There is nothing quite like browsing an antique or vintage store and coming upon an unexpected gem. Personally, I love the feeling of lightly tracing my fingers over endless rows of cardboard record spines at my local vinyl shop and flipping the stack back to reveal one of my long lost favorite albums. All of the sensations from the time come rushing back upon seeing the familiar album artwork, the scuffs, the 80’s font, the melodies. Finding a treasure like that can be exhilarating.
Even better? Happening upon people with similar tastes and interests who share your delight in discovering new trophies. Antique collecting as a hobby is alive and well and bursting at the seams in 2026, both online and off. Whether you are a budding collector, or have been at it for a long time, there are thriving collecting communities waiting to welcome you into the fold! By getting connected, you’ll gain a better idea of what your treasures are worth, and whether they are worth selling or holding onto for the next generation.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up seven antique collectibles that double as a fun hobby. If you’re just considering dipping your toes into the world of collecting or are ready to make connections with others who share your interests, here are some of the most popular places to start.
Stamps
“Stamp collecting is a great, easily accessible hobby which brings together geography, history, art and culture,” says auctioneer and appraiser Bene Raia. “The thrill of treasure hunting for stamps allows you to go anywhere from antique stores and flea markets to yard sales, and you can start with stamps that cost very little.”
Not only is it an inexpensive hobby to get started on, stamp collecting is a fun and creative way to learn about different countries, cultures and historical eras. According to Raia, you can begin easily with stamps from letters sent to your home. Beyond that, relatives might send you canceled stamps, and from there you can build your collection, eventually joining a club and trading with other collectors.
As old as the art of stamp collecting is, new philatelists should take heart! Places to seek community and discover a wealth of information regarding stamp collecting include the American Philatelic Society, American Topical Association, The Royal Philatelic Society, Guide to Stamp Collecting by Janet Klug, and the Stamp collectors Facebook group.
Petroliana
Petroliana is the hobby of collecting vintage gas station and oil company memorabilia. “Basically anything from old pumps and their glass globes to porcelain signs—or anything that evokes traveling Route 66,” Raia explains. Some collectors have even purchased entire defunct gas stations and relocated them to their homes, while others narrow their focus to specific items like pumps, signage, oil cans, and gas pump globes.
So where did the fervor come from? “Collecting Petroliana is an offshoot of antique advertising collecting,” says Heritage Auctions consignment director Marsha Dixey. Over time, that interest naturally expanded to include the local gas station. By the early 1980s, enthusiasts of classic cars and souped-up hot rods began scooping up antique gasoline advertising signs and oil cans, displaying them as garage décor.
Gas stations and oil companies quickly caught on. When they realized the value of their memorabilia, they began designing eye-catching signage, products, and other promotional items. The result is the Petroliana craze as we know it today.
“The big show for this area of collecting is the Iowa Gas Swap Meet,” shares Dixey. “But anyone interested should also keep their eyes open for local swaps and old car meet ups.” Resources for this uniquely American hobby include OldGas.com, Check the Oil! , and Gas Station Collectibles by Mark Anderton.
Pyrex
Nostalgia reigns supreme in the world of collecting Pyrex. Vintage Pyrex mixing bowls, with their whimsical colors and cheerful designs, can transport you straight back to a childhood kitchen—the whir of a hand-held mixer, the taste of cookie batter scraped from the beaters. It’s a widely popular collectible, in part because the style endured for decades, making Pyrex items like pie plates, casserole dishes, and serving bowls relatively easy to find today. Better yet, these aren’t museum pieces meant only for display; they’re still highly usable.
“Pyrex is considered a functional hobby because each piece has a function, such as storing food,” says Raia. “Most collectors tend to view their collection as usable art.” Valued for its high quality and staying power, Pyrex is also cherished for its wide array of colors, prints, and patterns, which can be categorized by decade, dating back to the 1910s.
To get into collecting Pyrex as a hobby, consult any one of these helpful resources:
- Passionate for Pyrex And All Things Vintage
- The Pyrex and Fireking and Vintage Glass Depot
- International Pyrex Collectors BUY/SELL/BRAG/TRADE
- Pyrex Love
- Passionate About Pyrex
Sports Memorabilia
Remember opening wax packs of gum as a kid, hoping the sports card inside would feature your favorite baseball, football, or basketball player? Sometimes, if you were lucky, it did. (And that, dear readers, is how collections begin.) From there, sports enthusiasts expanded their pursuits to include autographs, jerseys, helmets, gloves, balls, and more—all the objects that make a particular player, game, or sport extraordinary. That said, sports trading cards remain the top collectible in the category.
“Sports cards have always and will always be the standard for sports collecting,” says Dixey, who notes that third-party grading systems give them a major advantage over other collectibles. For beginners, authenticity and condition should be top priorities when collecting any type of sports memorabilia.
One event worth attending to immerse yourself in the sports memorabilia community is the National Sports Collectors Convention, where well-known sports figures often appear to sign and autograph items. Beyond the show floor, online communities such as Arena Club—Derek Jeter is a founding partner—along with established sports card forums and collector-focused social groups, offer ongoing education and market insight. Dixey also recommends seeking out regular card shows and local dealers in your area. “Not only are they a source for your collection, they can help you add to your collection with knowledgeable input.”
Vinyl Records
To become a vinyl record collector, all you really need to get started is a few bucks and a love of music. Take, for example, L.A. native and Record Safari owner Alex Rodriguez, who began collecting punk and hardcore records as a kid in 1994. “I went to a punk rock show and the bands were selling their releases on vinyl records because it was cheaper to make them on record than CDs or cassettes,” he says. “So I asked my mom to get me a record player, and she found one at a thrift store, and boom—I started buying records at all the shows I went to!”
If vinyl is your jam, there’s no shortage of resources to help usher you into the world of record collecting today. Discogs offers one of the largest databases of record pressings, release years, and personnel, and remains an incredibly interactive, user-friendly tool. You’ll also find active record-collecting communities on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit. Of course, going to hear live music is still one of the best ways to connect with fellow fans—and to score rare and unique additions to your collection.
Mid-Century Barware
Whether you’ve been binge-watching Mad Men or revisiting classics like Casablanca, you’ve no doubt seen whiskey served neat in a mid-century lowball glass. Bar carts and glassware sets appear everywhere—from Bette Davis films to episodes of The Brady Bunch—dotting kitchens, bars, and living rooms alike. It’s no surprise, then, that collecting mid-century barware has become so popular. Distinctive and nostalgic, these pieces make great conversation starters and lend a sophisticated air to any gathering—though finding enough space to display them all may be your biggest challenge.
“Collecting barware can be a fun hobby,” says antique collector and Urban Redeux owner Willow Wright, “but beware that so many sets were mass-produced that you’ll likely run out of storage space long before you exhaust the patterns and styles.” Collectors can draw from a wide range of designers, including Culver, Georges Briard, Dorothy Thorpe, Fred Press, and Gay Fad. Others choose to narrow their focus, collecting only distinctive ice buckets or cocktail shakers from the era.
To get further acquainted with this collecting world, Facebook selling groups like this one and this one are great to peruse. Gay Fad Studios also hosts Bottoms Up!, a four-day midcentury barware show happening in Ohio this June. You might also luck into a copy of the cult-favorite Vintage Bar Ware: Identification & Value Guide by Stephen Visakay while thrifting or browsing secondhand shops.
Vintage Christmas Decor
“Collecting vintage Christmas decor is for everybody who wants to own a piece of holiday nostalgia,” says Raia. “Every trip to the antique store, flea market, or yard sale is an opportunity to find an item to add to your collection.”
Fans of all things festive can begin their search immediately after the holidays, when many people unload their Christmas decorations en masse. Some of the most coveted Christmas collectibles include retro Shiny-Brite glass ornaments—especially those still in their original boxes—and hand-blown German Kugel ornaments from the 1800s. Santa figures, nativity scenes, and Christmas village sets are also in high demand. “Early figural papier-mâché Santas were made in Europe, primarily in Germany, during the Victorian era from 1870 to about 1920,” according to Dixey. “These were often very detailed and are highly sought after by collectors.”
Some helpful resources to get started with Christmas decor collecting:
- The Golden Glow of Christmas Past
- Vintage Christmas Collectors Group
- Vintage Kitschy Christmas (buy, sell, trade, show off)
Tips for Newbie Collectors
If you’re just getting going on collecting as a hobby, the best advice is to follow your heart! “Most collections stem from a fond memory of an item, category, or time,” says Dixey. “It could be you had a sports card collection when growing up or you remember a Pyrex dish that your mom used every day.”
Whatever the reason, delving into collecting vintage antiques can be an incredibly satisfying and rewarding endeavor. Follow Dixey’s expert tips for getting into collecting for the first time.
- Buy what you love or like to look at.
- Before spending money, research an item.
- Remember: quality over quantity. And condition is super important.
- Join a club or collectors group for your collecting field. They can help guide you in curating your collection.
