5 thrift store items to not skip

Vintage “Costume” Jewelry

Our next step was to research a little and see if we could find any info about their designer or origin. We knew she had gotten them from her grandmother and guessed at the age.

Old lamps

While this one may seem like a this is common knowledge, it’s actually more likely that you have skipped over a potentially great find! Most of us know to check out old baseball cards or even some playing cards! In this case, they just so happen to be tarot cards. Rare ones at that! On one of my many visits I happen to stumble across a small clear box with cards inside. I didn’t think much of it, but decided to purchase them on a whim because the art on them was beautiful!

Yes that ugly old dresser might actually be worth some serious $$! Wooden furniture has become increasingly popular in recent years, one because you can paint it or make it your own and, two so much furniture made today is junk! Today you go to the store and everything is basically thick cardboard or particle board. A lot of Older vintage furniture is made of solid wood which means it’s sturdy and it’s potential is endless. I already check the furniture section for little gems! Here is a little tip for those who don’t know, check the insides of drawers(usually the top), cabinets, and the backside for a makers mark. Quality pieces will usually always have a mark that is Burned into the wood like a brand.

This particular set turned out to be a highly sought after collectible from 1986 called The Mythic Tarot. They are hard to find in this condition but this set sold for $150! That my friends was $4 well spent!

Playing Cards and Other Novelty Cards

Books and Boardgames

Wooden Furniture

I do a fair share of thrift shopping each week. I mostly go in looking for cheap crafting supplies and furniture I can bring life back into. I quickly learned when the best days to go are and what sections to look in for items you may have not noticed. Some of these can be revamped or simply resold as is, and for a pretty penny at that! So that leads me to number five in the count down!

Believe it or not this is one of the more common items I find, and also usually the most valuable! I mean when was the last time you went digging on your knees through a pile of lamps in a Goodwill? Yesterday? Me too!! Seriously though, lamps get donated all the time and people have no idea their worth. I found a trophy style Rembrandt in my local thrift store that was valued over $500! I paid $6, and yes they actually sell! People love lamps and some collect name brand lamps. Always check for a mark or sticker.

Ok so this one is technically two different items... just think of the second as a bonus hidden treasure. You would be surprised at the value of some older books if they are first edition and depending on who wrote them, you could potentially find a mini gold mine. I always peek at the older books. Always check the inside cover to look for a year, author, illustrator if applicable, and the publisher. Sometimes where they are published and in what year is the key that sets them apart. Also if you find a cool vintage book that isn’t necessarily worth much you can always use them for DIY projects! They are great for junk journals and smash books! Board games most of us know have the potential to be valuable, but what about old chess boards specifically? They can be pretty big bucks and recently we purchased one for $4, then my boyfriend set it into a wooden table he made for it. That table sold for over $400! People still love chess and collectors are willing to pay to play! Ok so we went over the few hidden treasures to not pass up, and it’s not always about how much you can sell it for or it’s worth. Sometimes it’s what you can make or turn it into that is the most rewarding! Run along now and hit the thrift store on the way! You might be surprised what you find.

Next time you hit the thrift store or flea market, do skip the jewelry cases! While a large quantity of vintage jewelry is not made of precious jewels, or solid gold; a surprising amount of it can fetch a pretty penny. Back when these types of jewelry first started to make its debut, jewelry was made of glass or polished rocks and different types of metal. This is mostly how these pieces got their nickname “costume jewelry” Recently I was helping my mom go through so things and we came across a three piece matching set commonly referred to as bride or wedding sets. I remember after seeing it that my mom has always had them as long as I could remember.

What we found is that to much of our amazement, pieces like these can fetch a couple hundred bucks. Complete sets sell for even more than that! I suddenly thought back to all the times I had seen jewelry exactly like this while thrift shopping! So next time make sure you stop by and peek those old jewelry piles! Who knows what treasures may be buried!

Top 5 Hidden Treasures