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1. Pollock Puzzle—$50 Million Potential for Painting Pulled from U.S. Yard Sale

📰 📅 2016 Report: In San Bernardino, California, USA, a retired truck driver bought a painting from a thrift store for $5 as a gag gift. When her friend couldn’t fit it through the door, she attempted to sell it at a yard sale, where a teacher suggested it might be by Jackson Pollock. Although experts disputed its authenticity, forensic analysis later found matching fingerprints. She rejected offers of $2 million and reportedly turned down $9 million in a subsequent documentary, believing the painting to be worth at least $50 million.

Full story and images: 🔗 CBS News

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2. Van Gogh Vision—$15 Million Painting Bought for $50 at Garage Sale

📰 📅 2025 Report: In Minnesota, USA, an antiques collector purchased a painting at a garage sale for under $50. Experts now believe it is a lost Vincent van Gogh portrait, potentially worth $15 million. The oil painting, depicting a fisherman, was authenticated through scientific and historical analysis. Its authorship remains debated.

Full story and images: 🔗 Smithsonian Magazine

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3. Antique Miracle—$2 Million for Chinese Bodhisattva Found at $100 Garage Sale

📽️ 📅 2020 Report: In the USA, an early 15th-century Chinese bodhisattva—discovered on the second day of a garage sale in Kirkwood, St. Louis, for between $75 and $100—was initially valued at $100,000 to $125,000 before fetching over $2 million at auction. Its rarity and market value underscored its extraordinary significance. Full story in a six-minute video posted by PBS Antiques Roadshow.

Full story: 🔗 PBS Antiques Roadshow / YouTube

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4. Warhol Sketch—£1.3M ($1.6M) for Early Warhol Found at £3 ($5) Garage Sale

📽️ 📅 2012 Report: A British businessman made a notable discovery at a garage sale in Las Vegas, United States. He purchased a sketch for just £3 (around $5), which was later identified as a potential early work by Andy Warhol, valued at approximately £1.3M (around $1.6 million in 2024). The sketch, signed 'Warhol,' depicts 1930s American star Rudy Vallee and was revealed during the reframing of the purchased artwork. Believed to have been created when Warhol was about nine years old, this piece, if authenticated, could significantly enrich our understanding of his early artistic endeavors. Watch the full story in a three-minute video posted by Channel 4 News, a British public broadcast service.

Full story: 🔗 Channel 4 News / YouTube

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5. Vase Discovery—$1.2 Million for Yard Sale Find in Florida

📰 📅 2009 Report: In the USA, a Chinese porcelain vase, initially believed to be a 20th-century copy and purchased at a Florida yard sale, sold for $1.2 million at auction. Its rarity and potential status as Imperial porcelain from the Qianlong dynasty make it a priceless discovery.

Full story and image: 🔗 The Magazine Antiques

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6. Ming Marvel—$721,800 for 15th-Century Chinese Lotus Bowl Bought for $35 at Yard Sale

📰 📅 2021 Report: A 15th-century Chinese 'lotus bowl,' purchased for $35 at a yard sale near New Haven, Connecticut, sold for $721,800. Crafted for China's imperial court during the Ming dynasty, this rare find stunned experts with its historical significance and extraordinary resale value.

Full story and images: 🔗 CNN 

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7. Monster Art Marvel—$600,000 for Rare 1931 Movie Poster Found at Yard Sale

📽️ 📅 2013 Report: In a stunning discovery of vintage poster art at a tag sale in northern California, USA, a buyer uncovered an original 1931 'Frankenstein' movie poster hidden inside a used briefcase. Purchased as old luggage for a nominal fee, the briefcase contained a priceless six-sheet poster—long thought to be nonexistent. This rare find, now considered the most valuable movie poster ever, underscores its unique historical significance. Experts estimated its value at over $600,000 at the time. Full story in a 10-minute Amazing Treasures video shared by Metropolis.

Full story: 🔗 Metropolis / YouTube

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8. Furniture Fortune—$541,000 for $25 Yard Sale Table

📽️ 📅 2020 Report: A school teacher in Secaucus, New Jersey, USA, uncovered a hidden treasure at a garage sale—a moldy card table purchased for just $25. Appraisers later identified it as a creation by the famed cabinetmakers John and Thomas Seymour, estimating its value at up to $300,000. When sold at auction, including the buyer's premium, this rare find fetched an astonishing $541,000, setting a world record for Federal furniture. The table was celebrated for its rarity, original finish, and historical significance. Discover more about this treasure in a seven-minute video posted by PBS Antiques Roadshow.

Full story: 🔗 PBS Antiques Roadshow / YouTube

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9. Brooklyn Baseball Relic—$92,000 for 1865 Team Card Found in Yard Sale Album

📰 📅 2013 Report: In Baileyville, Maine, a man at a yard sale purchased an old photo album for an undisclosed two-digit sum. Inside, he discovered the oldest known baseball card—an 1865 Brooklyn Atlantics team image. One of only two known copies, it later sold at auction for $92,000.

Full story and image: 🔗 MLB.com

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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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