Lunch Box Rarity Scale

Toppie Lunch Box

The Rarity Scale gives you an idea of how rare a lunch box is. The higher the number on the Rarity Scale the rarer the lunch box is. For example, an R-10 Lunch Box with 15 or less known is considered to be extremely rare. En example of an R-1 Would be the Toppie Lunch Box (image to the left) While an R-1  with over 10,001 lunch boxes available is abundant and not scarce whatsoever.

As a general rule, the higher the Rarity of a box the higher the price. This does not include boxes issued before 1940 as pre-1940 lunch boxes for the most part as scarcer but aren’t as popular. Therefore, you might see many pre-1940’s lunch boxes have an R-8 rating and bring a much lower price than an R-7 post 1950’s box.  This is because 1950’s lunch boxes are more popular,  even though they are also more available than many pre-1940’s boxes, In this case the  the 1950’s boxes which are more common bring higher premiums because of their popularity. Additionally, some lunch boxes with popular themes bring high prices regardless of their rarity, such as the Beatles Lunch Box and many others not mentioned. Overall, when buying a lunch box, buy it because you like it! This way, you will always be happy with your purchase.

R10 = 1-15 Known Extremely Rare and highly collectible. (On average it probably shows up once or twice a year in the market).

R9 = 16 – 50 Known Very Rare and very popular. (On average it probably shows up 3 – 5  times a year in the market).

R8 = 51 – 100 Known Rare and greatly traded. (On average it probably shows up 5-7 times a year in the market).

R7 = 101 – 250 Known Key Lunch Box and a great market. (On average it probably shows up 5-10 times a year in the market).

R6 = 251 – 500 Known Semi Key Lunch Box trade very frequently. (On average it probably shows up 10-20 times a year in the market).

R5 = 500 – 1000 Known Somewhat Common and strong market. (On average it probably shows up 21-30 times a year in the market).

R4 = 1,0001 – 2,500 Known  Common and a good market. (On average it probably shows up 31-40 times a year in the market).

R3 = 2,501 – 5,000 Known Very Common trade often at very reasonable prices. (On average it probably shows up 41-60 times a year in the market).

R2 = 5,001 –  10,000 Known Too Common trade often at same level prices. (On average it probably shows up 61-100 times a year in the market).

R1 = 10,0001 or More Known Abundant and available at very cheap or discounted prices. (On average it probably shows up 101 or more times a year in the market).