Top 10 Collectible Crazes Fueled By Nostalgia
#10: Lisa Frank Stationery
We should never forget that practically everything is nostalgic for somebody out there in the world. As the years go by, more items from comparatively recent decades accrue vintage currency within the minds of young consumers. Lisa Frank Stationery was extremely popular back in the nineties, which means that adults in the modern day with disposable income can now purchase NOS, or New Old Stock, to their hearts’ content. Original examples of this retro ‘80s and '90s-designed stationery can go for inflated prices on the second-hand market, as well, depending upon how pre-loved these items were in their heyday.
#9: Hess Trucks & Toys
A true classic never goes out of style, especially when they’re manufactured as well as many of the Hess toy line. This energy company not only sells gas to its consumers, but has also delivered smiles to girls and boys since 1964. Toy trucks, planes, rescue vehicles, and more all seem to have one thing in common: specifically, the sturdiness of their construction. In fact, the person writing this video can personally attest to how much their children enjoy playing with these quick-moving and engaging little vehicles. Additionally, vintage models from the 1960s can fetch a couple thousand dollars today… if you can find one.
#8: Magic: The Gathering
Some trading card games come and go, while others retain a special place in the hearts and minds of those who played them back in the day. Magic: The Gathering was introduced back in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast, a gaming company that eventually purchased the rights to TSR’s legendary Dungeons & Dragons brand. Magic’s rabid fan following could easily be compared to that of D&D. This includes how this subculture is consistently on the hunt for rare and powerful cards for their deck. Magic cards that either proved incredibly useful or were manufactured in small quantities can be considered quite valuable today, as players around the world continue their gaming obsession.
#7: Coins
Some old-school collectables refuse to go quietly into that good night, and instead live on, passed down through generations. Stamp collecting, for example, continues to thrive today, as does the collecting of rare coins. We’re not really talking about those coins that are often advertised on TV, but rather those truly rare pieces from a bygone era. Coins whose existence and history need to be discovered by dedicated research. It would be easy for the average layperson to skip a rare and valuable coin, scattered amongst some random sparrow change. True mint aficionados know what’s up, however, and have driven the worth of some rare coins to impressive figures at auction.
#6: Polly Pockets
“It just isn’t the same” is a phrase that some fans of the Polly Pocket toy line might be repeating, particularly if they’re old enough to remember this toy’s early nineties glory. That’s because the Polly Pockets of today don’t really feel like the Polly Pockets of yesteryear. Those OG examples retained their tiny size and well-developed little worlds, complete with itsy-bitsy accessories. Unfortunately, these accessories could easily be lost, which makes complete versions of some old school Polly Pockets worth a little bit of coin. The Birthday Party Stamper from 1992, for example, can go for over five hundred dollars in mint condition.
#5: Old Tech
Picture it: you’re staying over at your grandparents’ house, and they’re done watching their stories. You walk over to their gigantic television (that doubles as furniture) and flick the “on” switch for some cathode ray sunshine. Or, maybe you’ve brought your Sega Master System over to a friend’s house for the weekend. Old tech can be big business, and this doesn’t only include TVs and retro gaming consoles. A lot of folks go crazy for the Walkman tape players, iPods, or computer systems of their youth, while those who weren’t even there for the heyday of these items want to pick them up to figure out how they work. In an age where so much of our media isn’t ours… the old school rules.
#4: VHS Tapes: Disney & Horror Play Nice
It’s something of a misconception that every old-school Disney VHS is worth money. Most of them were mass-produced and extremely popular, and thus aren’t worth more than a couple bucks second-hand. However, some Disney tapes from the early ‘80s can be worth something, as well as any copies of the banned “Song of the South” from 1946. This also isn’t to say that VHS as a medium is worthless: far from it, in fact. The horror genre has proven particularly lucrative for tapeheads, particularly rare “shot on video” efforts such as “Spine,” “Black Devil Doll from Hell,” or “555.” These tapes are seen as “holy grails,” and can often switch hands for an obscene amount of money.
#3: Vinyl Records
A lot of factors go into what makes a vinyl record valuable, from the condition of the wax to the scarcity of its pressing. Modern audiophile tendencies have helped fuel the resurging vinyl market for years, yet some of the priciest records remain those released in bygone decades. The “butcher cover” of The Beatles’ “Yesterday and Today,” for example, can be worth big money, depending on the state of its jacket. Elsewhere, other valuable records include albums from the prog and psych worlds from artists that may not have enjoyed success while they were around, but eventually adopted cult status from the underground. All of these elements go into what makes vinyl obsessives get out there and dig.
#2: Funko
We realize that Funko Pops aren’t really action figures, and shouldn’t be lumped into how that equally popular market moves and shakes. Yet, both of these collectibles often utilize their exclusive or limited runs to hype up their rarity and value. Limited edition Funko drops are nothing new, and often show up at places such as San Diego Comic-Con. The race and fight to be first in line can be a stressful one, while the agony of defeat definitely feels real for those who desperately want a certain Funko, but might have to pay big time on the secondary market. Collecting should be joyful, but sometimes it isn’t all fun and games.
#1: Pokémon Cards
The Pokémon brand made headlines for all of the wrong reasons in summer 2025. This was when a collectibles store in New Bedford, Massachusetts, suffered a break-in, not for money or jewelry… but Pokémon cards. Over one hundred thousand dollars worth of Pokémon cards, to be exact. This speaks not only to the brand’s continued popularity, but also the lengths some will go to capitalize in a financial capacity. Cards that were produced in a limited capacity for special events can go for substantial amounts of money, while Pokémon’s legacy as an enduring brand is tethered to the nostalgia of every kid who once dreamt of “catching them all.”
What do you think is going to be the next great collectible? Shout it out in the comments!