THERE'S VALUE IN EVERYTHING.... Yard Sale Treasure Finds
I've been posting the high-end items that are rare estate sale finds. In this post, I'd like to focus on every-day items that anyone can find at flea markets, yard sales, or even in their own closet. Many "mundane" items are often marked for Goodwill donation or tossed in the rubbish bin (a big no-no). But it's very smart and financially responsible to do a bit of research to determine what kinds of treasures you have.
During a recent yard sale excursion, I found four signed costume watercolor and ink drawings marked for $4. The drawing, signed by "Santiago," each measured approximately 15" x 20". None of the drawings were identified, but after a bit of online research, I discovered that the drawings - by Emile Santiago - were from the 1950 motion picture, THE ROBE, starring Jean Simmons, Richard Burton and Victor Mature. Unfortunately, these wardrobe drawings were for secondary actors, but they nonetheless sold for $50 to $85 each (if I had found drawings for the principal actors for this film, the price could have gone as high as $500 each). In the coming weeks, I will be posting more cheap yard sale finds, and suggestions of what buyers should look for, and in the case of sellers, what not to throw away. Keep checking back with our blog
Another goodie we pulled from a pile of to-be-donated clothes was a vintage 1960's H Bar C embroidered western shirt. It was in excellent condition and subsequently sold online for $275. Apparently, any vintage western clothing with a label from H Bar C or Nudies brings big bucks, not only in America, but all over the world. The new proud owner of the shirt lives in Paris (not Texas), France. C'est bon y'all....
If you have a hard time finding good yard sales, you probably need a good map. However, in the case of the maps pictured here, they were found in a dusty box of miscellaneous papers. I bought the maps for whopping $3. These twelve maps from the Automobile Club of Southern California, were road routes from various parts of California circa 1915-1920. Vintage maps usually bring good money, but only if they are of desired locations such as major urban American cities. These maps sold online for approximately $150.
Finally, how about paint by number artwork. You may not realize that this kind of kitschy artwork brings some good money, especially those of animals or unique places. In my own yard sale trek, I found three vintage Disneyland scene paintings from the early 1960's which were marked for 25-cents each. Had these cardboard canvases been unpainted, in their original box, they would sell for between $50 and $75. In their current condition, they may be work $7 to $10 each. Not big money, (and certainly not in the Monet league), but well above the change I plucked down for this artwork.
During a recent yard sale excursion, I found four signed costume watercolor and ink drawings marked for $4. The drawing, signed by "Santiago," each measured approximately 15" x 20". None of the drawings were identified, but after a bit of online research, I discovered that the drawings - by Emile Santiago - were from the 1950 motion picture, THE ROBE, starring Jean Simmons, Richard Burton and Victor Mature. Unfortunately, these wardrobe drawings were for secondary actors, but they nonetheless sold for $50 to $85 each (if I had found drawings for the principal actors for this film, the price could have gone as high as $500 each). In the coming weeks, I will be posting more cheap yard sale finds, and suggestions of what buyers should look for, and in the case of sellers, what not to throw away. Keep checking back with our blog
Another goodie we pulled from a pile of to-be-donated clothes was a vintage 1960's H Bar C embroidered western shirt. It was in excellent condition and subsequently sold online for $275. Apparently, any vintage western clothing with a label from H Bar C or Nudies brings big bucks, not only in America, but all over the world. The new proud owner of the shirt lives in Paris (not Texas), France. C'est bon y'all....
If you have a hard time finding good yard sales, you probably need a good map. However, in the case of the maps pictured here, they were found in a dusty box of miscellaneous papers. I bought the maps for whopping $3. These twelve maps from the Automobile Club of Southern California, were road routes from various parts of California circa 1915-1920. Vintage maps usually bring good money, but only if they are of desired locations such as major urban American cities. These maps sold online for approximately $150. 
Finally, how about paint by number artwork. You may not realize that this kind of kitschy artwork brings some good money, especially those of animals or unique places. In my own yard sale trek, I found three vintage Disneyland scene paintings from the early 1960's which were marked for 25-cents each. Had these cardboard canvases been unpainted, in their original box, they would sell for between $50 and $75. In their current condition, they may be work $7 to $10 each. Not big money, (and certainly not in the Monet league), but well above the change I plucked down for this artwork. 
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