Top 5 Vintage Items and Antiques to Resell On Ebay

For over 18 years, I’ve been buying and selling vintage items, estate treasures, antiques, and more. Throughout my career, I’ve successfully run online businesses as well as several brick-and-mortar stores. However, none of these ventures have been as rewarding — though not always monetarily — as the vintage and antique reselling business. Some people might call me a “picker,” but I’m not fond of that label. I prefer to think of myself as a land pirate, into suburban salvage, or a junk hound — something that sounds a bit cooler than a “picker,” especially with all the media hype around the term these days.

Call it what you will, but what I do is find amazing vintage and antique items at the source. I buy directly from old estates — not from estate sales. People call me to come to their homes, or they meet me with a truckload of items. I sift through what might look like junk to identify the valuable pieces and buy them to resell. It may sound simple, but there’s an art to finding those hidden gems. If you’re curious to see what sells best for me, follow me for a peek into my finds.

My Top 5 Favorite Vintage Items to Sell on eBay and Why

Let’s dive into my personal top five types of vintage items to find cheaply and resell for a profit on eBay.

1. Railroad Items

True vintage and antique railroad items sell quickly and consistently on eBay. Items from the steam era or pre-1930s are particularly sought after. Rare items from short-lived railroads before they merged with larger ones can also command high prices. For example, a heart-shaped brass railroad switch lock from the N&W Railroad might sell for $125, while the same lock marked with the Virginian Railroad (VGN) could bring in $600-$800. Basic steel railroad locks are less valuable, typically selling for $20-$40. Look for old railroad lanterns with the railroad’s name etched or embossed on the housing and glass globe; colored glass globes tend to sell better than clear ones, with prices ranging from $80 to $800 depending on the railroad. Brass steam whistles and other hardware are also great finds. Familiarize yourself with railroad parts on eBay so you don’t miss a potential $500 item at a yard sale. Other hot sellers include old railroad paper items, photos, RPPC railroad postcards, badges, pins, promotional items, and smalls like watches.

2. WWII and Military Items

WWII and military items can be excellent sellers if you find the right pieces. I’ve had great success with original WWII bullion patches — some of which are hard to identify but worth the effort. For instance, I once bought a patch for $1.00 and sold it for $200 on eBay. WWII photos, journals, dog tags, medals, ID cards, scrapbooks, and propaganda pamphlets are also good sellers. Weapons, knives, trench art, and hardware from the war era are highly collectible. WWII aviation items, in particular, sell fast and can fetch high prices.

3. Antique/Vintage Postcards

Vintage postcards are another strong seller on eBay, particularly Real Photo Postcards (RPPC), which feature a real photograph on one side. Postcards related to railroads, occupations, unusual people, old schools and buildings, and soldiers tend to sell well. However, postcard values can be unpredictable, and sometimes it’s hard to gauge their worth without a comparable sale. If you have a unique postcard, it might be worth listing it at a fixed price rather than as an auction to avoid selling it too cheaply. The key is to research and stay informed about the market trends for these items.

4. Vintage Toys & Video Gaming Items

Vintage toys from the early 90s back to the 1920s are consistently good sellers on eBay. My personal favorites are toys from the 40s-80s. New in package, mint on card, new old stock, boxed, carded, graded, and mint toys are the most desirable. Everything from 1970s superhero toys to 1930s metal wind-up toys can fetch high prices. There’s also a dedicated following for odd and unique toys, like small PVC figures and miniature rubber toys from the 50s-80s, where even a tiny alien Cracker Jack toy can bring in $50. Space Age toys, robots, monsters, and other macabre or strange toys are also popular among collectors.

In addition to toys, vintage video games, consoles, and other gaming items are highly sought after and can sell for a significant profit. Early gaming consoles like the original Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and even more recent systems like the PlayStation 2 or 3 can be worth a lot, especially if they’re in good condition or come with original packaging. Games, especially rare or unopened ones, and gaming accessories like controllers and promotional items, also tend to sell well.

5. Vintage Jewelry

Vintage jewelry is another category I love selling on eBay. It doesn’t need to be made of gold to be valuable — there’s plenty of vintage costume and designer jewelry that sells for a good profit. Sterling silver jewelry, especially chunky, funky, signed, or Victorian pieces, is in demand. Filigree, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, modernist (mid-century), and ethnic jewelry like Native American squash blossom necklaces can command high prices. Brooches from designers like Eisenberg can be quite valuable. Buying bags or boxes of what others consider costume jewelry can yield hidden treasures. Some sellers offer costume jewelry by the pound on eBay, but be cautious; professionals often sort through these before selling. Tip: Separate your gold-filled jewelry (marked 1/10 12k GF or similar) and sell it for its weight. Gold-filled jewelry can still be valuable, with the current rate being around $1 per pennyweight.

These are my top five favorite types of items to sell on eBay and other platforms. While there are countless other categories I enjoy selling, these particular items tend to sell quickly and with a good profit margin. Happy hunting!.

Check out my J.W. Holcomb blog sometime or follow me on instagram to see what sells best for me and to follow my vintage finds!