Buzz
Have you ever pondered what truly eccentric individuals collect beyond the eerie jars of preserved liquids often seen in films? While many opt for mundane items like shot glasses or teaspoons, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 unusual collectibles that are both affordable and legal—no need to splurge on Elvis’ eyelashes or risk breaking any laws! If you’re drawn to items that are downright strange and might make your friends raise an eyebrow, explore our other lists: Top 10 Bizarre Collectibles and Top 10 Macabre Collectibles.
10. Vintage Silver Treasures
From heirloom silverware to rare ornamental silver weapons, there’s a wide array of vintage silver items to collect. These treasures can be found in online marketplaces, auctions, or even by scouring pawn shops, depending on how hands-on you prefer to be. Among collectors, this category ranks highly, and you can specialize further—such as focusing solely on silver gravy boats or trowels—to add a unique twist to a popular collecting niche.
9. Vintage Coca-Cola Bottles and Memorabilia
During Coca-Cola’s golden era, the brand produced a variety of intriguing and unique bottle designs, tin signs, and other collectible items that now qualify as vintage. Collectors can find everything from 1930s serving trays to apothecary scales gifted to pharmacists in the late 19th century, provided they know where to search. As a globally recognized brand, Coca-Cola’s early marketing efforts included items like calendars and uniquely shaped bottles, which are still accessible today. You can specialize in collecting bottles, promotional merchandise, tie-in products, or items from a specific decade.
8. Elongated Coins
Numerous tourist spots feature machines where you can insert a penny or another coin to be pressed, along with a small fee (often a quarter or two), and select a design to engrave onto the coin. You can either watch the machine work its magic or manually roll the coin by pushing a handle, transforming it into a unique souvenir with a design tied to the location. Even if you haven’t visited these places, the diverse and intricate designs pressed onto the same base material are captivating. It’s a fresh take on the traditional coin collections that many people already own.
7. Salt and Pepper Shakers
This is one of the simplest yet most enjoyable types of collectibles. The variety of salt and pepper shakers is nearly endless, ranging from elegant designs to promotional items, hobbyist themes, or purely whimsical creations. You can narrow your collection to specific themes, such as cheeky or maritime-inspired shakers, or simply collect pieces that bring a smile to your face. A dedicated shelf in the kitchen is ideal for showcasing them, and you can even use your favorites when entertaining guests.
6. Buddha Statues or Other Deities
While the trend of using Buddha statues for home decor is relatively new in the West, it has gained significant popularity. Buddha figurines, however, have existed for centuries, offering a vast array of options in terms of materials, sizes, shapes, and price points. Beyond Buddhas, you might also explore collecting representations of Hindu deities, crucifixes, voodoo artifacts, or Green Man plaques. Your collection can be as broad or as niche as your interests dictate.
5. Animal-Themed Collectibles
While owning a cheetah as a pet might be illegal, you can still indulge your love for these majestic creatures by collecting cheetah-themed items! Choose your favorite animal and start gathering themed collectibles. Beyond plush toys, consider items like trading cards, posters, coins, figurines, or even furniture. Popular animal themes include pandas, frogs, dolphins, whales, roosters, elephants, horses, and otters. For the truly adventurous, you could even collect preserved real animals!
4. Signed Books
You can narrow your collection by seeking out 'first editions' or books within a specific genre. If your name is common, you might even hunt for books signed by the author and personalized to someone sharing your name! Consider focusing on vintage books published before a particular year or exclusively illustrated editions. Whatever catches your eye while browsing an antique bookstore—make it part of your collection!
3. Vintage Lunchboxes
While kids today might use lunch bags or buy meals at school, lunchboxes were once a staple for everyone, including construction workers, though theirs were often less unique or collectible. Collecting lunchboxes offers a nostalgic glimpse into past trends and a connection to the children who proudly carried the coolest—or quirkiest—lunchboxes of their time.
Eccentric collectibles range from the truly bizarre (who but movie villains collects skulls?) to the more conventional. By focusing on specific types of items or those from particular eras, you can build a collection that sparks curiosity and conversation. As collectors often say, the excitement lies in the chase!
2. Quack Medical Devices
It’s fascinating to see the inventive—and often deceptive—products entrepreneurs once peddled to the public. In the past, traveling salesmen would promote miracle tonics, create a buzz, and vanish before customers realized the products were ineffective. More widely distributed quack remedies were advertised in newspapers and often came with packaging, cards, or other collectible items. This niche offers a captivating look at outdated medical practices that seem laughable today.
1. Collectible Trading Cards
From baseball cards to game-related or promotional cards, the world of trading cards offers endless possibilities for collectors. If you’re a fan of a particular sports team, you can aim to collect every card featuring its players or focus on a single athlete. Trading cards range from original art pieces to mass-produced editions, making this hobby either a costly pursuit (for rare or vintage cards) or an affordable one, depending on your focus.
