🖊️ 7—Shelf Legends

TREASURES

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✩ Legendary Treasures ✩

█ A-Z // Fortunes Found 🔗 - [ i ]

Shelves, 7 Finds, $97 Million

Hidden Treasures Found in Everyday Places

Some of the most incredible treasures aren’t buried—they’re 'hidden' in plain sight on shelves and mantelpieces. News stories highlight astonishing finds, from rare antiques to valuable art and collectibles. By exploring the map, you can see how different treasure eras, styles, and locations have shaped these discoveries.

A few legendary examples from the list below include:

$162,000 for medals found in a bookcase
$556,000 for a historic almanac discovery
$18 Million for a pair of vases sitting on a mantel

Often overlooked for years, these incredible discoveries reveal how valuable treasures can be hidden in plain sight. Explore the full list below the ad ☟

Vintage treasure-hunt advertising in retro cityscape.

7—Legendary Finds:

1. Vase Victory—£43 Million ($69 Million) for 1740s Chinese Treasure Found on Shelf in Home

📽️ 📅 2010 Report: In London, UK, a Chinese vase from the 1740s—unexpectedly discovered by a woman and her son on a bookcase during a house clearance at a deceased relative’s home—sold for an astonishing £43 million at auction, approximately $69 million based on exchange rates at the time. Full story in an four-minute video.

Video: 🔗 Channel 4 News / YouTube

2. Antique Elegance—£14.7 Million ($18.7 Million) for Rare Vases Found on Mantel

📰 📽️ 📅 2017 Report: In the UK, a pair of overlooked 18th-century Qianlong vases on a mantelpiece fetched an astonishing £14.7 million ($18.7 million in 2023 rates). Inherited and undervalued, these rare vases hold significant historical and artistic value.

Full story, video, and images: 🔗 Christie's

3. Ceramic Cache—$9 Million for Vase Found in Pet-Filled Home

📰 📅 2020 Report: A Qianlong dynasty vase (1735–1799)—a true treasure—was discovered in a pet-filled home in Central Europe and sold for over $9 million at auction. This rare vase, found in an open cupboard, is distinguished by its intricate design and technical mastery. Remarkably, it had previously been sold for just £44 (equivalent to around $1,500 in 2024, adjusted for inflation). The vase’s survival in such a bustling household adds to the extraordinary tale of this hidden treasure.

Full story and images: 🔗 Smithsonian Magazine

4. Shelf Surprise—$556,000 for Rare 1733 Franklin Almanac Found in Library

📰 📅 2009 Report: In Pennsylvania, USA, a library found a rare 1733 edition of Poor Richard’s Almanack on its shelf. Initially thought to be a reprint, it was authenticated and sold for $556,500.

Details and images: 🔗 Will Stern / X

5. Austen Anthology—$481,000 for Priceless Music Book Discovered on UK Shelf

📰 📅 2023 Report: A long-lost music book, once owned by Jane Austen, was discovered on a distant relative's shelf at Chawton House, UK. Believed to have been lost between 1978 and 1987, this 200+-year-old treasure contains rare musical notations by Austen herself—highlighting her creative pursuits beyond literature. The discovery has underscored the book's historical and monetary value, estimated at around $481,000 USD.

Full story and images: 🔗 Ludwig Van

6. Olympic Medals Cache—$162,000 for 1904 Medals Found in Bookcase

📰 📅 2016 Report: In a remarkable discovery in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA, two 1904 Olympic medals—long thought lost—were found at the bottom of a bookcase in a farmhouse. Awarded in a historic Olympic golf competition, these medals were later reported by various media sources to have sold at auction for $162,517. Priceless due to their historical significance, they were uncovered in a former resident's home, highlighting a significant chapter in Olympic golf history.

Full story and images: 🔗 Golf Digest

7. Jumble Sale Jackpot—£28,000 ($35,000) for 25p (30-cent) Harry Potter First Edition

📰 📅 2019 Report: In Staffordshire, England, an office worker unknowingly bought a rare first-edition Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone hardback for 25p at a jumble sale. One of only 500 printed in 1997, the ultra-rare book sat on her shelf for two decades before being identified and auctioned for £28,000 ($35,000).

Full story and images: 🔗 Devon Live

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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