🖊️ 11—Yard Sale Legends

TREASURES

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✩ Legendary Treasures ✩

█ A-Z // Fortunes Found 🔗 - [ i ]

Yard Sales, 11 Finds, $74 Million

Hidden Treasures Found in Everyday Places

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

A few legendary examples from the list below:

$1 million for a sketch by a pop-art icon
$2 million for a rare Chinese sculpture
$15 million for a painting by a historic artist

These treasures—often hidden in plain sight—remind us that everyday places can hold extraordinary stories. Explore the full list below the ad ☟

Vintage treasure-hunt advertising in retro cityscape.

11—Legendary Finds:

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.

Story and images: 🔗 CBS News

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.

Story and images: 🔗 Smithsonian Magazine

3. Bowl Bonanza—$2.2 Million for $3 Garage Sale Find

📽️ 📅 2013 Report: In the United States, an unassuming ceramic bowl purchased for $3 at a garage sale in upstate New York was later identified as a priceless Chinese masterpiece from the 10th or 11th century. After being casually displayed in the buyer's living room for six years, the bowl was recognized as a significant artifact and sold for $2.2 million at an auction in New York City. Full story in a one-minute video.

Video: 🔗 CBS News / YouTube

4. 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.

Video: 🔗 PBS Antiques Roadshow / YouTube

5. Sketch Sensation—£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.

Video: 🔗 Channel 4 News / YouTube

6. 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.

Story and image: 🔗 The Magazine Antiques

7. 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.

Story and images: 🔗 CNN

8. 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. The rare find was considered the most valuable movie poster ever, underscoring 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.

Video: 🔗 Metropolis / YouTube

9. 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.

Video: 🔗 PBS Antiques Roadshow / YouTube

10. 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.

Story and image: 🔗 MLB.com

11. Yard Sale Yowza—£52K ($70,500) for Antique Photo Book Found in Closet

📰 📽️ 2025 Report: In Maryland, USA, a rare 1886 deluxe photo book by Peter Henry Emerson, Life and Landscape on the Norfolk Broads, was discovered in a closet after being purchased years earlier at a yard sale. The book—one of only 25 known deluxe editions—contains 40 platinum prints and was expected to fetch up to £50,000 ($67,000) at auction. In a later update, it reportedly sold for £52,480 ($70,500).

Story, video, and images: 🔗 Fine Books & Collections

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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