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There are typically two main reasons people hold onto collectible items: They’re either valuable or they’re cherished. And if you’re in the process of decluttering your home, you might find yourself at a crossroads when it comes time to purge these valuable items.
Opting to keep hot collectibles in storage is usually a gamble that will pay off, especially if you’re not ready to sell. But what is the best way to store these items in the meantime?
The most popular collectible items can change as quickly as the seasons, but a handful of items will always be worth storing with care. From antique, period-specific furniture pieces to the out-of-cycle currency from another time, these objects often have a sort of timeless merit. In fact, some of the most popular collectibles have maintained or even increased in value over the years. (And will continue to do so!)
The 10 Most Popular Collectible Items (That Could Be Highly Valuable!)
In this guide, we’ve rounded up a handful of the most sought-after items in the world. If you own any of the following, take the time to read through the coinciding storage guides, where you’ll learn the proper methods for collectible storage to keep your treasures in tip-top shape for years to come.
1. Antique Furniture
Antique pieces of furniture are tricky since they can either be worth a ton of money or considered by experts as virtually worthless. The problem is that it’s almost impossible to tell to the untrained eye. Antique furniture is both functional and, in most cases, very well made, which makes it highly collectible. Even if you’re not a collector, once you know what your antique furniture is worth, you’ll be able to gauge better whether or not you want to keep it in storage.
Read: How to Store Antique Furniture
2. Vinyl Records
All of your favorite records of decades past aren’t just collecting dust in storage— they’re being played, too. The fact that so many music lovers are reverting to listening to records makes them all the more collectible in the present day. Some vinyl will be worth a lot, while others will only be worth what you paid, but adequately storing your collection is essential regardless. You never know which record may suddenly have a spike in value.
Read: How to Store Vinyl Records
3. Comic Books
Collecting comics can be a very precarious endeavor— even the most minor defects can impact their value tremendously. That’s why out of all the collectible items out there, comic books top the priority list of importance when it comes to maintenance storage methods. Sure, comic books might have been created for reading, but try telling that to an avid collector. The main rule of thumb to preserve their value is: Keep your sticky hands off!
Read: How to Store Comic Books
4. Coins and Currency
If you’ve ever read about the worth of collectible coins and currency, you know how valuable specific pieces can be. You may have been excited thinking that you might have a rare penny in your piggy bank, only to spend hours searching and then realize you have nothing worth more than face value. That’s the thing with this particular collectible — coming across really expensive coins and currency out of the blue is few and far between. So when you find and collect those unusual and rare items, make sure you take good care of them.
Read: How to Store Coins and Currency
5. Classic Cars
It’s not often any one person has a collection of multiple classic cars. But many car lovers work their way up to owning their singular dream car that sits at the top of all their possessions. Maybe that’s a sporty convertible to zip around in during the summer months or a timeless antique that never leaves the garage. Regardless, an excellent vintage car should be well-kept, well-maintained, and well-stored. This might seem like a lot of work, but if you have a passion for cars, it will become a welcomed pastime.
Read: How to Store Classic Cars
6. Trading Cards
Baseball cards might be the quintessential example of a trading card, but there are all types, like Magic the Gathering, Pokémon, and Yu-Gi-Oh cards of yesteryear. Like comic books, these fragile paper collectibles do best when kept in mint condition. Treat them how you would store a comic book, especially when you’re dealing with a particularly rare and hard-to-find item.
Read: How to Store Trading Cards
7. Dolls and Toys
They may be products created for children, but vintage doll and toy collectors take their passion seriously. We’re talking dozens (or even hundreds) of pieces ranging from iconic to hyper-niche.
The collectible doll and toy market has an ebb and flow, as these products tend to go rapidly in and out of style. (Remember the Beanie Baby boom of the 1990s?) However, antique toys and dolls have a much more steady market when it comes time to sell, so storing these pieces well is paramount.
Read: How to Store Dolls
8. Stamps
Collecting stamps seems like a particularly dated pastime, but in reality, there are still many stamp aficionados out there. In fact, there may be more stamp collectors in the world than any other collector on this list!
The hobby of stamp collecting combines a love of art with a passion for world history. By collecting different stamps from various places around the globe, you can learn an infinite amount about their country of origin. Sometimes you’ll even gain insight into the social and political atmosphere when the stamp was created.
Read: How to Store Stamps
9. Wine
At its core, wine is an enjoyable, maybe even luxurious drink to indulge in from time to time. But did you know it’s also a highly collectible item? Some fine wine collections can be worth more than a house!
As the saying goes: Fine wine only gets better with age. That’s why properly storing wine is essential for maintaining the overall value and integrity of your collection. Just like any other collectible, not all wine is created equal. Some wine will be worthless, and some will be worth a fortune. Only a true connoisseur can appreciate the difference between the two.
Read: How to Store Wine
10. Fine Art and Jewelry
We decided to combine fine art and jewelry in this list, given their deeply personal and often sentimental nature. People who collect one or the other tend to prioritize statement pieces suited to their own taste rather than what will make them the most money. Sure, an art or jewelry collector will seek out rare or precious creations, but usually only if that item is aligned with their unique aesthetic.
Additionally, passing down the fine art and jewelry to the next generation is a highly sentimental act. Maybe you recently inherited a wedding ring in your family for generations or a painting your family member specifically had commissioned. Each individual collection speaks to its owner in a way that few other objects can.
Read: The Ultimate Guide to Storing, Packing, and Transporting Paintings Without Ruining Them
Read: How to Store Jewelry So It Doesn’t Tarnish
Where Do You Store Your Expensive Collectibles?
Rhetorical question, of course— but it’s a good idea to think about where in your home you’re currently storing any collectible items you’ve amassed over the years.
Whether you see something on this list you’re interested in purchasing or have been a self-proclaimed collector for decades, check out the storage guides above to learn more about the proper ways to store some of your most prized possessions.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on November 1, 2017, and was revised May 24, 2023.
