August 2020 marked the centennial of the 19th Amendment’s ratification, which means “votes for women” collectibles are back in the limelight.
Items that date directly to the movement’s most active years (1890–1917) are considered museum-worthy with values in the thousands; later pieces, such as buttons and pins, are probably worth much less.
G.I. Joe circa 1964
G.I. Joe was the original action man; we know most of you had one as a kid. This toy is not totally phased out, though, and today's versions probably even have better gadgets than what he had back then.
The original action man, G.I. Joe, has had many different incarnations and appearances over the years. Still, it’s his original 1964 version that is worth the most money. If you (or your grandparents) have one of these in the attic, you could be looking at a cool $10,000. That is, if it’s in mint condition and unopened.
Vintage Magazines
Hoarders rejoice: old issues of magazines can be worth mucho moolah! Yes, it's true, the magazines that showed up at your door, whether or not you wanted them, could pad your wallet in a surprising way. Ordinary copies that went for a dollar back in the day now might be worth anywhere between $20 and $30. Rarer issues, however, have been appreciated in an incredible way.
A copy of Beeton's Christmas Annual 1887 went for a whopping $156,000 during an auction in 2007. Designers love to use these old issues for inspiration, which has been part of the reason the mag market has gone so bullish.
Vintage Advertising Signs
These huge signs were the pop-up ads of the past, advertising new products, services, sales, and deals. They'd hang in bars, in restaurants, in gas stations, and alongside the road. Physical ads might be a little bit retro compared to ads on Twitter or Instagram, but those packets of data will never be worth this much.
An old AAA Root Beer advertisement sold on eBay for over $1,200, and a vintage Coca-Cola flew past that, going for $117,000. Retro signs for beers such as Pabst and Old Milwaukee can also reach four figures. Back to the garage!
Perfume bottles
There are plenty of ways to make sure you get the best bang for your bottle, as shown on Dr. Lori's Youtube channel. A 1940s bottle with its full stopper and good design could get you up to $75, while a 1960s crystal bottle might get you $25 to $35 dollars, as long as it's real crystal. Real crystal has lead in it, so it will be heavy and clear.
Real early twentieth-century bottles are worth a whole lot more – a Rene Lalique bottle went for $80,000 recently. Be sure to pay attention to the brands of those old bottles.