How much is it worth?
A guide to the object in your hand: the marks, the condition, and the places that kind of thing sells. These pages do not quote a current price. Markets move, and a number with no object under it is a guess.Thrifting is the aisle. The journal is the method. This is the catalogue.
Kitchenware
- Pyrex Butterprint bowlThe white-on-blue Amish scene. The lid, the size, and a clean print do more than the word Pyrex.
- Pyrex Gooseberry casserolePink gooseberries on opal glass. The 2-quart with its lid is the piece people hunt. The print fades.
- Pyrex primary colors mixing bowlFour solid colors, oldest and most copied in conversation. One yellow 403 is not a set.
- CorningWare Spice of LifeThe corn, the peppers, the herbs. Common, useful, and only sometimes worth more than a new baker.
- Fiesta pitcherThe disc pitcher is the silhouette. The mark, the color, and a crack at the handle decide the rest.
- Fire-King jadeite bowlPale green, thick, and often a restaurant bowl. The mark and the rim tell you which market you are in.
- Le Creuset Dutch ovenA used Dutch oven is worth it when the enamel is intact. The size number is on the bottom, not in the lid knob.
- Griswold cast iron skilletErie, Pennsylvania, and a number on the handle. Pitting and a wobble matter more than a dark patina.
Clothing and bags
- Levi’s 501 jeansRead the tab, the inside stamp, and the care label. Big E is a specific mark, not a vibe.
- Carhartt Detroit jacketBlanket-lined, waist length, and a label that says Detroit or J01. Stains and a broken zipper are the price.
- Vintage band T-shirtSingle stitch and a year on the print can matter. A cracked reprint is still a reprint.
- Coach leather bagGlove-tanned leather and a creed patch. Cracks at the corners and a replaced strap are the condition.
- Patagonia Synchilla fleeceA snap-T is a specific fleece. Pilling and a missing snap matter more than the mountain logo.
- L.L.Bean field coatCanvas, a game pocket, and a label. A dry-rot liner is the flaw that ends the coat.
Jewelry and silver
- Sterling silver flatwareLook for the word sterling or 925. A monogram and a weighted handle are the usual surprises.
- Karat gold jewelryRead the stamp in the clasp. 14k is a claim about the metal. The stone is a separate question.
- Gold-filled jewelry1/20 12k GF is a sentence, not a karat. The base metal is the weight. The gold is the skin.
- Vintage costume broochA signature on the back is the search. Unsigned sparkle is usually just sparkle.
Books, records and games
- Little Golden BookA gold spine is not a first edition. Look at the last page, the cover, and whether anyone drew in it.
- Book club editionSmaller boards, a blind stamp, and “Book Club” on the jacket. Read those before you pay a first-edition price.
- Beatles vinyl LPLabel, catalog number, and runout. A worn later pressing is a used record. Play-grade it before you call it rare.
- Motown 45The number on the label is the pressing. A hit record in a paper sleeve is usually a common used single.
- NES cartridgeLabel, five screws, and a game that boots. The common sports carts are not the rare RPGs. Look at the title.
- Game Boy cartridgeA dead save battery is normal on a 30-year-old cart. A fake Pokémon board is also common. Open the expensive ones.
- Nintendo 64 cartridgeRead the title. A gray cart is the format. The plastic color variants are a separate, specific claim.
Tools
- Stanley Bailey planeThe number is on the body. A complete iron and a sole that is not twisted matter more than shiny japanning.
- Craftsman hand toolA raised USA mark is a clue. A full set in a drawer is the find. One rusty combination wrench is a wrench.
- Vintage sewing machineRead the model on the bed. A black Singer 66 is not a rare toy machine. Test the stitch before you rent a truck.
Collectibles
- Hot Wheels RedlineLook at the wheel, then the base name. A worn common casting is a toy. A mint rare one is a different search.
- Kenner Star Wars figureCOO mark on the leg, weapon, and paint. A carded figure is the card. A loose figure is the figure.
- Vintage Barbie dollRead the marks on the hip and the back. A haircut and a repaint are the condition. The dress might be from a different doll.
- Beanie BabyRead the hang tag and the tush tag. Then assume it is common until a specific variant says otherwise.
- Hummel figurineTurn it over. The trademark and the model number are the identification. A chip at the base is the condition.
- Roseville potteryLook for the Roseville mark and the shape number. A common floral in a common color is the thrift vase. A crack is the end of the premium.
- Depression glass plateLearn one pattern and one color. A chipped rim is the default. A rare color is a claim you have to earn.
- LEGO setThe set number is on the box. A sealed box and a used build are different products. Count the minifigures if it is open.
- Fountain penRead the barrel and look at the nib with a loupe. A pen that will not fill is untested. A sprung nib is damage.
- Vintage board gameOpen the box and count. The lid is the art. The price is the pieces, the cards, and a box that still closes.
- Vintage baseball gloveRead the stamp in the wrist. A dry, cracked palm is a wall glove. A supple glove is the one someone can still play.
Cameras and machines
- Polaroid SX-70It has to fold, eject, and meter. Film you can buy today is part of the decision, and the camera still has to work.
- Manual typewriterType a sentence. A pretty round key and a frozen escapement are not the same machine.
- Vintage SLR cameraFire the shutter at several speeds. Look through the lens at a light. A pretty Nikon F body with a hazy lens is a parts story.