Terry Kovel
Terry Kovel, author of more than 100 books about collecting, including Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide 2023, the 55th edition. Her nationally syndicated newspaper column appears in more than 150 newspapers. Kovels.com
Antique and collectible prices finally are rebounding from the recession, improving the odds that garage sale finds can be flipped for a profit. Below are six often-overlooked garage sale items that are increasing in value.
Helpful: If you’re not sure what an item looks like, do an online search for it and the year.
Example: A child’s handkerchief from the 1970s featuring the picture of a comic duck sells for $18.
Similar: Scarves from designers such as Hermès or Marimekko may be sold for very little at garage sales but can be worth hundreds, particularly if the pattern is rare and beautiful.
Example: 1960s mahogany library steps by Kittinger brings around $300.
Example: A Peter Max poster from 1968 called “Love” sells for $316.
Example: A Fisher-Price Doggy Racer with no plastic parts, in excellent condition, brings $390.
Also, keep an eye out for Fisher-Price “Little People” from the 1980s or earlier. In excellent condition, they can bring $2 each…wooden ones $5 or more. You sometimes find bags containing dozens of them at garage sales for $1 or so.
Look closely at the bottom of any stylish, well-made glass item you find in garage sales—these makers usually etch their names into their products but generally in extremely tiny, easy-to-miss print.
Example: A rare five-inch-by-eight-inch sculpture of a head by Kosta sold for $5,625 to a serious collector.
Decorative garden items. Bird feeders, birdhouses, fountains and iron garden sets have become increasingly more valuable.
Example: A vintage set of garden chairs can bring $500 to $1,000.
Helpful: People who have garage sales sometimes forget to include yard items—they just stock their sale with stuff from their attics and basements. Take a peek into the backyard. If you see a nice garden item, ask if it’s for sale, too.