9 Valuable Vintage Mugs to Find in Thrift Stores and Estate Sales

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Hunting through the home goods shelves at thrift stores is not only fun, but it can also be tempting. Old crock pots, bakeware and Vintage kitchen items Resellers say it’s a common find that has unexpected value. A vintage mug can be an amazing treasure that you want to take home and display or resell for a big return.

Mugs are a dime a dozen at thrift stores, so finding a worthwhile one among the hundreds of junky coffee and tea cups littering your local resale shelves is a bit of a trick. But find the right one, and you can get more than $100 from an interested collector. Just make sure your mug is in excellent condition, with no chips or cracks, if you want top dollar. Note that vintage mugs are great for resale or decoration, but may not be safe to drink due to high lead content. But for their value as collectibles, you can’t go wrong with these nine finds, prized for their beauty, rarity, and nostalgia.

Franciscan Pottery is a dishware manufacturer known for quality and durability, and its Atomic Starburst pattern has a large fan base, especially with collectors who Mid-century modern design. The company released its first blue, green and gold Starburst pattern in the 1950s Atomic Age. Now a sought-after collectible, you can find individual mugs or sets at thrift stores just waiting to be resold for over $100.

These beautiful, collectible mugs will jump out at you with their unique green color and regularly sell for $50 to $100. Made by multiple manufacturers in the 1930s and ’40s, these classic mugs have continued to grow in value, and they bring a fun pop of color to your kitchen shelves. Green glass dishware has been reissued in modern times for more affordable prices, but for pricier vintage pieces, look at the bottom for the maker’s marks of Fire-King, McKee, or Jeanette (“J in the middle of a triangle”) glass companies.

You can’t go wrong with either Valuable vintage pottery Found hidden in the mug section. A 1950s McCarty coffee mug (which looks more like a small bowl) from the storied Mississippi Pottery Company is listed for $75 or more on sites like Etsy and eBay. Another well-known pottery company, the Otagiri Mercantile Company, started making stoneware by hand in the 1940s and their hand-painted mugs fetch good returns in the resale market, especially in sets. Look for the manufacturer’s original sticker or signature to confirm what you have.

Thick ceramic mugs from the long-running diner have a following among collectors, and even make a quirky display if you’re into them. Styling an open kitchen shelf. YouTuber Auction Professor The dinner highlights mugs that went for surprisingly high dollars, including an original White Castle mug that sold for $5,700. It can be hard to determine if an old dinner mug you see on a thrift store shelf is worth serious cash, but a quick scan of the “sold” section of eBay and Etsy can give you clues, like a mug from LA’s Original Pantry restaurant that sold for $99 on eBay.

Limited edition mugs that mark a historical event are often a good bet for a collectible that will cost more than the dollar or two you paid for them at the thrift store. These include mugs marking a world’s fair or a royal occasion across the pond. Consider a mug to mark the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary, marketed at $35. CherishOr the 2016 Sochi Olympics mug, which recently sold for $60 on eBay. You can own a piece of history with this mug.

Hollywood nostalgia is always a good bet when thrifting, and mugs featuring popular and classic TV shows can be worth a pretty penny. TV talk show host Johnny Carson is having a moment, with mugs selling for more than $200 on eBay. Other popular shows like “Twin Peaks” and “Friends” sell online mugs for $20 or more. But there are a lot of TV show mugs out there, and trends change frequently. Check out places like online auction sites and Facebook Marketplace to see what’s fetching the big dollars.

Collectors rave about vintage mugs made by Fire-King, a division of Anchor Hocking, which produced thick milk glass mugs in the mid-19th century that hold their value today. Snoopy, that classic “Peanuts” character, features on these mugs made in the 1950s and ’60s, and resale values ​​can reach $100 or more. You’ll be especially lucky if you get a Fire-King mug with Snoopy as the Red Baron, blowing up his doghouse. A mug with this image has been listed online for over $100.

Mugs made famous through their use in iconic TV shows or movies can bring in big bucks, and as highlighted by an Instagrammer NostalgicIt’s fun for collectors to hunt for reminders of their favorite characters. Consider the Heartstone Pottery leaf mug that was once used on “The Golden Girls” and sold for about $250 on eBay. Or the Libbe cobalt blue glass celestial pattern mug used in Monica’s apartment on the ’90s TV show “Friends,” which is a popular buy on eBay for up to $50.

While major manufacturers, historical events, and Hollywood tie-ins can add value to your mug, don’t overlook a one-of-a-kind, hand-painted or glazed Studio Pottery mug that may be vintage. These mugs are not only unique cups for your coffee, but also potentially valuable works of art. YouTuber Pish Posh Reselling Note that Studio Pottery mugs with rustic designs, signed by the artist, often resell online for $20 or more. Facebook group Studio Pottery Identity Finding vintage in his home studio can help determine its value.