We have all heard stories about valuable finds located in rummage sales, thrift shops or even along side the street waiting to go to the dump.  Remember the HuntTreasure.net news account of the painting “Tres personajes” or “Three People”.

This 1970 work by Rufino Tamayo, was bought for $1,049,000 at an auction by Sothbeys.  Only a couple of years earlier, it was found by a woman on the street by a pile of trash in New York City.

Elizabeth Gibson, the finder of the rare painting, returned it to the original owner with the help of Sotheby’s.  She received $15,000 for her troubles, as well as a portion of the proceeds from the auction.  Not a bad return for her quick thinking!

For more details on this story, read Priceless Tamayo Painting Found in Trash, and for a story on similar finds, please read the HuntTreasure.net article One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure.