58 | MARCH 31 • 2022 

I

f your family is like most, you 
have “junk” in your base-
ment, garage or attic, such as 
sports cards, memorabilia and 
toys. Before you toss them out 
during spring cleaning, check 
again.
How can you determine if 
your stuff is valuable and, if it is, 
how can you sell it?
A widely accepted rule for 
sports cards, memorabilia and 
toys is that older items are 
worth more. However, these 
days even more recent items are 
also commanding high prices.
“Don’t assume sports cards 
or other memorabilia have to 
be old to be valuable. Modern 
cards of such stars as Tom 
Brady, Mike Trout, LeBron 
James, Michael Jordan and 
Derek Jeter can sell for lots 
of money,” says Al Crisafulli, 
auction director at an internet 
sports and memorabilia auction.
Here are some tips to deter-
mine if your belongings are 
valuable: 

SPORTS CARDS 
Cards from the 1960s and earlier 
are collectible, and those from 
before the 1940s can be extreme-
ly valuable. Big-name Hall of 
Famers like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, 
Lou Gehrig, Honus Wagner, 
Mickey Mantle and others bring 
high prices.

With old cards from the 1880s 
and early 1900s, look for tobacco 
and candy brands, such as Old 
Judge, Piedmont, Sweet Caporal 
or American Caramel. 
 Prices on recent baseball, bas-
ketball and football cards have 
risen rapidly. The three keys are 
condition, star power and cards 
from early in player careers. 
Check if your cards are denot-
ed as Rookie, Prospect, Draft 
Pick or other indicators they’re 
from a player’s first season. 
And condition is king, as cards 
that look pack-fresh with sharp 
corners and a well-centered 
image command highest prices. 

MEMORABILIA
Do you have old advertising 
posters depicting sports stars or 
famous entertainment personal-
ities together with food, tobacco 
or sporting goods brands. Many 
original signs, store displays and 
promotional items are collectible, 
especially those dating from the 
early 1900s into the 1960s. But 
low-quality reproductions aren’t. 
Look for memorabilia spotlight-
ing sports heroes, superheroes, 
early Walt Disney characters and 
Star Wars subjects.
So, while you’re spring clean-
ing that attic, basement or 
garage, don’t rush to the garbage. 
Before throwing out old “junk,
” 
determine if it’s valuable! 

Spring Cleaning: 
Is Your ‘Junk’ 
Worth a Fortune?

STATEPOINT

HOME & GARDEN

COMMERCIAL 
AND
RESIDENTIAL

Schedule A No Obligation Quote
with Justin Bright Today!

586.630.5311

BrighterCleaningServices23@gmail.com

Whether it’s your household
or commercial space, we’ll
always leave it a “Brighter” space

Brighter Cleaning Services strives
to provide our clients with a spotless 
cleaning experience.

We will foster lasting relationships
with each of our clients.

We will fi
 nd every way possible
to service the requests and
needs of every family or
business that chooses us.

If you are not completely
100% satisfi
 ed, we will re-clean
for FREE!

stefeksauctions.com

18k Canary Diamond Ring
Price Realized: $112,500

Kawase Hasui, Woodblock
Price Realized: $7,500

Andre Kertesz Photograph
Price Realized: $4,750

Pierre Paulin “Groovy” Chairs
Price Realized: $7,500

STEPHANIE 
EDMONDS 

REALTOR
(248) 770-4077

Come tour this 3,367 sq. f
 Ranch home on a .61 acre lot. 5 beds, 4.5 baths, 

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2851 Franklin Rd, Bloomf
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