🖊️ 9—Basement Legends

TREASURES

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Basements — 9 Finds, $25 Million+


Hidden Treasures in Everyday Places

This list serves as a compact archive of modern basement treasure history — a quick reference for journalists, researchers, and enthusiasts. It highlights how high-value memorabilia continues to surface in ordinary places.

A few legendary examples from the list below include:

  • $2 Million for rare hockey cards
  • $3 Million for a comic collection
  • $6 Million for an art masterpiece

Overlooked for years, these surprising discoveries reveal how valuable treasures can be — even when hiding in plain sight.

Explore the full list below the ad ☟
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9—Legendary Finds

1. Stamp Sensation—$9.5 Million for Priceless Postal Artifact Found in Basement

📽️ 📅 2017 Report: In the UK, the rare One-Cent Magenta stamp—originally purchased for a penny in 1856—was rediscovered by a 12-year-old boy in his uncle’s basement in 1873. Known as one of the world’s most valuable stamps, it was auctioned for $9.5 million in 2014. After being hidden for decades, the stamp’s extreme rarity and immense value have made it a prized treasure for collectors. Full story in a seven-minute video.

    █ Video: 🔗 CBS Mornings / YouTube


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    2. Basement Bonanza—$6.6 Million for Lost Picasso Found in Italian Villa

    📽️ 📅 2024 Report: A painting discovered in the 1960s in the basement of a villa in Italy was reportedly identified as a lost Picasso. Originally picked up by a junk dealer, the oil painting—depicting a woman in a blue dress—has been valued at approximately $6.6 million. Experts believe it portrays Picasso’s lover and muse. The artwork's rarity and value have stunned the art world. Full story in a short video.

      █ Video: 🔗 WTHR / YouTube


      ▌Related: Tools • Lists • Art

        3. Comic Cache—$3.5 Million for Trove of Comics Found in Basement Closet

        📰 📅 2012 Report: In Virginia, USA, a man discovered a collection of 345 comic books in a basement closet, initially unaware of their value. The collection, which includes some of the most prized comic book issues, sold for about $3.5 million. Key highlights include a 1939 Detective Comics No. 27, featuring Batman's debut, and a 1938 Action Comics No. 1, marking Superman's first appearance.

        █ Story and images: 🔗 TODAY


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          4. Hockey Card Jackpot—$2.5 Million for Unopened 1979 Case Found in Basement

          📰 📽️ 📅 2024 Report: A family in Saskatchewan, Canada, sold a rare unopened 1979 hockey card case for $2.5 million (USD) after a prior $3.7 million sale fell through. Found in a basement, the case may contain 25-27 Wayne Gretzky rookie cards—potentially worth over $200,000 each.

            █ Story, images, and video: 🔗 CBC


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            5. Jewel Hoard—Millions for Historic 1912 Discovery Unearthed in London Basement

            📰 📽️ 📅 2013 Report: In the UK, a worker unearthed an exceptional collection of nearly 500 Elizabethan and Jacobean jewels beneath a tenement house in Cheapside, near St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. Discovered during a demolition—a century earlier in June 1912—this collection, known as the "Cheapside Hoard," was hidden beneath a cellar's chalk floor and is considered priceless. Originally acquired by George Fabian Lawrence, an antiquities trader, from the demolition workers, these treasures provide insight into the 17th-century global gem trade and jewelry styles. Today, the collection would likely be valued at millions.

              █ Story, images, and videos: 🔗 GIA


              ▌Related: Tools • Lists • Jewelry

              6. Basement to Getty—$870,000 for Early Rembrandt Found in NJ

              📰 📅 2016 Report: In Bloomfield, New Jersey, USA, a painting originally misidentified as a 19th-century work and valued at $500 was found in a basement during an estate review. Later authenticated as a 1624 Rembrandt—one of his earliest known works—it sold at auction for $870,000. The rediscovered treasure was loaned to the Getty Museum.

              █ Story and images: 🔗 Los Angeles Times


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              7. Whisky Wonder—£385,630 ($486,000) for 190-Year-Old Bottles Found in Scottish Castle Cellar

              📰 📅 2023 Report: In Scotland, whisky found behind a door in a castle cellar has fetched £385,630 (approximately $486,000). Dating from 1833, its rarity is unparalleled and it's believed to have been been sampled by Queen Victoria.

              █ Story and images: 🔗 The Herald


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                8. Debut Ticket—$468,000 for Michael Jordan's First NBA Game Ticket Found in Basement

                📰 📅 2023 Report: In Connecticut, USA, a man discovered a priceless ticket to Michael Jordan’s debut NBA game from 1984—stored in a manila folder in his basement. Recognized as the only complete ticket of its kind, its rarity and pristine condition significantly elevated its value, ultimately fetching $468,000 at auction. This ticket not only captures a pivotal moment in sports history but also holds immense nostalgic value, making it a collectible of considerable historical importance. The sale, highlighted by a vibrant auction event, underscored the enduring impact of sports memorabilia.

                  █ Story and images: 🔗 ESPN


                  ▌Related: Tools • Lists • Sports

                  9. Superman Surprise—$450,000 Value for Found Comic Saves Family Farm

                  📽️ 📅 2010 Report: In the U.S., a family saved their foreclosed farm after discovering an original copy of Action Comics #1—the first Superman comic—while packing. Bought for 10¢ in 1938, the comic was appraised at $350,000-$450,000, offering a priceless lifeline. Reportedly found in a basement box, it remains an extraordinary rarity. Full story in a two minute video.

                    █ Video: 🔗 Metropolis / MSNBC / YouTube


                    ▌Related: Tools • Lists • Comic

                    These inspiring discoveries reveal the untapped potential of everyday spaces as hidden treasure troves. Explore the top 40 finds below the ad ☟

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                    Stuff & Spots: 120 Legends

                    1. Antique
                    2. Art
                    3. Attic
                    4. Auction
                    5. Barn Find
                    6. Basement
                    7. Bizarre
                    8. Book & Script
                    9. Box & Trunk
                    10. Camera & Photo
                    11. Car & Motorcycle
                    12. Closet & Cabinet
                    13. Clothing & Fashion
                    14. Coin & Banknote
                    15. Collectible
                    16. Comic
                    17. Doll & Bear
                    18. Drawer & Dresser
                    19. Dumpster & Trash
                    20. Electronic & Tech
                    21. Estate Sale
                    22. Flea Market
                    23. Hidden in Plain Sight
                    24. Jewelry, Gem, Watch
                    25. Metal Detecting
                    26. Music, Vinyl, Memorabilia
                    27. Musical Instrument
                    28. Online
                    29. Pottery, Glass, Ceramic
                    30. Random
                    31. Shed & Garage
                    32. Shelf & Mantel
                    33. Shipwreck
                    34. Showbiz
                    35. Sports
                    36. Storage Locker
                    37. Thrifting
                    38. Toy
                    39. Video Game
                    40. Yard Sale