephen King’s books, especially if it has the dust jacket, have sold for 10,000-20,000 dollars. First editions of “The Shining” (1977) sell for 4,000-6,000 dollars depending on the condition.
3. Apple II Computer (1977)
An Apple II computer is considered one of the first successful mass-produced microcomputers. If it is still fully operational, it can go for 15,000 dollars or more. If you have one that’s complete with the original software and manuals in working condition, it can sell for THOUSANDS of dollars, even if it’s defective.
4. KISS Lunchboxes (1977)
The original KISS lunchbox from 1977 can sell for 1,800 dollars if it’s in perfect condition. Even if it is a little worn, it is still worth a couple hundred dollars, especially if it has the original thermos. The lunchbox that you took to school when you were a kid is very valuable now.
5. Vintage Levi’s (1970s)
You could have thousands of dollars worth of value in your old jeans. Deadstock \\\’70s Levi’s jeans will sell for between $1,000 and $5,000. The big \\”E\\” red tab 501s from the early 70s are the most valuable of the \\\’70s Levi’s.
6. Original Atari 2600 Games (1977-1979)
Sealed copies of the game \\”Air Raid\\” are priced at over $30,000. Other games in the same category, like \\”Red Sea Crossing,\\” have sold for over $10,000.
7. Original Skateboard Decks
Early skateboards from the Logan Earth Ski brand and the Hobie brand are also priced highly. A Zephyr deck from the mid 70s in mint condition could be worth over $5,000. Even Board with use from the time period can sell from $500 to $1,000.
8. Original Pokémon Cards (1990s)
First edition Pokemon Cards that are in mint condition can be sold for over $20,000; especially first edition Charizard Cards. The first sets released also contain many cards that sell for hundreds.
9. Vintage Band T-Shirts
Concert t-shirts from the ’70s can sell for significant amounts of money as well. Concert tee shirts that entered the market in 1979 for the bands Led Zeppelin can be sold for up to $10,000. Shirts for The Who and The Rolling Stones also sell for hundreds to thousands of dollars.
10. Vintage Pyrex
The old dishes from the kitchen can be very valuable as well. Dishes that are part of the \\”Butterfly Gold\\” or \\”Spring Blossom\\” patterns can sell for $500 to $1,000. More rare designs like \\”Lucky in Love\\” can go for over $4,000.
11. Original Magic: The Gathering Cards (1993)
Magic The Gathering cards from the Alpha and Beta sets can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. A Black Lotus card in mint condition recently sold for over $500,000. Even common cards from these sets can sell for hundreds of dollars if they are in mint condition.
12. Original Hot Wheels Cars
Hot Wheels from the 1970s are also very collectible. The 1971 Spectraflame Pink Rear-Loading Beach Bomb is valued at over $150,000. Like the Magic The Gathering cards, even common models can sell for hundreds of dollars if they are in good condition and have their original packaging.
13. Vintage Coleman Camping Gear
Camping gear could also be worth more than it seems. Good working condition vintage Coleman lanterns and stoves sell for $200-$500. If the vintage Coleman lanterns and stoves are rare or their condition is pristine and they have their original boxes, they can sell for even more.
