Old Toys With Insane Value - The Delite

Old Toys With Insane Value



Planning to Marie Kondo your basement or your attic? Don’t be too hasty to relegate old playthings to the trash or your local Goodwill store. The cheapest of toys — and even random pieces of plastic you got free with a burger and fries — can be worth significant sums today.

If you have any of these old toys, you could be in for a boost to your bank account.

Easy-Bake Oven: $120-$300


Introduced in 1963, the Easy-Bake Oven was a toy, but you could actually bake something in it without help from your parents. No wonder it was so popular! This cute little oven came in pretty pastels and was on the top of many children’s Christmas lists. AOL reported in 2017 that an original still in its box had netted $300, but that seems to be on the high end of what you can get today. However, there’s a 1964 original Kenner Easy-Bake Oven in that classic turquoise color without the box on eBay now for $120.

Nintendo Game Boy: $1,500


The Nintendo Game Boy was launched in 1989, creating a market for portable hand-held gaming devices. Back then, it retailed at $89.99, but if you sell an original today, it could go for much more, and limited edition models are the most valuable. Nowadays, for collectors, the average price for an original Game Boy is $1,500. However, the price can go even higher. A mint-condition original Nintendo Game Boy in its sealed box just went for $2,052.45 on eBay. PricingCharting values an unused Pokémon Special Edition Gameboy Color System from 1992 at $799.99, but the “loose” price (because you probably did use your Game Boy) value is just $50.

Pez Dispenser: $32,205


Millions of Pez dispensers have been sold throughout the world, and this mass-market kids’ item certainly isn’t exclusive. But some designs are rarer than others, and the right one could be worth thousands. The Astronaut B — which was created for the 1982 World’s Fair, though only two were made — is often cited as the most valuable of the collectable Pez dispensers; it sold on eBay for $32,205 in 2006. One current eBay seller is asking $2,200 as the starting bid for a Snow White Pez dispenser still in its packaging. But people are also selling entire collections for $20.

Hot Wheels: $3,000-$125,000


The most valuable Hot Wheels car of all time was only a prototype: a pink, rear-loading Volkswagen Beach Bomb that didn’t make it to market. It sold for a staggering $125,000 at auction in 2011, but it’s not the only valuable Hot Wheels. According to Hot Wheels collector, historian and appraiser Mike Zarnock, a 1968 Cheetah  Base Python with “Cheetah” on the base could be worth about $12,500. Meanwhile, collectors and sellers Brian and Anna have about a dozen rare Hot Wheels listed on their site for several thousand dollars right now.

Furby: $365-$900


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You can pick up a 2019 Furby on Amazon for $64.99, but a rare type of Furby in its original packaging could bring in a few hundred bucks. In early 2019, a “Rare New Kid Cuisine” Furby sold for $450 on eBay, and a “1998 Original Furby Tiger” went for $365, even though it was in used condition. In general, though, brand new Furbys in sealed boxes fetch the most cash, says reselling site The Family Pickers.

Monopoly: $146,500


Monopoly is big business — and we’re not just talking about building hotels on Park Place. A hand-drawn, painted version of the game, made by the inventor Charles Darrow in 1933, sold at auction for $146,500 in 2010. Other vintage versions have sold at Sotheby’s for over $3,000. However, you have to have something special to land that kind of cash: the average worn original Monopoly game isn’t likely to net you more than $20. Some special editions, like this South Park-themed Monopoly, could go for $50-$100, though.

Garbage Pail Kids: $3,624


Garbage Pail Kids, the hugely popular collectible cards schoolkids were obsessed with in the 1980s (when they weren’t banned, that is), have sold for thousands. They were discontinued in 1988 due to declining sales, but remain sought-after collector’s items. The rare “Adam Bomb” card just sold for $3,624 on eBay, and various complete sets can bring in three-figure sums.

1978 Luke Skywalker: $25,000


Only 20 1978 Luke Skywalker figurines with double-telescoping light sabers exist in the world, so it’s no wonder they’re worth megabucks. The double-telescoping light saber is so rare because they broke easily, so Kenner pulled production on them. One of these dolls sold for $25,000 at a Sotheby’s Star Wars auction in 2015. CNN reported that the figurine, which was in its original packaging, had been expected to fetch $12,000. That’s still a lot! Some sellers claim to have these for sale today for much less, but as Vintage Action Figures warns, there are fakes out there, so buyers should beware.

Boba Fett Action Figure: $185,850


Of course, Boba Fett toys are worth quite the pretty penny as well. Some say that Boba Fett actually sold the most toys in the Star Wars franchise. The original action figure is worth as much as $5,000. However, if you’re still looking for a little bit more cash, one of the most recent figures sold was worth $185,000.

Stadium Events Nintendo Game: $25,000-$42,000


Collectors will pay significant amounts for old Nintendo game cartridges — even more if they’re unopened. The 1987 Bandai release Stadium Events, a sports game, has a high value because it was pulled a year after release when the game and its name were changed. In 2017, a brand new game in an unopened box sold for almost $42,000, according to The Gamer. Need one for your collection? There’s one on sale on eBay right now for $25,000.

1938 Action Comics No. 1: $300,000-$3,200,000


The most expensive comic book in history is the June 1938 Action Comics No. 1, which had a print run of less than 50. A copy sold on eBay in 2014 for a staggering $3.2 million after the seller set a starting bid of 99 cents, CNET reported. The fact that it contains the first-ever appearance of Superman no doubt adds to its impressive value. It’s not the only comic book that has sold for more than a million bucks, and there are others that have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to Sell My Comic Books.

Comic Books: $15,000-$2,200,000


Of course, it’s not just the first Superman comic that’s worth a lot of money. The most expensive ones are from the Golden Age, when comics first became popular. One in mint condition can be sold for a minimum of $15,000. But the rarest comics can be sold for as high as $2.2 million.

Vintage Legos: $1,000-$2,000


Old Legos can be super valuable, but we’re not talking about a random collection of bricks in a box in the loft. To reap the big rewards, you need to have a discontinued set in its original packaging with no missing pieces. For example, if you’re lucky enough to have the Lego H.C. Anderson’s Clumsy Hans — a limited-edition set handed out to around 80 Lego ambassadors in 2015 — you could probably sell it for up to $2,000, says Lego valuation site Rebrickable. Another example: #10179 Ultimate Collector’s Series Millennium Falcon sets are selling for more than $1,000 right now.

Strawberry Shortcake Dolls: $370-$1,200


Produced during the 1980s, Strawberry Shortcake dolls still have a large fan base today. One of these dolls in its original box or casing can sell for hundreds of dollars. In 2019, a vintage Strawberry Shortcake Banana Twirl doll fetched $370 on eBay, but most dolls aren’t worth nearly that much.

American Girl Molly: $1,200


The original American Girl doll Molly McIntire, a patriotic child who grew up during World War II, was released in 1986, retired in 2013 and re-released in 2018. In 2018, Today reported that a Molly McIntire had sold on eBay for $1,200. If you’re lucky enough to have one from 1986, you should know that the ones that are worth that much are a collector’s edition — but the regular editions are still selling for more than $200 on eBay right now. Other discontinued American Girl dolls, like Samantha Parkington and Kanani Akina, are also incredibly valuable.

Atari 2600 Air Raid: $31,600-$33,433


Don’t let old Atari 2600 games gather dust in the basement — they could boost your bank balance in a major way. Air Raid is the most valuable: a copy of the game sold for $31,600 in 2010, and a boxed version that included an instruction manual sold for $33,433 in 2012 — a father-daughter duo found it in the family’s storage, and the daughter used her share of the game’s sale to buy a house. This game is so rare (the number of known copies is only a dozen, and only 20 copies were made) that it fetches huge amounts even without its box.

Atari Games: $5,000-$30,000


Air Raid isn’t the only unpopular game from Atari worth a ton now. Almost every Atari game is worth thousands of dollars. For just a cartridge in good condition, you can get $5,000. But if it’s in the original box, you can get up to $30,000.

1980s Transformers: $2,000-$25,000


It’s a lot to expect a kid to keep a toy in the packaging and put it away for safekeeping, but if you did this with a Transformer in the 1980s, it was a sensible move. This Hasbro line is one of the most successful franchises in toy history, both in terms of ongoing popularity and financial worth. CBR.com reported that an Optimus Prime action figure in its unopened box sold for over $12,000 in 2017, while a graded mint-condition, sealed-in-box Computron went for more than $5,000. An Air Guardian Jetfire toy is actually worth as much as $25,000.

Cabbage Patch Kids: $2,000-$3,000


The waitlist for Cabbage Patch Kids, created by Xavier Roberts, was long when they burst onto the toy scene in the 1980s. The most valuable doll is a James Dudley from 1985, which was listed for $3,000 on eBay in 2017, and a doll from 1985 sold for $2,000 earlier this year. You’ll need the original papers and accessories to get the best price out of a Cabbage Patch Kid from the 1980s, of course. But if you bought one of the limited edition Cabbage Patch Kids released to commemorate the collection’s 25th anniversary in 2018, you might want to hold onto it — and look after it — for 20 years or so. 

1960s G.I. Joe: $200,000


Hasbro’s G.I. Joe was first released in 1964 and quickly became a favorite among kids. In 2003, a prototype figure fetched $200,000 at auction in 2003, but other mass-produced items have also sold for large amounts: The Missile Command Center sold for $17,500. Most old Joe dolls don’t net quite so much, but depending on what you have, a rare one could be worth for anywhere from several hundred dollars to several thousand, The Gamer reported earlier this year. 

1980s G.I. Joe Snake Eyes: $2,100


Speaking of the older Joes, it shouldn’t be too surprising that one of the Joe’s most popular characters is worth a lot of money. The version 2 Snakes Eyes toy is worth $2,100.

Pogs: $2,500-$1 Million


Who’d have thought cardboard milk caps with pictures on them could create such hype? Pogs were a toy craze in the 1980s, and you could be sitting on a goldmine if you have rare sets. The full six-piece holographic Jurassic Park set, complete with slammer, sold for $1 million in 2016. A Jurassic Park set of 54 pogs without the slammer and hologram are currently on eBay for $2,500

Disney VHS Tapes: $500-$40,000


VHS tapes are like old comic books: the old and rare ones are always worth a ton of money. The Black Diamond VHS tapes for classic Disney films are especially expensive, ranging from around $500 to as high as $40,000. It all just depends on the condition of the tape.

Sky Dancers: $199


Large quantities of Sky Dancers were recalled for being dangerous, which is hardly surprising considering they are designed to fly out of your hands when you yank their string. But if you threw caution to the wind and held onto yours, you could sell it for a lot more than its original retail value of around $10. In June 2019, a set of two Sky Dancers (Dazzle and Lacey) sold on eBay for $199

Polly Pockets: $500-$1,000


Despite her small stature, Polly Pocket made a big impression in the 1980s and 1990s. If you’ve managed to hold onto every single tiny little piece (which is easier said than done) you could cash in. A Sparkle Surprise set sold on eBay for $500, and a large Polly Pocket “compact lot” is currently going for $900 on eBay. People have paid over $1,000 for complete sets in recent years.

Webkinz: $1,799


Webkinz — plush toys with a digital component— are fairly new, but they already have an avid collector base. A retired Cheeky Dog Webkinz sold on eBay for $1,799 way back in 2007, Reuters reported, which inspired other sellers to start the bidding at four figures. And the demand has grown: Right now, an eBayer is asking for $1,736.70 for a brand-new Webkinz Cocker Spaniel Dog.

Toy Story Toys: $300-$500


Fans of the first Toy Story movie couldn’t wait to get their hands on their very own Buzz Lightyear or Woody. If you have an original Buzz figurine in pristine condition, you might be lucky enough to get more than $500 for it. In 2016, baddie Stinky Pete came with the highest price tag — around $700 – on eBay. One seller has a ’95 Woody still in the box on eBay for $299 right now.

Original Tamagotchi: $40-$2,000


Anyone who grew up in the ’90s knows that there was only one pet worth having, and it was of the digital kind. The Tamagotchi made a recent comeback — even Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom wore them to the 2016 Met Gala — but an original in its box that will make you some serious cash; in 2017 OK! reported that some rare Tamagotchi were going on eBay for more than $3,000. Right now, eBay has sellers offering 1996 Tamagotchi from around $40 all the way up to $2,000.

McDonald’s Happy Meal Toys: $50-$450


McDonald’s Happy Meal toys, the fast-food giant’s secret weapon against parents, may come free with your lunch, but they can end up being pretty valuable. According to a 2018 story at LoveAntiques, one of the most lucrative is the Ty’s Teenie Beanie Boos from 2000, which could earn you $450 for a complete set. Meanwhile, the Clone Wars Happy Meal Box from 2008 (yes, just the box) is valued at $50.

1959 Barbie: $302,500


We’ve seen hundreds of iterations of Barbie over the last 60 years, and some of them are worth a pretty penny. The most expensive Barbie of all time is the Stefano Canturi Barbie, a special edition designed by Australia jewelry designer Canturi for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Her diamond necklace was worth $300,000 alone, and she sold at auction in 2010 for $302,500.

Stretch Armstrong: $10,000


Stretch Armstrong was an interesting toy when it was first created. Being made from a latex rubber filled with gel made it more malleable than the plastic or wooden toys on the market. However, that gel hardens over time, making the toy more “standard”. As such, the toy goes for as much as $10,000 in the modern market.

Mario Kart 64: $3,000


The second game in the Mario Kart franchise, this game is fan favorite and fondly remembered. Used, you could sell the full game for somewhere between $75 and $115. However, if the game had never even been opened, the price at that point can enter triple digits. Some factory-sealed copies can go for anywhere upwards of $3,000.

Lite Brite: $300


Lite Brites are still being manufactured today, but the older ones have that nostalgia power. A simple board with lights you stick into it can be resold for $300 if it’s one of the originals.

Pokémon Cards: $1,600-$16,000


Pokémon cards can go for a crazy amount of cards in the modern market. Of course, rarity is a major factor to determine price, as well as their current condition. But if they’ve never been taken out of the pack, especially older cards, then that’s where the real money comes in.

Beanie Babies: $12,000


The joke that Beanie Babies would never become worth anything is apparently a bold-faced lie. Some of the rarer, first edition Beanie Babies can go for hundreds to thousands of dollars. One made in 1997 went for $12,000.

Tamagotchi: $3,000


The original virtual pet is still available today, but the older models are the ones worth the big bucks. Those can be sold for thousands of dollars in good enough condition, but the most expensive ones are the white and red ones, which can sell for around $3,000.

Super Soakers: $1,000


A vintage super soaker can go for a lot of money nowadays. It was a pretty popular water gun line back in the day, and still is today. Those vintage soakers though can go for $1,000 if they’re in good enough condition.

Jurassic Park Figures: $1,500


Did you know that there were toys made based around Jurassic Park? Probably not, and that’s why they’re so rare. It can be difficult finding a full set of the dinosaurs, which can go for $1,500.

Skeletor Action Figures: $1,500


If you don’t know who Skeletor is, he’s the main antagonist of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. A mint condition version of his action figure from 1982 will sell for $1,500.

Masters of the Universe The Towers of Eternia Playset: $3,000


This was one of those playsets kids wanted for all of their toys belonging to specific toy line to play with. It was pricy, even back when it was first created, so the product didn’t fly off the shelves. Now, a much rarer product, the price has gone up even more. If you find a copy in its original box, it’ll be worth an easy $3,000.

She-Ra Toys: $75-$375


It’s not just the Masters of the Universe toys that were incredibly popular. Their sister series, She-Ra: Princess of Power, also had a huge amount of popularity. Their toys sold pretty well too, but the older toys can be resold for even more cash now. A used toy can still get you about $75, but one in much better condition can get you around $375.

Sega Genesis: $2,000


The Sega Genesis wasn’t a particularly popular console, which already ups its rarity. And if you bought the console and actually enjoyed it, chances are its suffered a lot of degradation. Collectors have a lost of interest in the console, so one in good condition can go for $2,000.

Push Cart Pete: $3,000


Here’s another one that’s rarity comes from a lack of knowledge or popularity. This Fisher Price toy was made around 1936. All of these toys can sell for a pretty penny, but the best ones are, of course, in mint condition. Those ones can sell for as much as $3,000.

Pound Puppies: $5,000


These toys were insanely popular when they were created, generating hundreds of millions of dollars worth of revenue in the 90s when they were most popular. You can still make a lot of money off of a mint condition Pound Puppy now. If they’re still in the box, you can get $5,000 for your Pound Puppy.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Figures: $600-$5000


There’s a wide variety of these toys from the later 80s and 90s due to TMNT’s extreme popularity. One figure in good condition in original packaging can be sold for $600. A rare one though can be sold for as much as $5,000.

Vinyl Caped Jawa: $15,000


Star Wars has always been a franchise with a lot of merchandise surrounding it. And these vinyl Jawas have become worth quite a lot because of how rare they are. Ironically, they were switched from vinyl to cloth because of how cheep their cloaks seemed to be. Now one of these are worth $15,000.

Trailblazer Train Set: $250,000


Making model train sets is a very niche and expensive hobby. It shouldn’t be too surprising, as a Trailblazer train set is worth $250,000.

Talkboy: $170-$200


This item was actually invented for the film Home Alone. It was actually just a cassette tape recorder and was later sold as an actual retail item. However, it was’t super popular and didn’t sell well. It’s rather rare, so someone can sell their Talkboy for $170-$200.

First Edition Of Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone: $40,00-$55,000


For those that are a little confused, the bestselling novel was called Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the UK and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in America. And it’s a copy of that UK edition that people are clamoring for. It’s incredibly difficult to find a mint-condition copy, which is probably why it’s valued as much as $40,000 t0 $55,000.

First Edition Of Where The Wild Things Are: $10,000-$25,000


Another children’s book, this one’s in a much shorter form. A very popular short story (that was even adapted into a movie), collector’s are incredibly interested in getting their hands on a copy of this book’s first edition. A first edition copy of Where the Wild Things Are can go for $10,000 on the low end. A first edition copy signed by the author, Maurice Sendak, sold for $25,000.

Teddy Ruxpin: $400


The storytelling bear was an interesting idea, but it quickly lost traction. However, as soon as people started putting Teddy Ruxpin down was when he started gaining value. Now, if you want to buy one, you’ll be down $400, if you’re getting an original that is.

Magic: The Gathering Cards: $100-$35,000


Magic: The Gathering has become a rather popular card game since it was introduced in 1993. If there are any particular cards you want to get though, you should be prepared to spend and exorbitant amount of money. Rarer cards can cost around $100. However, the obsolete peak or rarity sells between $20,000 and $35,000.

Funko Pops: $3,020-$13,000


Funko Pop figures are a more recent invention, but they act a lot more like collectibles than actual toys. Some rarer Funk Pop figures can get sold for a pretty penny. The holographic Darth Maul that was only given away at Comic Con in 2012 has an estimated value of $3,020. Meanwhile, the most valuable figure is the glow-in-the-dark Alex DeLarge from A Clockwork Orange. That has a price tag of $13,000.

Jem And the Holograms Dolls: $200-$700


While Jem couldn’t remove Barbie from the number 1 spot in her niche, she certainly became a hit toy of her own during her time. Now, if you’ve held on to your doll for all these years, you can sell it for a good amount. Depending on quality, you can sell it for $200-$700.

Rainbow Brite Dolls: $300-$1,000


These toys have actually been rebooted a few times over the years. However, it’s the vintage toys that are worth money. You can get between $300 to $1,000 per doll, depending on its condition. The accessories can be worth a pretty penny as well.

Colorforms: $250-$400


Colorforms were a set of brightly colored pieces bound in a notebook. You could then take the pieces out and place them in the notebook in any order. The reason why this toy is so expensive now is because it’s next to impossible to find a complete set. That’s why a vintage one goes anywhere between $250 to $400.

Playmobil: $200-$1,000


Remember Playmobil? They had a movie a few years back. It wasn’t quite as popular as LEGO was, and still is, but that only really adds to how expensive some of these Playmobil sets can get. Some sets, such as the Knight’s Castle, can go for $200. Others, such as the Victorian Dollhouse can go for $1,000.

Vintage Lunchboxes: $1,300


Of course, not just toys and playsets are worth a lot of money, but so are regular objects. Kid’s lunchboxes from back in the day can be worth a lot of cash too. The 1968 Yellow Submarine lunchbox is worth $1,300. The thermos by itself is worth $350.

Stefano Canturi Barbie – $302,500


Barbies are known to be incredibly expensive the more vintage they are. But this Barbie doll was the most expensive of them all. That’s just what happens when Stefano Canturi, Moulin Rouge designer,  makes a Barbie. Although, most the money comes from the fact that the Barbie’s necklace is made using rare, pink, one caret diamonds.