The High Price of Nostalgia

rubiks_deluxeI can tell that I’ve hit that time of life where people start looking back and pining for younger days. How do I know? I’ve been surfing eBay looking for artifacts of my youth, and the prices make me wish I had been more careful with my stuff.

The Rubik’s Cube picture above is very much like cube I was given by a family friend for Christmas 1980. It’s a Rubik’s Cube Deluxe that’s has plastic tiles instead of the standard stickers. I had it until I left for college; it vanished in my mother’s house sometime after that. They must have been pretty rare, I never knew anyone else with one. Prices on eBay seem to run $50-$200 depending on condition, which mean they’re several times more expensive than they probably were in 1980 ($10?).

A couple other examples: the Dark Tower board game (I never actually had one) goes for $100-$300. The calculator I bought for college, an HP-32S, $75-$200 on eBay; well I still have mine, it’s just got a tiny dent. I wonder if I should sell it…

How about you, what bits of your childhood would you reclaim if the cost isn’t too dear.

6 replies on “The High Price of Nostalgia”

  1. I grew up in the late fifties, sixties and early seventies. I had both orginal GI Joe and Secret Agent/007 Dolls with all accessories,i.e. Army uniforms, canteen, ammo belt, backpack, guns, Trench coat, brief case w/spy camera, etc.. Also one of the first “Operation” games with Bullwinkle Moose from a Cheerios cereal promotion. The first Star Trek Enterprise model. As well I had some first edition comic books I wish I’d kept too. I’m sure there’s more I had that is probably worth serious money now. If only I’d had the foresight.

  2. I grew up in the late fifties, sixties and early seventies. I had both orginal GI Joe and Secret Agent/007 Dolls with all accessories,i.e. Army uniforms, canteen, ammo belt, backpack, guns, Trench coat, brief case w/spy camera, etc.. Also one of the first “Operation” games with Bullwinkle Moose from a Cheerios cereal promotion. The first Star Trek Enterprise model. As well I had some first edition comic books I wish I’d kept too. I’m sure there’s more I had that is probably worth serious money now. If only I’d had the foresight.

Comments are closed.