Be On The Lookout For The Following Valuable Items At The Thrift Store

Rare Photo Of Billy the Kid

Randy Guijarro had been going through boxes of photos at a curio shop when he stumbled upon old images sold at $1 per piece. There was a gentleman in the images that looked familiar to him. It turned out that his intuition had been correct. The man in the photo was none other than Billy, the Kid! Born William H. Bonney, the historical figure was an outlaw wanted for several crimes. He was among the most notorious figures of the old West. The gunfighter met his end at the age of 21 and left behind a legacy. The photos are scarce, which explains why it was worth a cool $5 million.

Rare Photo Of Billy The Kid

1823 Edition of the Declaration of Independence

Michael Sparks, a music technician, had no idea that he bought the bonafide original copy of the Declaration of Independence. He paid $2.48 for it at a thrift shop. After taking a close look at it, he saw that it came with an engraving and a mark saying 1823. President John Quincy Adams ordered only 200 copies of the Declaration of Independence in 1820. Three years later, they were printed by William Stone. It is believed that there are 35 of them remain to this day. What makes this one worth $477,650 is how well it has been preserved since it was shellacked and varnished. Of course, the only one engrossed and signed is found in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

1823 Edition Of The Declaration Of Independence

Monster Pearl

There is a chance that you also have a bunch of things that you do not need or use below your bed. You might not even know what is down there right at this moment. A fisherman in the Philippines kept a huge ‘rock’ in the same spot for years, leaving it there for luck. He later found out that his lucky charm is the biggest pearl on the planet. It was 2 feet long and weighed 75 pounds. Now worth $100 million, he found it off the coast of an island. Pearls grow inside a living organism, typically an oyster. Aside from its massive size, the pearl in question is also notable because it was formed inside a clam!

Monster Pearl

Rare John Constable Mini Painting

When Robin Darrell bought a box of bits and pieces at a local auction, he did not pay much attention to a small painting the size of a postcard. He left it in a drawer and pretty much forgot about its existence. A decade after that, he passed it on to his son Rob. The younger man was intrigued by the painting and decided to look more into it. He later found out that this was an original John Constable piece worth $390,000. The artist was a landscape painter whose works were inspired by rural Suffolk. His works are some of the most admired and treasured in the history of British art. We are sure that both men were surprised to learn the truth about it. For the longest time, they had no idea that it was a masterpiece.

Rare John Constable Mini Painting

Signed Stephen Hawking Book

It is not every day that you stumble upon a handwritten Stephen Hawking autograph. Someone lucky stumbled upon it at a Goodwill store for only 99 cents. The physicist was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS in 1963. He could not write by the end of the ‘70s. Some of his original signatures have been auctioned off in the past. In 2015, one of those went for $50,000. After he lost control of his hands, he would only witness his book’s signing and then leave approval of it with a thumbprint stamp. He was one of the greatest minds in recent history. His book “A Brief History of Time” has seen commercial success and is considered a bestseller. In 2018, the scientist passed away at 76 years old.

Signed Stephen Hawking Book

1800s Diamond Ring

They say that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. The one in this photo is worth $455,000! The owner found it at a junk sale in London, assumed it was just costume jewelry, and wore it like that for three decades. She paid $13 for it at a junk sale and had no clue that it was exponentially more valuable than that. One day, she got it appraised. Only then did she find out that it was the 26-carat Fortuna diamond from the 1800s. It is thought to have been worn by Indian nobles centuries ago. As you can guess, they are scarce. Olivar Munson turned them into a pendant necklace with 5-carat Argyle pink diamonds.

1800s Diamond Ring

Apollo 11 Cufflinks

If you consider yourself a space enthusiast, you will be blown away by these cuff links. Michael Collins is a NASA astronaut who orbited the moon in the 1969 command module of the Apollo 11. He loaned the originals to the National Air and Space Museum. From vintage photos to system handbooks, collections from that space mission proved to be popular. Original newspapers and magazines can get hundreds or thousands of dollars! The original cufflinks are originally made of enamel, gold, and pearl. It is not that hard to spot imitations. Someone found these at a Salvation Army for $4, but they are worth $4,000.

Apollo 11 Cufflinks

Ancient John Bartlam Teapot

Yes, this teapot is little and short. Even so, trust us when we say that its value is big and stout! Someone got it at an online auction for $20. However, neither the buyer nor the seller had any idea that it was one of the earliest porcelain pieces produced in the United States. A British potter by the name of John Bartlam moved across the pond in 1973. His pieces were the highest quality porcelain in the country at the time. The white and blue pots were thought to be luxurious and got a lot of attention. They are rare and go for a lot of money despite chips and missing bits. This piece has an estimated value of $806,000.

Ancient John Bartlam Teapot

Rare Pink Floyd Final Press of “Wish You Were Here”

It depends on how young or alternative they are, but most kids have no idea what vinyl is. However, we are sure that everyone would appreciate how valuable a rare record is. In 1975, Pink Floyd released a record called “Wish You Were Here.” It is easily one of the best albums ever made. A lot of thought went into the record cover, with a green cellophane sleeve hiding the artwork. There was a sticker of a handshake, the logo of the album, over the sleeve. The symbolism of the handshake was repeated several times on the cover. Someone found this in a Goodwill for only a buck, but it is worth $6,830.

Rare Pink Floyd Final Press Of “Wish You Were Here”

Rare “Stadium Events” Video Game Cartridge

Jennifer Thompson found this cartridge of Stadium Events at Goodwill. She recognized it right away since she read an article about the most sought-after video games in the world. She got it for only $7.99 and went on to sell it for $25,000. The game came out in 1987 as part of the Family Fun Fitness mat package. That was essentially the Wii of the ‘80s. After Nintendo bought out the company, they removed the original mats from the market. They were only for sale for a short period of time. It is believed that there are only ten to twenty sets in existence right now. It is so rare that the empty box has gone for $10,000 in the past. If you like video games, we are sure that this is a fascinating tidbit.

Rare “Stadium Events” Video Game Cartridge

Obama’s Distinguished Service Award

A collector allegedly found the Distinguished Service Award of the 44th President of the United States. The lucky person joked about tweeting Barack Obama about it. However, it is not confirmed whether the former POTUS actually received it in the first place. The record says that he had been at an event in Iowa at the time of the ceremony. The award celebrates people who strengthened or improved education in some way. It is hard not to wonder how much this would go for at an auction. These days, Obama collectibles are worth a lot of money. An action figure can be worth $350, while a signed campaign poster is worth $2,499. At any rate, an award like this is definitely priceless.

Obama’s Distinguished Service Award

World War II-era Wine

You might like vintages, but this one takes it to the next level. We are sure that collectors would love to bring this home, but we have no idea if this would still taste good. The bottle dates all the way back to the Second World War. According to the label, it is ‘reserved for allied armies.’ It was made by Mumm, which is found in Reims, France. The company is one of the biggest wine producers and makes the top 4 champagne on the planet. A ’59 bottle went for $200 at an auction without a wartime label. It is believed that this historical artifact could go for as much as $9,000. Not bad for a $2 purchase, huh?

World War II Era Wine

Augusta National Green Jacket

In the world of pro golf, one of the biggest competitions is called the Master’s Tournament. It is held in Augusta, Georgia. The winner gets to bring home the Augusta National Green Jacket, which the Georgia club members don on the premises. However, only the champion is allowed to wear it in public. When a journalist saw the club logo on a green jacket at a thrift store in Toronto, he purchased it right away. The price tag only said $5, but he knew that it was worth more than that. He eventually sold it. Twenty years later, the jacket went for an incredible $139,349 at an auction.

Augusta National Green Jacket

Lost Pollock Painting

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is hard to deny that this is the case here. Even though Teri Horton thought the painting was rather ugly, she bought it as a gag gift for a friend. It cost her $5. Her pal did not have space for the huge canvas, which was 5.5 feet by 4 feet big, so Horton took it home. She eventually tried to sell it, but an art teacher told her that it could be a Jackson Pollock piece. After that, she went to authenticators to check if this were the case. The experts have proven that it is an original artwork by the abstract painter. Horton even appeared in a documentary about it!

Lost Pollock Painting

Signed Picasso Poster

Zachary Bodish liked to visit thrift stores. He had been doing his thing when he spotted a $14 poster that grabbed his attention. He knew that posters are not typically worth a lot of money, but they looked unique. After all, it was not glossy but matte. He took a close look at it but failed to notice the signature written in faint red pencil. After doing his research, he realized that it needs to be appraised. It is believed that a signed Picasso poster is worth anything from $4,000 to $6,000. He is still one of the most famous painters in recent memory. If this turns out to be the real deal, there will be a lot of interested buyers.

Signed Picasso Poster

Faberge Golden Egg

The luckiest egg out there is the Third Imperial Faberge Egg. After nearly a hundred years, the location of this third imperial egg of the Russian royal family has come out. One of 54 pieces, the 8.2-cm egg is believed to be worth $33 million. Encrusted in diamond and sapphire, the piece was made for Emperor Alexander III. A man bought it for around $14,000 but had no idea just how valuable this actually was. The sale price was undisclosed, but it was much higher than he initially had in mind at the start. There are 42 eggs in museums and private collections. The rest are believed to be either destroyed or lost.

Faberge Golden Egg

Rare Stuffed Hybrid Head

Indeed, bike helmets should ideally be aerodynamic and practical. This must be one of the most bizarre items you will ever find at a thrift store. Maybe it was a tool to frighten others to make a big personal space bubble. If it is not that, perhaps it was part of a costume. At any rate, we do not think that this would sell fast at an auction. It is obviously a fake anima, taxidermy rakes in a lot of money. In the past, some expensive pieces include 16 taxidermy pigeons made by an artist called Maurizio Cattelan. They went for $490,000 in New York in 2005. The Maori Kuri dog is another pricey piece that went for $17,438 in 2013.

Rare Stuffed Hybrid Head

Philip Treacy Handbag

Did you know that designer handbags make for beautiful investment pieces? The owners typically treat them very well in the hopes of reselling them in the future. John Richard saw a little box at an Oxfam and found a handbag inside. He was interested in Elvis Presley and Andy Warhol’s images, but he only saw the Philip Treacy label later on. After a hat designer whose works have been donned by members of the royal family, the brand was named after a hat designer. He discovered that the handbag was a limited-edition piece of which only ten were made. Richard got it for $26, but it is worth $350,000. Aren’t you jealous?

Philip Treacy Handbag

Original Signed Hemingway Novel

There is no doubt that Ernest Hemingway was one of the most important writers of the 20th century. He was the one who wrote “For Whom The Bell Tolls” and “The Old Man and the Sea.” He reshaped the world of literature forever. We are not surprised to hear that collectibles from his life are deemed valuable. A handwritten note of his went for $6,375. On the other hand, a signed document was sold for $3,612.50. A signed book depends on the condition and edition of the copy, but you can expect to get a few thousand dollars for it. Someone auctioned off a first edition of “The Sun Also Rise” for $130,000.

Original Signed Hemingway Novel

1894 Elgin Watch

In 1854, the Elgin National Watch Company was founded in the United States. If you have an early gold timepiece from the brand, you can make $15,000. Even though they were popular, they got high demand. Many watches were made over the course of a hundred years. This is why they are now collectibles, although they had been reasonably priced compared to the other items on the market. The value will depend on the production year and materials since only ten percent were solid gold. The watches have a serial number that you can look up online. The company shut down in 1964 after making more than 60 million pieces. This $10 thrift shop find is worth $200 to $5,000.

1894 Elgin Watch

Original Framed Moon Landing Headline and Stamp

The Apollo 11 moon landing was one of the biggest moments of the 20th century. It caught the attention of both conspiracy theorists and space enthusiasts. These days, you will see the things that traveled to the moon in museums and private collections. The pieces are deemed rare and valuable. There are valuable items that were not used in the mission but covered the specific day. We are talking about items like stamps and newspapers. Even though they are not worth millions of dollars like the actual space paraphernalia, there is still interest in them. You can sell them for anywhere from $30 to $200.

Original Framed Moon Landing Headline And Stamp

1976 Elvis Concert Tickets

The King of Rock and Roll is one of the most iconic musicians ever. Not only was he a talented singer, but he also had a huge impact on pop culture. He delivered some of the best live shows as well! It should not come as a surprise to hear that his collectibles are worth a lot of money. His birth record went for $87,500. A diamond ring of his, on the other hand, was worth $107,500. His first piano went for $112,500. Can you believe that an empty prescription bottle went for $4,000? His fans are as dedicated as can be. The old concert tickets in this photo are worth anywhere from $400 to $2,000!

1976 Elvis Concert Tickets

The “Lost Negatives” of Ansel Adams

In Fresno, a small box of 6.5 by 8.5 glass plate negatives of Yosemite and San Francisco were discovered by a painter. For four years, he had the box stowed below a table. He only realized just how valuable its contents might be later on. It is said that the glass pates were actually photo negatives by Ansel Adams! He was an American photographer who shot gorgeous landscapes across the country. The photos are worth $200 million. Sadly, it morphed into a nasty court battle as the painter sued his lawyer for keeping the profits from the print sales, but he was himself sued for trademark infringement from the sale!

The “Lost Negatives” Of Ansel Adams

Signed Weezer “The Green Album” CD

If you ask us, there is something unbelievable about finding autographed CDs in thrift stores. We wonder if an emo kid had an argument with his mother about the cleanliness of his room. Perhaps she ended up unwittingly packing up his things and putting them in a bag that she sent to Goodwill. Weezer is an American rock band whose collectibles have more sentimental value than anything else. This will probably go for $150 to $200, which is still a decent profit if you bought it for 99 cents. In our opinion, it would be worth the time and effort you spent going through the box of CDs there.

Signed Weezer “The Green Album” CD

Signed Copy of “The Shining”

We are not the only people in the world who think that The Shining was one of the most horrific books ever written. It became a blockbuster film under the direction of Stanley Kubrick. Now considered a horror masterpiece, the Stephen King novel has since sold more than a million copies. You can buy a copy at any bookstore, but we doubt that it will come with the author’s signature. A thrift store customer hit the jackpot by purchasing one such book for only $1.99. Upon opening the front cover, she was surprised to find a personal note from him that dated back to 6/29/81. It is worth $600!

Signed Copy Of “The Shining”

Unopened Mint Tamagotchi

If you are not familiar with the Tamagotchi, you must be very young. It is a handheld digital pet created by Japanese artists called Aki Maita and Akihiro Yokoi. The Bandai Tamagotchi came out in the mid-‘90s and took the world by storm. You would be a true ‘90s kid if you had one of these! They now go for $75 to $100. A thrift store customer was lucky enough to find an unopened one in mint condition. When it came out, it cost about $17.99 apiece. He bought it for a lower price but can now resell it for more.

Unopened Mint Tamagotchi

WWI-era Film Camera

A thrift store customer discovered a camera stored in a leather case. It once belonged to a soldier who served in the First World War. The vintage device was in good condition and came with an undeveloped Verichrome film. Kodak called the roll “amazingly hearty” and can “withstand” various conditions. There is a chance that the lucky buyer could develop the images. The camera has an estimated value of $175 to $200. Kodak does not just make civilian cameras, but it made military use cameras in the past. The A2 came in handy for aerial pictures. The Eastman Kodak K-1 was also popular during that period.

WWI-Era Film Camera

Night Vision Goggles

We doubt that this is the perfect pair of night vision goggles for you if you need subtlety. If you only want to put it on display, they will the trick! Can you believe that someone found this at Goodwill for only $2.99? These are night-vision goggles by Infinity Ward, which introduced the Call of Duty series to the world. It is now one of the best-known video games in history and has inspired various merchandise. These were originally sold at $200 or so. So that you know, real night vision gear will cost you $10,000.

Night Vision Goggles

Vintage 1970s Rainbow Kettle

Are you planning to decorate your house with cool finds? If this were the case, you can’t go wrong at thrift stores. Check out this ‘70s rainbow tea kettle that a shopper found at a store. It set them back by no more than $7. If you look at eBay, you will see that they go for $39.99. This is a great bargain! In the ‘70s, the world was in love with rainbows. In those days, just about everything you can think of came with a rainbow design. The hippie aesthetic of the ‘60s was carried over, as was disco.

Vintage 1970s Rainbow Kettle

Private Letters Of Arnold Palmer

Do you like golf? If so, you are probably familiar with the name Arnold Palmer. Known as one of the most iconic players in the sport’s history, he was also among the most charismatic athletes ever. The pro golfer won various PGA Tour events but passed away in 2016. His personal effects offer us great insight into his life. A South Florida resident found upon these private letters of his at a flea market. The person shared that his grandfather found an old trunk in a social media post and bought it for $5. Upon opening it, I saw found pictures, letters, and newspaper clippings signed by Palmer himself.

Private Letters Of Arnold Palmer

Mint Condition Nintendo Entertainment System and Games

Mind you. Thrift stores are not the places for amazing deals. It is also possible to score cool items at garage sales! Most of the time, people do not realize the value of the things that they have. This happened when an “old lady” put a mint Nintendo Entertainment System and several sales games. She sold it for only $10! The buyer explained that she did not “realize what it was” in the beginning. We wonder if that person told her that it was actually worth $100 to $500 instead.

Mint Condition Nintendo Entertainment System And Games

Painting Made By An Elephant

We all know that elephants are gentle giants. They are compassionate and wise creatures. A garage sale enthusiast found out that they can even paint sometimes. Of course, this is limited to abstract art. The shopper stumbled upon one such painting that even had a photo of the artist behind the piece. It is believed to be worth $39,000. At the moment, there are more than a dozen famous elephant artists that earn money by doing this. They are creative and intelligent creatures by nature, so it is possible to train them to paint. If you are interested in buying a piece, make sure to buy from a reputable company.

Painting Made By An Elephant

Mint Condition Wedding Dress

It is not a secret that weddings cost a lot of money. Most of the time, the wedding dress is one of the most expensive big day elements. A bride lucked out when she found this wedding dress at a local thrift shop. A wedding dress boutique had just donated several new gowns! We are sure that she was delighted when she brought home a $2,100 wedding dress for only $30. She was happy with it. Who wouldn’t be? It was a gorgeous strapless white gown that she got for very cheap.

Mint Condition Wedding Dress

Vase From “Pulp Fiction”

Are you familiar with the Quentin Tarantino cult classic Pulp Fiction? We sure you are. It has a very dedicated cult following. One of the most memorable parts of the film was the “watch scene,” Christopher Walken talked about a 1918 trench watch from the First World War. The vase from that scene was an odd one. A thrift shopper could not believe that they found it in a Goodwill store. It was a good thing that they instantly recognized it for what it was. They bought the piece for $5 or less. What makes this a truly great find is that memorabilia from the movie is worth $500 to $1,500.

Vase From “Pulp Fiction”

Antique Wurlitzer Organ

There are only several hundred classic Wurlitzer organs in existence today, even though thousands were made. A thrift store shopper spotted one of them while they were looking for a poster frame. They instead left with the musical instrument that they purchased for only 25 cents. If you look for one, you will probably see price tags that say anywhere from $1,200 to $10,000. In 1853, Rudolph Wurlitzer founded the company. He initially imported them from Germany until he made his own.

Antique Wurlitzer Organ

Piece of the Berlin Wall

From 1961 to 1989, the Berlin Wall split the capital city into East and West. It did not only physically separate the two but ideologically as well. The West was cut off from the rest of the world until the wall collapsed in 1989. The pieces of the barrier have since sold for hundreds and even thousands of dollars. They are generally worth $50 to $1,000. A thrift store customer found a small chunk of it for only two bucks. The rock-sized portion that the shopper called a “piece of history” had the date “July 1990” on it.

Piece Of The Berlin Wall

Doctor’s Kit Belonging To The First Performer Of The Artificial Heart Transplant

If you ask us, old doctor’s kits are already interesting enough on their own. They typically appear at thrift stores, where customers buy them to satiate their curiosity. This is not your regular doctor’s kit because it was once the property of Dr. William DeVries. The name might not ring a bell, but he was the first person to lead the first artificial heart transplant in 1982. Dubbed a medical miracle, the operation made headlines! The patient lived with the fake heart for 112 days and said that he agreed to it in the hopes of ushering in the advancement of modern science. This kit is believed to be worth $10,000.

Doctor’s Kit Belonging To The First Performer Of The Artificial Heart Transplant

AM Radio Toilet Paper Dispenser

There are times when you will stumble upon some extraordinary things at Goodwill. Check out this AM transistor radio and toilet paper roll holder combination. This pink contraption will help you tune in to the news while in the bathroom! There are two knobs. One of them is for tuning, while the other is for volume. The transistor radio was made by a Shibuya company, which now makes machines for bottling, loading, and packaging. You will find this at the Maas Museum in Australia. If you find one of these at your local thrift store, you can expect to cash it in for $25 to $80. Not bad.

AM Radio Toilet Paper Dispenser

Giant Clam

In general, clams grow from several inches to four feet big. The most massive clam found clocked in at 550 pounds. It was also 4.5 feet long. Even though this one is not the biggest out there, its size is still impressive. Someone stumbled upon it for only $12.44, whereas clams are believed to be worth $50 per 2.2 pounds. The giant clams can get pretty big, but they are probably not going to eat us. In the past, there have been rumors of giant clams that feed on humans. These claims have never been verified.

Giant Clam

Rare Copy Of “E.T.” Atari Cartridge

If you have an E.T. Atari game cartridge in mint condition, you can sell it for $108,000. This flea market customer was able to buy one for only $2! They said that this was the “worst game ever made.” But what the game so bad when the movie was so good? Apparently, it had to do with the fact that the game company rushed it, forsaking the game’s quality in the process. Atari also found itself in debt due to a large amount of merch. It was actually so bad that the company took to the New Mexico desert to bury millions of these cartridges and lock them in with concrete. Whoa.

Rare Copy Of “E.T.” Atari Cartridge

1950’s Gold-Plated Disney Plate

Look at this gorgeous gold-plated Disney plate. Someone found them at a thrift store for just $1.50. They are from the ‘50s, around the same time that the company was building its Los Angeles theme park. They also released classic movies like Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and Cinderella. Disney does not sell plates with this much gold any longer, which explains why this is worth more than $100. The most valuable ones are those that hail from the ‘30s, the ‘40s, and the ‘50s.

1950’s Gold Plated Disney Plate

“The Lost World: Jurassic Park” Film Crew Jacket

For only $9, a thrift store shopped found a genuine film crew jacket from Jurassic Park: The Lost World. Memorabilia from the movie typically goes for $500 to $1,500! You can get $400 for a signed poster, so we are sure that this is worth a lot of money. The movie had Richard Attenborough in the role of John Hammond. Common Sense Media said that the sequel offered “better dinosaurs.” The crew was made up of hundreds of people, from hair and makeup to special effects.

“The Lost World: Jurassic Park” Film Crew Jacket

1950’s Seagull Twin Reflex Camera

If you ask us, the buyer hit the jackpot when they stumbled upon a Seagull camera from the ‘50s. He also found a brass tripod at a different store! They went together very well. A camera like that will cost you around $210, while the tripod is around $60 to $70. This man was able to find them for less than a tenth of their actual value! Founded in 1958, Seagull Camera is the oldest camera company in China. The camera was probably one of its earliest products. At the moment, Seagull is based in Shanghai.

1950’s Seagull Twin Reflex Camera

Rare Silver Coffeemaker

A thrift store enthusiast called this silver coffeemaker the “best find of [his] thrifting career.” He paid $1.50 for it when it is worth $200. At the bottom, it even had a stamp that reads “1309.” This only proves that it is authentic, although no one knows its origins. The handheld coffee maker is scarce, but it is hard to look more into it. Silver coffee pots were invented in Paris in 1672. After this, American and British silversmiths started crafting their own. This was probably made later than that, however.

Rare Silver Coffeemaker

Diamond Ring

Can you believe that someone bought a flower-shaped ring with emeralds, diamonds, and 10k gold for only a dollar? This is worth anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000! It is not rare to buy jewelry from thrift stores and hope that it has a greater value than that. This was what happened to the buyer who was drawn to the lovely $1 ring. It was too small to fit anywhere aside from the pinky finger. However, we are sure that she was happy when she got it appraised and found out just how much it was worth.

Diamond Ring

Working Hot Air Balloon

Among the items on the list, this must be one of the most unusual ones. Do you have any idea how much a hot air balloon would cost? The answer to that is $18,000. You can probably understand how lucky this person was because they only got it for $200. On top of that, they were also brave enough to attempt to fly in this. It was painted yellow, black, and red. This reminds us of something that you will find at a circus. You can see the buyer and his pals in the photo as they tried to set it up.

Working Hot Air Balloon

Original “Star Wars” Lego Figurines

When you find collections of Star Wars Lego figurines, they are not always this inclusive. This huge collection comes with nearly every single character in the series. A collection like this is worth hundreds and even thousands of dollars! It all depends on how the bidding war goes. A buyer scored this collection for $2.98 at a thrift store. This is believed to be worth anywhere from $100 to $300.

Original “Star Wars” Lego Figurines

Rare Communion Set

During the Byzantine period, Russian Orthodox priests would take these “hospital” kits to hospitals. They would administer communion to patients in their beds and even give last rites if needed. They were often gold-plated and decorated with religious art. A communion set is worth at least $800 because they are rather rare. A thrift store customer managed to store one of these for only a fraction of that amount. The kit came with a chalice, a flagon, and a storage space for the wafers.

Rare Communion Set

Original 1851 Smith’s Illustrated Astronomy Textbook

For only 25 cents, a person brought an original copy of “Smith’s Illustrated Astronomy Textbook” from a thrift store. It came out in 1851! Amazingly, it has stayed in such good shape after more than a century and a half. There is a chance that the former owner had no idea what it was. After all, they would have sold it for much more than that otherwise. This was found at a garage sale in Illinois. The book was released for “public or common” schools across the United States. This is now worth $150.

Original 1851 Smith’s Illustrated Astronomy Textbook

Vintage 1939 Schumann Piano

In 1847, Schumann started making pianos in Illinois. It saw tons of success and grew rapidly. In fact, they had to relocate to a big factory in Rockford not long after that! The company produced upright, player, and grand pianos. Their products were popular in the early 1900s. The piano in question is a 1939 Schumann that normally costs more than $10,000 even if it had bumps and scratches. A buyer was lucky enough to buy this for less than $60 at a thrift store! Aside from a few scratches, it was “in great shape.”

Vintage 1939 Schumann Piano

“Star Wars: Episode I” Storyboards

In essence, movie storyboards are just graphic layouts. They show illustrations of images and sequences to guide the rest of the filmmaking process. Everyone in the industry uses them since this is a great way to map out how the story will be told. A thrift store enthusiast found the storyboard for Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. It had around twenty images from various scenes in the movie. It is not the entire “story,” but we can’t help but admire its artistry. It does not have the artist’s name, but this is surely a “thrift shop win.” After all, it is worth anywhere from $500 to $1,000!

“Star Wars: Episode I” Storyboards

Vintage Working Typewriter

You can find vintage typewriters that are either refurbished or in mint condition. They typically go from $200 to $800. A buyer found a mint one for only $15. This is a steal since it is actually worth $200 to $800. The typewriter looks like a ‘60s Royal Safari device because of its distinctive key shape and mid-century style. It can write in cursive and had a “Space Age” design. The Safari typically goes for $180 for a used piece in “good” condition. This one appears to be in perfect condition, so it is worth even more.

Vintage Working Typewriter

Dust From Mars

If you want to buy a sample from Mars, you should be willing to shell out $15,000. This buyer got really lucky since they scored a vial of dust for only $2. Can you believe just how lucky they were? Some people doubt the authenticity of the dust, however. At any rate, there is interest in samples from the red planet. The soil over there is toxic, so we hope that they kept it tightly sealed just in case. When the NASA Phoenix spacecraft landed there, it detected a concentration of 0.5% chlorine.

Dust From Mars

Rare 1959 LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm

Arizona shopper Zach Norris went to a Goodwill store in Phoenix to look for a cheap golf bag. Instead, he stumbled upon something much more valuable. He was blown away when he found a 1959 LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm watch for only $5.99. The watch was stored in a basketball with Fossil watches, priced at $15 a pop. Norris purchased this right away. It was a first-year edition piece from the watchmaker. After getting it appraised, he managed to resell it on eBay for an incredible $35,000.

Rare 1959 LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm

Original “Knight Rider” Mirror

Knight Rider is a franchise made up of four TV series. Even though it did not enjoy a long run, it developed a cult following. We got to see Michael Night as a vigilante bringing down criminals in the city on the show. It has a lot of memorabilia, such as this mirror. It has several decals of David Hasselhoff and the KITT Car. We do not know how much they paid for it, but it is worth $50 to $100.

Original “Knight Rider” Mirror

Original Watch From “Thunderball”

In Thunderball, we watched Sean Connery take on the role of James Bond. Agent 007 receives a special watch from Q in this movie. It was a modified Breitling that had a Geiger counter. After the movie came out in the mid-‘60s, they lost the watch. It only resurfaced decades later in 2013. Someone found it at a garage sale and bought it low. The buyer recognized it from the movie and got it appraised. We are sure that they were as happy as can be when they found out that it is worth $163,300.

Original Watch From “Thunderball”

Lincoln Glass Flask

Based on its appearance alone, this flask is rather vintage. The shopper explained that it had an amber liquid inside and a front cover decal that showed President Abraham Lincoln. The decorative lid was gold-plated as well. Even though we would not want to drink from it, this is truly a great find. We are not sure how much it originally cost, but you can find similar flasks for $18 to $20 on eBay.

Lincoln Glass Flask

Mint Condition Sega Game Gear With Purple Heart

This time, a thrift store buyer found two valuable things in the form of a Mint Sega game gear with a Sonic 2 cartridge. Aside from that, they also stumbled upon a Purple Heart. This is awarded to soldiers who were wounded or killed in action. Even though it is sad to see that someone gave it away, it is a priceless find. The game gear is also a decent purchase since the set will cost you around $180 to $200.

Mint Condition Sega Game Gear With Purple Heart

Rare “Space Jam” Rug

Michael Jordan starred in Space Jam, which became one of the biggest movies of the ‘90s. Memorabilia from the movie can go for a lot of money, especially if it came from 1996. The intricate blanket from the film probably goes for more than $150. Critics did not like the movie all that much, but we can’t deny that it makes for a fun time with the rest of the family!

Rare “Space Jam” Rug

All Quiet On The Western Front Poster

This war drama was unique since it told the First World War from the German soldiers’ eyes. It showed us that both sides were subjected to tragedy during the conflict. It spawned many souvenirs like this poster. In 2007, Laura Stouffer had been thrift shopping in Summerville, South Carolina, when she found it. The price was low, so she brought it home with her. She eventually found out that it had an original All Quiet on the Western Front poster beneath the artwork. It is worth $20,000!

All Quiet On The Western Front Poster

Vertical Diamond Paintings

If you are looking for cheap wall art, thrift stores offer a lot of choices. This shopper, however, found out that they are typically worth more than their asking price. In 2012, Beth Feeback looked for a blanket at a North Carolina Goodwill when she learned this. She saw a group of paintings worth $10 each. One of them was a diamond-shaped abstract art piece. After buying it, she learned that it was “Vertical Diamond” by a 20th-century painter called Ilya Bolotowky. The work of art goes for $34,000.

Vertical Diamond Paintings

1959 Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm

A thrift store shopper called Zach Norris loved vintage wristwatches. He could not believe his luck when he found a 1959 Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm! There were only 900 pieces of these made, so he knew that this was an amazing find. He shelled out $5.99 for it and had it appraised right away. He later sold it for an amazing $35,000. The buyer also threw in a $4,000 Mega Master watch that brought the value of his find to $39,000. It should be illegal to be this lucky! Oh well, good for him.

1959 Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm

Brooch

In 2011, Thea Jourdan walked into a thrift store in Britain in the hopes of finding jewelry for her daughter. When she spotted a brooch, she brought it home for $31. Her daughter would wear it to school. It felt appropriate since it looked like costume jewelry. She had no idea that it was actually worth $43,000. An appraiser saw it when Jourdan had her engagement ring appraised. They found out that it was a royal gem that once belonged to a czarina from Russia!

Brooch

Rhinoceros Horn “Libation Cup”

An Australian thrift store lover had been poking around when he found a strange cup. He liked its unique design and paid $4 for it. He had it appraised by sending a photo of it to Sotheby’s. The auction house responded with great news! This was how he found out that it was a “libation” vessel from the 17th century. It was made of a rhinoceros horn in China. The cup was a communal vessel used on various occasions and rituals. The ones made of this material were deemed “magical objects.” They did not only have aphrodisiac properties, but they could allegedly detect poison too! It was said to be worth $75,000.

Rhinoceros Horn “Libation Cup”

Flemish Art

Leroy was an older antique dealer checking out the offerings at a Goodwill store in South Carolina when he found this piece. Right away, he recognized that it was a great deal. For only $3, he brought home a Flemish painting from many centuries ago. His daughter-in-law even took it into Antiques Roadshow to see how much they could get for it. They found out that it hailed from the 1600s! In 2012, Leroy managed to auction it off for $190,000.

Flemish Art

Alexander Calder Necklace

A woman found a bold gold necklace at a Philadelphia flea market. She paid $15 for what she thought was costume jewelry. Several years later, she put it on to check out the Alexander Calder exhibit at the Philadelphia Art Museum! The artist was an abstract sculptor whose works are exhibited in different parts of the world. It did not take her long before she realized just how much the pieces looked like her necklace. She then took it in for an appraisal and found out that it was worth $300,000.

Alexander Calder Necklace

Original Gameboy Color

One shopper found this at a Salvation Army and could not help themselves. They immediately bought this handheld Gameboy Color for $4.99! It depends on the condition, but you can typically sell one of these for $100 to $150. We do not know why he sold it, but we can’t deny its value. The console in question came out in 1989. Nintendo sold out the initial run of 300,000 pieces in no time.

Original Gameboy Color

Junior Grand Piano

It is difficult to determine when this was made, but it could go for $100. After all, it is in great condition. For only $9.99, this was truly a steal! A shopper found the Junior Baby Grand at a Goodwill store and said that they “didn’t need it,” but it was still “stupid goofy fun.” We are sure that it was more than worth the investment. Another user said that the buyer could now audition for Peanuts. Now if you think these valuable items are impressive wait until you see what happened to this woman…

Junior Grand Piano

Shopping can be an expensive endeavor. We tell ourselves we are buying one item and leaving, and end up with a full cart. If you’re someone like this, then you can benefit from some tips to save money while shopping, like second-hand shopping, also known as thrifting. Shannon Hiramoto is someone who loves this kind of shopping and now we know why!

Not Just A Hobby

Thrift stores are a fantastic way to shop. We can spend half a day searching through used clothing racks, finding items we wouldn’t see anywhere else. The best part is that you don’t even make a dent in your wallet for such incredible finds. There is also the additional factor that these items may have interesting origins. This is exactly what Shannon Hiramoto found, after buying one dress that changed her life.

Not Just A Hobby

Thrift Store Finds

Shannon Hiramoto loves spending her days scrimmaging through thrift stores trying to see what new and exciting vintage items she will come across. Since she is a Kauai local, its only fitting that she loves to wear vintage muumuus. She says this dress is flattering and comfortable, and specifically goes to thrift stores to find vintage ones.

Thrift Store Finds

An Unexpected Shopping Day

One day she was wandering around the Lihue area when she discovered a Salvation army. She couldn’t stop herself from going right to the clothing racks. She casually searched through the items but had no idea what she was going to find.

An Unexpected Shopping Day

Somewhat Familiar

She noticed a dress hanging on the rack that seemed familiar to her. Yet, she still couldn’t pinpoint where she had seen it before. She took it off the rack, held it up, and admired the dress.

Somewhat Familiar

It Was Her Taste

She was fascinated by the style of the dress. She loved the floral pattern combined with the pink fabric of the dress. It had a v neck, which accentuated her figure and made her feel slimmer than ever. Although she was unaware at that moment, there were even more fascinating details about the dress to come. This was not your average muumuu.

It Was Her Taste

Not What It Seemed

When she spoke to a local TV station she told them how excited she was when she noticed this muumuu was shorter than normal. It was only later that she noticed something extra special about this muumuu.

Not What It Seemed

Something On The Tag

The tag on the dress said it was from the Liberty House. The surprising part was that the dress looked like it was written using a permanent marker. Shannon was intrigued but still couldn’t figure out where she recognized this dress from.

Something On The Tag

She Had To Know More

She didn’t think twice after she saw this tag. She snatched the dress and bolted for the checkout counter. She was determined to find out more about this vintage dress and did not want anyone to take it from her.

She Had To Know More

A Message For Her

She had a feeling that the writing on the tag represented something. Thousands of thoughts were running through her head, was this a sign? How was it possible that she could find a message written for her in a random thrift store? The thoughts were endless.

A Message For Her

What Could It Be?

She decided to give the tag another look and her heart skipped a beat. She took a deep breath, shut her eyes, and concentrated. She was desperate to know exactly where she saw this before.

What Could It Be?

In Her Mind

Suddenly, it all came back to her. She suddenly saw a woman with a strong personality celebrity life, in a pink dress. When she closed her eyes she saw the woman smiling at Shannon as if she knew her.

In Her Mind

A Time-Traveling Dress

This woman was 108 years old and she had a message to deliver to Shannon. When Shannon purchased this dress she was unaware that it was going to be the start of a new adventure for her.

A Time-Traveling Dress

A Mystery To Solve

At this point, Shannon knew the truth. But she still needed proof before she would embarrass herself. She didn’t want to jump to any conclusions before gathering all the information she needed, so she waited and searched for proof.

A Mystery To Solve

Family Secrets

Shannon was about to solve a huge family mystery and she wanted to solve it immediately. She knew there was something big she was getting too if one single word label could send chills all over her body.

Family Secrets

Her Suspicions

Shannon rushed home following her suspicions. She was eager to speak to her mother about her new thrift store find. Hopefully, they could get to the bottom of this together. There was no stopping Shannon now.

Her Suspicions

Nobody Could Believe It

Shannon returned home and showed her mother the dress. Her face turned white as a sheet upon seeing what Shannon found. Her mother was speechless switching her gaze from Shannon to the dress and vice versa. But what was written on the tag that was so shocking?

Nobody Could Believe It