I’m an antiques expert – most valuable VHS tapes worth up to £3,000 revealed and details to look for

GOT a box of old VHS tapes gathering dust in the attic? You could be sitting on a gold mine.

That’s because collectors are willing to pay good money to own a piece of nostalgia from decades past.

“VHS tapes take us on a trip down memory lane – that’s the reason why people now clamber to own tapes from the heyday in the 1980s and 90s,” said Tracy Martin, the Collectables Expert, who regularly gives her advice on TV shows like This Morning.

The value of VHS tapes dependent on many factors - including films that have never been released on DVD or Bluray, special editions and limited releases.

For example, Disney would release titles for a short period of time before withdrawing them - which can make these tapes rare and scarce, and therefore potentially valuable.

"The majority of people have disposed of their VHS tapes – even most charity shops stopped accepting them, so this means they are harder to find at bargain prices,” Tracy said.

She shares her top tips for spotting a valuable tape - and how much you could make.

How do you spot a valuable title among your collection?

“It’s about doing your research - cross reference via the internet to find out what to look for," says Tracy.

"There is a market for old horror movies, especially those dating to the 1970s.

"Disney has a collector’s following, as do rock and pop concerts and 1990s music videos as well as classic movies such as Top Gun, Back to the Future and ET."

VHS tapes containing errors on the casing could fetch a higher sum.

That's because mistakes aren't common - which makes these tapes scarce, and collectors are more likely to pay a price for them.

“Misprints, oddities and first release films that contain mistakes that were often erased in later releases are highly regarded with collectors," Tracy said.

"The 1978 release of Halloween by Media Home Video had the spelling mistake ‘Meda’ rather than Media, so can fetch upwards of £300.”

Now, films are rated in terms of how age appropriate they are - U films are suitable for younger kids, while 18 films should be watched by adults.

But pre-cert titles – those that were issued in the UK before the introduction of the 1984 Video Recordings Act – are valuable, especially ‘video nasties’, violent horror films.

“Uncut releases of videos which would have fallen foul of the British Board of Film Classification's strict guidelines are sought after,” says Tracy. 

How much are my old tapes worth?

Here’s an idea of what your old VHS tapes could be worth:

• 101 Dalmatians (1992) – £3,000
• The Evil Dead (1983) – £350-£400, 
• Beast in the Heat (1977) – £400 
• The Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979) – £50-£150
• Now that's What I Call Music 5  (1985) – £77
• Back to the Future (1986) – £40-£50 
• ET (1987) – £60-£70, 
• The Making of Star Wars (1977 – one of the first on Magnetic Home Video) – £122 

Tracy stresses though that, while selling your old videos is a great way to make extra cash, crazy prices are mostly a myth.

"The mad fad of prices for VHS a couple of years ago is now more realistic.

"A lot of the ridiculous prices are USA listings and we can't say for sure that they genuinely sold and were paid for,” she says.

“Currently a 1992 101 Dalmatians is listed for £15,000 here on eBay but the chance of it genuinely selling for that are pretty slim even if it is sealed.

"But in December last year, this same film with some slight damage to the case did sell for just over £3,000.

"However, in reality these Disney Classics tend to authentically sell for anything from £30 up to the low hundreds.”

When it comes to Disney, keep your eye out for the classics – they will have a black diamond on the spine, and were released from 1984-1994 (the first was Robin Hood and The Fox and the Hound was the last). 

“Some do fetch good money but it depends on other factors such as release date, number of copies still available and condition.

"It is a myth that all Disney Black Diamond classics are worth thousands.

"If you believe the previous prices achieved then you’re talking £8,000 plus for The Little Mermaid and £6,000 plus for Beauty and the Beast etc but, in my professional capacity, I am doubtful. In fact most sell for a small amount of money,” says Tracy.

She recommends auctions for your best chances of maximising the sale price.

“Internet auctions such as eBay are the most popular and tend to achieve some of the highest prices, especially if you are prepared to ship overseas because America is a big market for VHS collectors,” she suggests.

“Selling sites such as Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, Amazon and Gumtree are other places where you can also cash in.

"And even general auction houses now accept rare and sought after tapes especially, as with any memorabilia, if they are signed.”

The VHS tapes you sell don’t necessarily have to be in mint condition, either – though it will help.

“Mint and sealed VHS tapes command a premium, but some used tapes can fetch good prices if they have the rarity factor,” says Tracy.

“But please ensure when selling that you are accurate about the condition, not only of the actual tape but the case as well. And check that it actually plays!”

How do I sell my old tapes?

If you're selling your old tapes on eBay or Facebook Marketplace, be wary of the risks.

For example, there are a number of scams targeting sellers on Facebook.

Crooks will say they're planning to buy the item, and ask for money upfront for a courier they'll be sending around.

But it's all a ploy to get you to send free cash to them - and they never have any intention of picking your item up.

It's always best to meet in person when buying or selling on Facebook Marketplace.

Ensure it's a public meeting spot that's in a well-lit area.

Avoid payment links and log in directly through the payment method's website.

Most sellers prefer to deal with cash directly when meeting to ensure it's legit.

You might choose to use eBay to sell your rare coin.

But take into account that if you manage to sell your item then eBay will charge you ten per cent of the money you made - this includes postage and packaging.

Always keep proof of postage to protect yourself from dodgy buyers who may claim they never received their item.

Send the parcel by tracked delivery if you can.