The Phenomenon of Yard Sales

Who invented the concept of a yard sale? I mean, you obviously aren't selling your yard. If it's a garage sale, you aren't selling your garage. Basically, you clean your house, gather your junk, and someone else pays for it. Now granted, depending on the people having the yard sale it could be nice junk. However, aren't we all guilty of putting that horrible Christmas present that we would never have picked out for ourselves nor given to our worst enemy in the sale? Why not just put it in the trash and put the poor gift out of its misery? It will likely be given to another unsuspecting person who will then turn around and sell it again at a yard sale.