From those famed Hess trucks to every-year-a-new-one Hallmark ornament series, people collect all kinds of things for the holidays, unpacking them each season to proudly create one-of-a-kind displays. The bottom line is, these collectibles add personality to your celebration — and sometimes value (though most are collected for sentimental reasons rather than financial gain). So go ahead, collect, display, and savor the way you and your family have created your very own holiday tradition. However, if you just need a few more decorations to knock the festivity up a notch at home and don’t want to spend a lot, check out 20 Best Dollar Store Buys for the Holidays.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
Hess Toy Trucks
Price: $24 and up from AmazonBuy It Search for it on eBay
It was back in the 1960s when Leon Hess, the founder of the Hess Corporation, decided to create a quality, affordable holiday toy. In 1964, the original Hess Toy Truck sold for $1.29 — including batteries — and was a hit. The collecting continues with this year’s models of a toy truck rescue team — and still coming with free batteries.
Chevron Toy Cars
Price: $5 and up from AmazonBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
A clever stop-motion advertising campaign that went viral — long before the term was used for such things — found the animated cars featured in Chevron ads turned into actual Chevron Toy Cars. The 60-plus models became a popular gift (for kids and adults) from 1995-2009 and are still remembered — and displayed. Vintage models are featured on eBay, where auction listings start as low as 99¢.
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments
Price: $12 and up (2019 versions) from AmazonBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
Greeting card giant Hallmark traces its roots back to the early 20th century in Kansas City, Missouri. Today, you can’t miss its stores jam-packed with greeting cards, gift items, wrapping goods, and yes, Christmas ornaments. The company’s website notes that it was 1973 when it introduced its first collection of Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, which included six glass ball ornaments and 12 yarn figures. Today’s themes range from sports to nature, fictional characters to pets with the longest-running current series, Frosty Friends, in its 35th year. Amazon also sells a wide vareity of Christmas-specific keepsake ornaments.
Christopher Radko Ornaments
Price: Around $24 and up (2019 collection) from Christopher RadkoBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
The top of the Christopher Radko website counts down the days, hours, and minutes until Christmas — the company’s excitement is palpable. It’s no surprise as these vintage-inspired collectibles have countless fans. This year’s collection includes more than 600 handcrafted European glass creations, so have fun narrowing down your choices. Amazon sells many versions of the collection for this and past years, as well.
Related: 30 Collectibles That Are Now Worthless
David Winter Cottages
Price: From around $35 and up from AmazonBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
Though a definite specialty, there remains a following for David Winter Cottages, evidenced by the website dedicated to the British cottages made by the Studios and Workshops of John Hine, Media Arts Corporation, and Enesco between 1980 and 2002. Scroll through to be transported to a magical place. There also are various styles available on eBay, where listings start at less than $5.
Trending on Cheapism
Nutcrackers
Price: Varies from AmazonBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
“The Nutcracker,” an 1892 ballet with a score by Tchaikovsky, has spurred not only countless holiday performances around the world — but a craze for collecting figures based on its title character. From “life-size” incarnations that flank front doors to miniatures tucked into stockings, this fella is a popular holiday figure and motif. Clever Creations’ versions bring a bit of whimsy to the tradition with collections like Nutcrackers of the World, or individual items like the Gumby Wooden Christmas Nutcracker.
Lenox Ornaments
Price: Varies from Amazon Buy ItSearch for it on eBay
Lenox offers a number of collectible series, each having its own loyal following. Whether you opt for the silver-tone Silver Bells, the hand-painted ceramic Snow Majesty snowflake collection, or the new Heavenly Angel design, a purchase means you’re part of a long tradition.
Waterford Ornaments
Price: Varies from AmazonBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
The Irish crystal company is synonymous with elegance and craftsmanship, its annual Snow Crystal Christmas Ornament adding a distinctive sparkle to many a Christmas tree.
Sign up for our newsletter
Jim Shore Santa Clauses
Price: $55 from AmazonBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
Creations by Jim Shore, an artist and designer known for his folk-art style, remain highly collectible. His designs touch on Santa Clauses — like this Heartwood Creek Woodland Santa Claus Figurine — and TV favorites such as “Frosty the Snowman,” to Disney princesses, Victorian designs, and plenty more.
Annalee Dolls
Price: $49 from AnnaleeBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
We have to be honest — these are creations that you love … or are scared by! Those who love their whimsical faces, around since 1934, can’t get enough of the Christmas-themed selections. These include nativity figures from mice and little drummer boys to carolers, as well as this Baking Mice Bundle, which includes the Peppermint Chef Mouse Candy Chef, both with those signature Annalee facial features.
Swarovski Crystal Snowflake Ornaments
Price: $65 from AmazonBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
It’s said no two snowflakes are alike — and no two annual Swarovski Crystal snowflake ornaments are either, including this 2019 edition. The company has other series, such as Christmas balls, but it’s that signature snowflake that gets all the gasps for its sheer drama. This year’s is crafted with 90 clear crystal facets by Elke Huber, hanging on a white satin ribbon for placing on tree or in window.
Christmas-Themed Tablecloths
Price: $15-$35 from Bed Bath & BeyondBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
Why be boring with just a single holiday tablecloth? After all, there are all those pre-Christmas gatherings plus Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Day breakfast, Christmas dinner … so invite Santa, wreaths, holly, angels, and more to the table to create a setting most festive.
Related: 38 Cheap or Free Family Traditions for the Holidays
Thomas Kinkade … Anything
Price: $89 from Thomas Kinkade StudiosBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
It seems that anything Thomas Kinkade touched, collectors love. The late artist, billed as the “Painter of Light,” put his work on everything from paintings to clocks, lanterns to ornaments and much more. Again, for those who are fans, there is nothing more evocative of an idealized Christmas than a Thomas Kinkade scene.
Hummel Plates
Price: Varies from eBayBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
The legacy of the artwork of Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel endures on the collectible market, the nun’s work first gaining a following in 1930s Germany and Switzerland. The annual Hummel Christmas plates, made from 1971 through 1995, remain prized by collectors for their charm (and depending on year, value).
Porcelain Christmas Trees
Price: $37 from AmazonBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
Some families create a virtual forest of faux trees of the ceramic/porcelain kind, with sizes varying from several inches to several feet. Many light up; others are so heavily decorated they can pretty much stand alone. This one is 15 inches tall and has 70 multicolor bulbs.
Mark Roberts Fairies
Price: $58 from AmazonBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
Another love ’em or hate ’em item, Mark Roberts Fairies are legendary collectibles, intricately detailed and lushly ornamented designs that dazzle in their individuality. This one is a 12-inch Christmas Shopping Fairy from 2017. The 2019 collection includes a variety of sizes with designs including bah humbug, candy cane, drummer boy, and nutcracker fairies.
Related: 25 Rare Collectibles Worth More Than Your House
Cat-Themed Holiday Home Goods
Price: $29 from WayfairBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
Crazy cat people need to include their feline friends as part of the festivities. That’s a given, so that means cat lovers fill their homes with all kinds of cat-themed home goods and decor all season long.
Snowman Collectibles
Price: $26 from AmazonBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
Who can forget freezing as you and your siblings created those snowmen in the front yard, having your mom hand you a carrot for the nose and an old scarf for his warmth? For some, the innocence of that snowman plays out in themed figurines, like this “Holiday Wishes” snowman from Bethany Lowe, dotted throughout their adult homes — no cold feet needed.
Holiday Movies
Price: $4 and up from AmazonBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
This one’s for all ages — yes, you can go digital but sometimes it’s fun to pull out a favorite DVD and pop it into the player, whether it’s an agreed-upon classic such as “A Christmas Story” or “It’s A Wonderful Life,” a television favorite such as “The Little Drummer Boy,” or more contemporary picks such as the 2003 British blockbuster “Love Actually.”
Snow Globes
Price: $22 from West ElmBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
Most everyone can be captivated by a snow globe. It’s a little world in itself, and when the orb depicts a Christmas scene, there’s an extra layer of fascination. This West Elm version depicts two brass deer.
Related: You Won’t Believe How Much These Collectibles Fetched at Auction
Angels
Price: $19 from AmazonBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
Whether they top the Christmas tree or watch over the family from a perch on the mantel, angels are a perennial holiday collectible — one that many families have collected for generations. This desert angel figurine is well-reviewed among Amazon shoppers.
Barbie Dolls
Price: $40 from TargetBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
The classic Barbie, a fashion doll launched by Mattel in 1959, gets into the collectible act with an annual holiday edition (a 30-year tradition) that finds our gal complete with a seasonally elegant gown.
Christmas Villages
Price: $60 from AmazonBuy ItSearch for it on eBay
When it comes to Christmas collectibles, one category that seems to grow — and grow and grow — is Christmas villages. Perhaps a couple receives one as a wedding gift … check back a few years later and they’ll have filled the den with an entire town. When you want elaborate, this is your category — hands down. Amazon offers many structures, accessories, lighting, and more from the Department 56 collection, including this Dickens’ Village Stringed Instruments Lit House. Rather drive through real decorated “villages” than build your own? Check out Dazzling Christmas Light Displays to Visit in All 50 States.
Find the Perfect Gift for Everyone On Your List
- 100 Great Gifts for $25 or Less
- 50 Unique Gifts for Guys Under $50
- 33 Fun Gag Gifts for the Scrooge in Your Life
- 20 Gifts for People Who Say, ‘Don’t Get Me Anything’
- 50 Gifts for Her Under $50 That She’ll Love
For more holiday gift inspiration, visit our gift idea lists on Amazon.
