10 Photos of Old Receipts That Make Today’s Prices Look Outrageous

Written by Erin Kuschner on
Stacks of old, yellowed papers and documents, many tied with string, sit on a dark surface near a few worn books. The papers appear aged, with handwritten notes and tables visible on some sheets.
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There’s nothing like a peek into decades-old consumer culture to remind us that inflation is alive and well. One clear example of this is vintage receipts, whether it’s from a department store or a restaurant. A night at a hotel in the 1920s? Less than $10. A Taco Bell order in 1999? Three bucks and some change. For more prices that will leave you shaking your head, take a look at these 10 old receipts.

1. Wedding Dress and Accessories: $135.35 (1964)

A hand holds a vintage receipt from "Glamour Girl Bridals & Formals" for a wedding dress and accessories, dated May 9, 1964, showing prices and handwritten details.
u/greatodinsravenclaw via Reddit.com
u/greatodinsravenclaw via Reddit.com

2. Hospital Bill for Childbirth: $178.25 (1955)

A vintage hospital bill from Royal Hospital in New York for Edith Carisi, dated 6/17/45, listing charges for nursery care, medications, dressings, and telephone, totaling $178.35.
u/VirgoQueen918 via Reddit.com
u/VirgoQueen918 via Reddit.com

3. Funeral: $684.31 (1963)

A vintage funeral home receipt dated December 24, 1963, itemizing services and costs such as casket, vault, clothing, and flowers, totaling $684.31, paid in full and signed by J. Paul Spencer.
u/FatsyCline12 via Reddit.com
u/FatsyCline12 via Reddit.com

4. Monthly Union Dues: $10 (1943)

An open leather wallet displays an old union membership card with handwritten details, a photo of a smiling couple, and a small insurance receipt labeled "Helper's Initiation and Insurance Receipt" from Beaumont, Texas.
u/OccamsBeard via Reddit.com
u/OccamsBeard via Reddit.com

5. Room at the Hotel Pennsylvania: $9.15 (1926)

A vintage guest account receipt from Hotel Pennsylvania, showing handwritten dates, explanations, amounts charged, and balance due, with hotel and guest details visible at the top.
u/jadentearz via Reddit.com
u/jadentearz via Reddit.com

6. MGB Sports Car: $2,500 (1966)

A vintage yellow car order form from 1961 filled out by hand, listing details such as model, price, trade-in value, accessories, and signature sections, with handwritten notes and calculations throughout.
u/pejiita via Reddit.com
u/pejiita via Reddit.com

7. 83 Rat Tails: $2.49 (1943)

A black-and-white invoice from The Town of Grand Island, dated Nov. 29, 1943, billing $2.49 for "rat tails." It includes details for the vendor, department, order number, and a certification statement at the bottom.
Jerry Cooke/Getty Images
Jerry Cooke/Getty Images

8. 5 Dinners at The Farmers Hotel: $3.50 (1819)

A handwritten receipt from 1829 details charges for a dinner, servant’s time, and feeding horses at Farmer’s Hotel, totaling $3.50. It is signed at the bottom, acknowledging payment received.
Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images
Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images

9. Groceries From King Soopers: $13.06 (1986)

A grocery store receipt from King Soopers dated 12-14-86 shows various purchases including milk, toothpaste, gel, and bakery items. The subtotal is $12.53, tax paid is $0.83, and the total is $13.36 with $6.64 change given.
u/Squeaks_Scholari via Reddit.com
u/Squeaks_Scholari via Reddit.com

10. Taco Bell Order: $3.26 (1999)

A Taco Bell receipt from 1999 lists items like CC-BUR, TACO, NACHOS, and PEP-16 with prices, shown under a caption: “I found a perfectly preserved Taco Bell receipt from 1999 in a library book I was scanning.”
imgur.com
imgur.com
Author
Erin Kuschner

Erin Kuschner has spent the past decade as a writer and editor for both digital and print publications. Prior to joining Wealth Gang, she was a reporter and editor at Boston.com, Time Out Austin, and Time Out Los Angeles, and has written for the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, Eater, and other publications.