Things at the Thrift Store Nobody Taught You to Recognize

There are things sitting in thrift stores right now that are extremely collectible or valuable, but most of us were never taught how to recognize them. So, I'm going to teach you. I'm Virginia, I'm the author of the best-selling book Big Thrift Energy and I write a newsletter all about secondhand shopping. Here's something to be on the lookout for. If you see a piece of furniture with these brass corners, you are getting a glimpse into history because those weren't originally just decorative. They're the clue that this furniture was designed to travel. This is called campaign furniture and it was originally made for military officers who needed to pack up their belongings and take them from one posting to the next. The really good stuff will have flush brass corners, protective brass straps and recessed handles. All of that stuff that wouldn't catch during transport. It isn't just the historic stuff that's valuable though. There are a lot of designers who made campaign style furniture that you can get a pretty penny for. Baker, Henredon, Drexel, and Sarreid are all brands I would look for. Depending on the maker and the condition, vintage campaign pieces can sell for anywhere from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Follow along for more of what to look for when you go thrifting. Happy hunting.