How can you store or display collectible tins, or other things you love to collect? That’s the question collectors ask themselves when bringing yet another item into the home. That’s also the question my husband asks when I bring more stuff inside our already collection-cluttered house.
When I first began my tin collection, we had zero children and tons of room. Today we have 5 children and a 1500 square foot cottage.
Luckily, there is a gap between our cabinets and the kitchen ceiling, and the larger tins can be displayed on top of the cabinets. The drawbacks of storing the tins there are low-visibility and grease. I don’t know how the grease from my hard-working little skillet gets all the way up there, but somehow it does.
A few years ago I decided to try hanging some of my skinnier tins on the dining room walls using plate hangers. The result was a grease-free zone with room to grow my collection. Experts advise, “store items vertically for an organized space.” Also, collections should be seen and enjoyed, rather than hidden in a box or jammed in a corner.
I have also gathered a few tin-collecting tips along the way. First of all, it’s best to buy the newer tins fresh from the store. The thrift store versions tend to be dented, dirty, or rusty. Secondly, Christmas is the best time for tin-hunting. Big companies are hoping you’ll buy that hot chocolate tin for Aunt Martha as a Christmas gift. Afterall, she has everything else. Lastly, (if the stuff inside the tin is not perishable) the tin is more valuable if it contains the original contents. The 1992 Crayola Christmas tin is worth $8 on ETSY when empty. It’s worth $45 on Amazon with the original contents.
Worth: Recently manufactured collectible tins usually sell for $4-$60, depending on their age, condition, maker, and contents. Collectible tins marked with the year they were issued are preferrable to unmarked tins. Older, lithographic tins (1950s or earlier) might sell for hundreds of dollars, depending on the manufacturer, rarity, condition, and etc.
History: In the late 1800s, food stored in tins was considered more sanitary than food sold in bins or barrels. Between 1869 and 1895, manufacturers began transfering lithographic images directly onto the tin boxes. Today, these lithographic advertising tins are highly sought after. To read more about collectible lithographic tins, you can click on this link: https://www.collectorsweekly.com/advertising/tins
Appeal: Decorative tins are useful, beautiful, contain good things, are generally inexpensive, make great conversation pieces, and can also be used for storage.
Blessings!
Kristie
Checkout other vintage items with this link: Royal China Jeanette Pie Plates- Behind the Vintage
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