12 Strange Collectibles from the ’80s and ’90s That Are Now Rare
These bizarre and nostalgic items from the '80s and '90s once filled shelves and toy chests — now, they’re worth a surprising fortune.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
The ’80s and ’90s were wild decades for collectors, with all sorts of quirky, colorful, and sometimes downright odd items grabbing our attention. Many of these fads came and went, but a few became rare treasures over time. This list explores 12 unusual collectibles from those decades that have gone from childhood junk to collector’s gold.
1. Garbage Pail Kids Cards
ortolina on Flickr
Gross-out humor was in, and these twisted parodies of Cabbage Patch Kids ruled playgrounds. Parents hated them, which made kids love them even more.
2. POGs and Slammers
Emre Turkan on Unsplash
Cardboard circles you stacked and smashed — sounds weird, right? This schoolyard game sparked a huge craze, complete with special “slammers.”
3. McDonald’s Halloween Buckets
monstersforsale on Flickr
These cheerful plastic pails doubled as trick-or-treat bags and collectibles. Each had a different spooky face, and they were a big deal in Happy Meals.
4. Troll Dolls
Hoboh Official on Flickr
With wild neon hair and goofy expressions, these tiny figures were everywhere. Kids dressed them up, traded them, and displayed them proudly.
5. Tamagotchi Pets
Wolfgang Stief on Wikimedia Commons
Digital pets that beeped, ate, and died — often at the worst time. They taught responsibility… sort of. Sealed, first-edition versions can now sell for hundreds.
6. Talkboy Recorder
Y2kcrazyjoker4 on Wikimedia Commons
Made famous by Home Alone 2, this toy voice recorder became an instant must-have. Kids loved changing their voices and playing pranks.
7. Lisa Frank Stationery
ironypoisoning on Flickr
Rainbows, unicorns, and glitter — everything a ’90s kid needed to write a note. The designs were loud and unforgettable.
8. My Pet Monster
Avery Watts on Flickr
This plush toy looked scary but was surprisingly cuddly. With blue fur and breakaway handcuffs, it was a hit among boys who thought dolls were “too soft.”
9. Nintendo Game & Watch
Peer Schmidt on Wikimedia Commons
Before Game Boys, there were Game & Watch handhelds with basic LCD screens. They offered simple games in compact packages.
10. Burger King Pokémon Gold Cards
Thimo Pedersen on Unsplash
These metallic trading cards came in Poké Balls and drove fast food sales sky-high. Kids couldn’t get enough of them, and now adults want them back.
11. Stretch Armstrong
Joad Henry on Flickr
This rubbery action figure could stretch absurd lengths and always returned to shape. It felt like magic — until one inevitably broke and oozed weird gel.
12. Moon Shoes
Crystal Calderon on Flickr
Billed as “mini trampolines for your feet,” these clunky contraptions promised bounce but often delivered bruises. Still, kids loved the thrill of hopping awkwardly around the yard.