Remember the shoebox of records, the action figures lined up on the dresser and the lunch box you carried every morning? If your parents saved a few of them, or if they are still in the back of a closet, they might be worth a second look. Collectors have driven up prices on many items from the sixties, seventies and eighties, though most ordinary toys and records are worth little. Condition, packaging and the exact version decide nearly everything. Here are eight things to look for, with figures reported by auction houses, magazines and collector guides. These are examples, not promises, and your item may bring far less.
1. The Beatles Butcher Cover Album
The most famous record cover controversy of the sixties still makes headlines. Paul Fraser Collectibles reported that a sealed, first state copy of the Beatles album Yesterday and Today sold for $125,000 at Heritage Auctions in February 2016. The first state cover carries the original photo by Robert Whittaker, which was never meant to be an album cover. Most copies were issued with a pasted on generic cover after DJs and journalists objected, so very few of the originals stayed sealed. Wealthy Single Mommy on AOL put a clean, unplayed first state copy at a few thousand to over $10,000, so values range widely. Have any suspected copy checked by a specialist.
2. Rock Albums With First Pressings
You don’t need a Beatles rarity to have a valuable record. A list from Wealthy Single Mommy on AOL put a Led Zeppelin I UK first pressing with turquoise lettering at $1,000 to $2,500, against $200 to $400 for the standard orange UK first pressing. It listed Led Zeppelin II, a US pressing known as the RL hot mix, at $1,000 to $1,650 in good condition with the original shrink wrap. The article warns that counterfeits are common, and that condition and sleeve integrity matter a great deal. Check the label, the country of origin and the matrix numbers etched near the center of the record, and store records upright and away from heat.
3. Original Star Wars Action Figures
The first Kenner figures from 1977 and 1978 have long been a favorite of collectors. Jake Rossen wrote in Mental Floss in June 2025 that a carded Darth Vader with a double telescoping lightsaber sold at auction for $130,095, and that a carded Boba Fett sold for $4,551 on eBay. The big money, he stressed, goes to figures still on their original cards. Basic loose figures missing their weapons and out of the package are generally worth about $10 to $50, the article says. Even some loose figures can bring more, such as a loose double telescoping Luke Skywalker that sold for $3,500. Don’t peel or open any card you still have, and keep the figure with its accessories.
4. Hot Wheels Redlines
The little cars with red stripes on the tires, made from 1968 to 1977, are a mainstay of collectors. Muncle Mike’s says true Redlines have translucent metallic paint, while later enamels are flat and opaque, and it notes that unrestored, original cars are the gold standard. SlashGear reports some extreme rarities: a pink rear loading 1969 Beach Bomb prototype listed at $175,000, and a 1968 Over Chrome Camaro in lime green at $25,000, though only a handful of these exist. Everyday cars are worth far less. A different guide on Champagne and Coffee Stains put a few 1968 models at $3,000 to $5,000, based on eBay prices. Look at the paint, wheels and base before you toss a box.
5. Metal Lunch Boxes
That tin lunch box that went to school with you may be a prize. Holly Tishfield wrote in Tasting Table in October 2025 that a 1954 Superman metal box could bring $1,000 to $16,000 in regular resale, with one selling for nearly $12,000 at auction in 2010. A 1965 Munsters box was listed at $1,000 to $2,500 and a 1966 Beatles box at $500 to $1,500, and boxes for shows like Star Trek or The Jetsons can be worth hundreds. Small scrapes from use are acceptable, but major dents lower the price. A matching Thermos raises the value again. Keep the thermos with the box. Look for the original artwork and the latch, and keep it out of damp basements where rust can set in.
6. First Edition Pokemon Cards
Not every collectible is from the sixties. Kele Johnson, editor of Kovels Antique Trader Magazine, noted in Antique Trader that a rare Pokemon card sold for $840,000 at a Heritage Auctions sale in June 2022. That is a top of the market example. A more everyday guide on Champagne and Coffee Stains put first edition cards such as the Red Card Holo Charizard at $7,000 to $20,000, based on eBay listings, and the article does not say whether those were asking prices or completed sales. Most cards from a binder are worth little, so look for first edition stamps, holographic cards and any in sharp condition. Store any cards you keep in sleeves, away from sunlight and moisture.
7. Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots
The two red and blue boxers who punched each other across your living room floor are back in demand. Champagne and Coffee Stains reported that a well preserved Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots set is valued at $200 to $1,000, higher if the robots are near mint with all the accessories. Those are prices sourced from eBay, the article says, and they can look different for different sellers. Check that the robots, the ring and the controls are all there, and that nothing is cracked or yellowed. Complete sets with the original box tend to be the most desirable, so keep the box if you have it. Photograph all the parts together before you ask a price.
8. The Original Game Boy
Finally, the gray handheld from 1989 turned up in plenty of kids’ stockings. Champagne and Coffee Stains reported that a mint original Game Boy can be worth $150 to $500, and that units with original packaging have been listed at up to $8,500, again based on eBay prices. A scratched console with a dead screen will bring much less. Test it with fresh batteries, and keep the cartridges together, since some games bring more than the console. Before you list one, check completed sales for the exact model, because asking prices can run far ahead of what buyers actually pay. Photograph the label on the back that shows the model number.
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