Inexpensive Collectibles & Gifts
When purchasing gifts for birthdays and Christmas, do you head straight to the mall, racking up frustration and credit card debt? Many inexpensive collectible items make unique, special gifts---gifts your loved ones may cherish even more than something bought off a box-store shelf. Here are some ideas for affordable collectible gifts, most of which can be purchased for less than $10.
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Salt and Pepper Shakers
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Collectible salt and pepper shakers make a creative gift for someone with a vintage-inspired kitchen or a foodie who loves pop culture. Shakers that commemorate specific television shows or movies---such as "Bewitched," "24," "Seinfeld," and "Twilight" (yes, these shakers all exist)---are especially unusual and collectible. Many collectible salt and pepper shakers can be purchased at thrift stores and auction sites for less than $10. Examine the items carefully before buying, as hairline cracks can be easy to miss.
Record Albums and Turntables
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Although many people enjoy the conveniences of MP3 players and CDs, vinyl delivers a sound like no other, and it is making a comeback in many audiophile circles. You can find used LPs for less than $10 in many independent record stores and on sites such as eBay and shopgoodwill.com. You can also find some unique albums in thrift stores, but you may have to thumb through dozens of weathered Tony Orlando and Englebert Humperdinck LPs to do so. If you'd like to introduce your teenager or young adult to LPs, then you can find many affordable turntables on eBay.
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Postcards
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In almost every antique store, you'll find a few boxes of old postcards. These postcards often will include a short note on the back and will be addressed and postmarked. Many antique stores sell vintage postcards for $1 to $5, although older cards may cost more. On eBay, you'll find postcards from nearly every decade and every state in the country, as well as international cards. If you know someone who's passionate about the Southwest, a framed set of vintage Grand Canyon postcards just might make her day.
Vintage Magic Tricks
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From disappearing coins and cards to the "Magno-Coin Atomic Bloc," many vintage magic tricks are available for less than $10 on auction sites. If you'd like to give someone a set of magic tricks as a gift, then search for "vintage magic trick lot" on eBay. Often, you'll find many tricks bundled into one lot, which will save you money on the cost of the items, as well as shipping.
Matchbooks
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Vintage matchbooks are some of the most affordable collectibles on the marketplace, and many collectors sell them in sets of 10 or 12 for as low as $1. As with magic tricks, you'll want to search for these items in lots on eBay, as that's how you'll find your best deals. If you give someone a collection of matchbooks as a gift, consider coupling it with a price and an identification book, such as Bill Retskin's "The Matchcover Collector's Price Guide," so that the recipient can add to his collection knowledgeably.
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