Treasure Finds from Flea Markets, Rummage, Yard and Garage Sales

Whether you know them as rummage sales, yard sales, garage sales, or by some other title, these improvised store fronts for peoples’ used items can be a treasure trove for those looking for a good deal. 

When one person decides they have enough items that they no longer like or need, a possible avenue for their removal, and a source of revenue for the owner, is to setup up a few tables, post a few flyers, take out an ad, and wait for the people to start pulling up.

Normal sale items usually include clothing, old music or movie collections, furniture, knick-knacks, etc.  While these items can sometimes bring immense joy to the buyer, every once in a while you hear a story of almost unbelievable finds.

Painting for $.50 that wouldn’t sell, worth $19,000

Take for instance a story from a few years back where a painting that was up for sale for $.50 did not sell.  Imagine the surprise when the director of the halfway house that owned it decided to research the painter, only to find out it was Alfred de Breanski, a painter from the 19th century whose work was very prized. This very same painting that did not sell for $.50 at the rummage sale sold for $19,000 at auction.

Another famous painting, by Martin Johnson Heade, bought for a few bucks goes for $1.3M.

Another similar example comes from Wisconsin where Roger Olshanski bought a dirty painting of magnolias.  After holding on to it for a few years, with the help of a friend of his, he discovered it was done by Martin Johnson Heade.  At auction, the painting he paid no more than $20 for, sold for $1,350,000.

Flea market find of Declaration of Independence

Do not forget flea markets as possible locations for good finds.  Back in 1989, a picture frame was bought for $4, but hiding in it folded up was a copy of the Declaration of Independence.  At auction, the $4 investment yielded a return of $2,420,000.  Not bad for the cost of a value meal!

The stories could go on and on, but the moral of the story here is to keep an eye out.  You never know what you may come across in the most unlikely places.

Rick Horowitz. “Treasure Hunt? He’s Right at Home.” http://www.yesrick.com/053000.htm. 12 Oct. 2007.

Raab, Selwyn. “Sotheby’s Challenged In Selling Declaration.” The New York Times. 4 Jun. 1993.

“Painting’s value a pleasant surprise” KRISTV.com website http://www.kristv.com/global/story.asp?s=3720818&ClientType=Printable. 12 Oct. 2007.