This Unique Old Christmas Tree Might Actually Be Worth A Small Fortune

Money doesn't grow on trees — except maybe certain collectible Christmas tree models. Artificial trees are common today, and have been around since the late 1800s. Of course, not all artificial trees are created equal, or even realistic. In fact, one of the most valuable old Christmas tree models is as silver as a sleigh bell in space.

Aluminum Christmas trees were all the rage when they made their big debut in 1959. The lightweight, mid-century modern masterpieces were first mass-produced as Evergleam trees in Manitowoc, Wisconsin by the Aluminum Specialty Company. Made in a sleek shockingly unnatural metallic style, Evergleams called to mind a future full of festive eye candy without the muss, fuss, or natural pine scent. The shimmering Space Age boughs filled living rooms with sparkle, rather than floors with pine needles. However, The trees endured a not-so-twinkling takedown by a very surprising animated adversary in 1965.

The "Charlie Brown Christmas Special" associated aluminum artificial trees with every color of the rainbow, as well as the over-commercialization of Christmas. The aluminum Christmas tree fell out of fashion, only for nostalgia for them (and a thirst for "Mad Men"-style design) to return decades later. Today, Americans pay a surprising amount of money on holiday decorations every year. But collectors will pay thousands of dollars more than the average person's entire maximized holiday budget to dig out certain aluminum Christmas trees from the sands of time, and will even spend bonus bucks if the tree is pink.

While Evergleam trees were the most popular of the mass-produced aluminum Christmas trees, they weren't the only game in town. However, name brand-hunting collectors look for Evergleam models, as well as trees by Modern Coatings, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois and Star Band Company of Portsmouth, Virginia. These early makers of artificial trees each have their own claim to fame. Modern Coatings first invented the aluminum Christmas tree, but in a heavier-metal build that couldn't easily (or affordably) be mass-produced. Modern Coatings trees are exceedingly hard to find, as far less were actually made.

Silver and gold were the most widely produced trees. While these not-so-standard colors still can fetch tidy sums with collectors, different-colored trees are horses of a different color. So, too, are trees made with different effects, such as pom poms, spangles, or mixed-color branches. While many colors and styles of Evergleams were made, pink is a top collectors' item now — and some sellers have supposedly spray-painted silver Evergleams pink to try and scam-capitalize on the collecting craze.

Tree packaging, storage, and accessories also hold value for collectors. Early aluminum Christmas trees couldn't actually have lights hung on them with care, because they would short-circuit and cause a fire. As such, color wheel lights shone on the trees, which sometimes rotated on special stands. If you come across any of these accessories, you might stand the chance of making some money, as well as a collector very happy.

Part of the joy of the holidays is getting close to a sense of childlike wonder. In a world where everyday life is uncertain and finances suffer under the strain of tariffs on a family's budget, a wide range of collectors long for the sparkly Space Age trees of their youth, their parents' youth, or an imagined retrofuture where peace is possible on earth, and goodwill and glimmer are both in high supply. All to say: people will pay a lot for aluminum Christmas trees in good condition, and even handsome sums just for parts.

In December 2024, a pack of Evergleam branches sold on resale marketplace eBay for $69.95. Even a single replacement Evergleam branch (complete with protective sleeve) sold for $17.95. A four-foot, green Evergleam tree (complete with shredded original box) sold for $1,150. A six-foot, green Evergleam tree with base sold for $3,200 in November 2024, proving that sometimes, bigger (and therefore shinier) is better.

While Evergleam trees fill the false-tree forest, other models fetch top dollar, too. A seven-foot, peacock blue-and-green Revlis Starlite model sold for $1,800 in December 2024. A four-foot-three, gold Peco model sold for $1,334 in December 2024, up against 20 other bids. If you have or come across any vintage aluminum Christmas tree, it looks worth looking into the market for it. If you have a genuine pink Evergleam, get yourself a tree dealer. One sold on eBay in December 2024 for the shiny sum of $10,750.