Member-only story
The Vintage Vibe
Three Indicators that That “Trash” Could Make You Some Cash
How to tell if something you have or find might have value.
Have you ever found something you knew was old and wondered if it was worth anything? Most people have.
We have many tools at our disposal today that make researching items instantaneous! I can figure out if something is worth buying or picking up off the curb with the snap of a picture.
Back in the day, if you thought you had something of value, you had two choices. 1. Pay money to have it appraised; or 2. Snap a Polaroid, find a library, and find a book on it if you were lucky enough to know what you had.
There was also the Encylopedia Brittanica, which I’ve seen sold today for $250 — $400.
Friends have asked me how I know when something might be worth investigating. After over thirty years of thrifting, junking, and flipping junk online, I’ve learned a lot, and it's pretty instinctual now.
But really, it boils down to recognizing a few signs on the item that indicate you may have something of value and may warrant a closer look.