When thrifting, you always have to follow your gut. You might have a good eye and end up scoring an authentic Picasso painting for $14, or you could get a piece of history, like an ancient Roman bust for $35. Is it hard to believe? Here are 30 rare items found at thrift stores, auctions, and garage sales.
$2.48 John Quincy Adams Original
Michael Sparks bought what seemed to be a reproduction of the Declaration of Independence for $2.48. It turned out to be one of the 200 copies commissioned by John Quincy Adams in 1820. He later sold it for $477,650.
$400 Penguin Charm
This little penguin charm was found inside a box full of children’s toys someone thrifted. Little did they know, this tiny guy was worth over $400.
Le Regale Beaded Purse
This vintage La Regale beaded purse might not have been an expensive find, but it’s definitely valuable. In today’s world, the fashion industry no longer makes purses like this.
1940s Relic
Not only is this jewelry box gorgeous, but it’s also a piece of history. Dating back to the 1940s, it remains a beautiful relic from the past.
26k Diamond Ring
This ring was bought for $13 at a junk sale. It turned out to be a 26k diamond cut in the 1800s, worth around $455,000.
Japanese Obi Belt
This person bought a dull roll of fabric, only to later discover that it contained a Japanese obi belt. And now, she’s scared to touch it and risk damaging it.
Rooster Painting
This one might not be pricey, but when a Reddit user found it, people kept following him around the store just in case he didn’t buy it.
$900 Clock
Someone got this clock at a garage sale for $30 and found out later it was selling for $900 online.
$7 Original Gucci Bag
A legitimate Gucci bag for $7? Yes, please! Thrift stores are the best places to find designer items for a song.
Unique Lamps
Here’s an example of an item that may not be worth thousands of dollars, but is surprisingly valuable. The craftsmanship behind these lamps is something you just can’t find in regular stores nowadays.
$2,000 Necklace
This gorgeous necklace was bought for $9 at a thrift store. And guess what? It turned out to be an 18th-century piece of art worth over $2,000.
John Constable Original Painting
This tiny painting was sold for $37 at an auction after being found inside a cupboard. It ended up being an authenticated John Constable painting, now estimated to be worth over $315,000
Unique Set
One of the most magical things about shopping second-hand is finding unique items, like this set. It might not be pretty, but it sure is incredibly rare.
14K Find
A sealed, rare vintage LEGO set was found inside a jewelry box donated to Goodwill. The set was auctioned for $18,000 since it included a 14K gold Bionicle Hau mask.
17th-Century Masterpiece
This painting was bought for just a few dollars at a thrift store. It turned out to be a 17th-century masterpiece by Frans David Oerder, and was sold for $120,000 at auction.
Picasso Painting
This painting was purchased by a shopper in the Hamptons for $50 at a barn sale, only to find out it was painted in 1942 by Canadian artist Emily Carr. After experts authenticated it, it sold for $290,000 at auction.
Impressionist Piece of Art
This impressionist piece of art was bought in a cheap plastic frame and later sold for $390,000. It turned out to be a Helen McNicoll original.
Picasso Signed Poster
This old poster promoting a Pablo Picasso art exhibit was bought for $14.14 by Zachary Bodish. He later found out it was signed by the artist and sold it for $7,000.
Victorian Brooch
This Victorian brooch was bought by a lady at an antiques market for $25. Later, she found out it was worth over $15,000 and sold it at auction.
Original Movie Poster
In 2007, Laura Stoffer bought a painting that had a hidden original movie poster from the 1930 Oscar winner All Quiet on the Western Front. It was later sold for $20,000.
Russian Royalty Fabergé Egg
Someone bought this ornate golden egg for $14,000 at a flea market. It seemed a little pricey for a flea market item, but it turned out to be a long-lost Fabergé egg made for Russian royalty in the late 1800s. It was later sold for $33 million.
$300,000 Necklace
A lady bought this necklace for $15 at a flea market. Later, she visited the Philadelphia Art Museum and noticed similarities between her necklace and some pieces in the Alexander Calder exhibit. It turned out her necklace was an Alexander Calder original, worth over $300,000.
$3 for a $190,000 Painting
This painting was bought for $3 at a Goodwill store in South Carolina because the buyer liked the frame. It ended up being a 17th-century Flemish artwork that was auctioned for $190,000.
$4 For a $75,000 17th Century Cup
This cup was bought for $4. Since it looked pretty rare, its buyer did a little research and discovered it was a 17th-century “libation cup” carved from a rhinoceros’ horn. It was later auctioned for $75,000.
John Bartlam’s Teapot
This teapot was bought for $20 and later found to be one of John Bartlam’s pieces. Since not many survived the American Revolution, it was sold for over $806,000.
$3.99 For a $107,000 Vase
A Goodwill regular picked out this beautiful glass vase for $3.99. She later found out it was a Murano glass masterpiece created by Carlo Scarpa in 1947, worth around $107,000.
$35 Part of History
This 52-pound marble bust was bought for $35. After doing some research, the shopper discovered it was over 2,000 years old, dating back to ancient Roman times. You can now see it displayed in the San Antonio Museum of Art.
World Record Pearl
This one’s a bonus track since it wasn’t thrifted, but it still was an amazing find. A man in the Philippines had this large rock under his bed for good luck, and it ended up being a 75-pound pearl worth over $100,000.
Cookie Jar
This fancy cookie jar was bought for $5.99, while similar ones were sold online for $300
