Thrift Store: Man Buys Painting for $3 at Goodwill, Sells it for $190,000 + Video

flemmish painting.jpgPhoto courtesy of WYFF

This is all the more reason to pay attention at thrift stores right?

Here's a story out of Anderson, SC and the WYFF NBC affiliate:

ANDERSON, S.C. --

An 81-year-old Anderson County man doesn't mind sharing his amazing tale, but he doesn't want to share his last name.

The man, who's going by only "Leroy," said, "It's the biggest find I've ever had. It's that one thing you're always looking for. I'd like to get the big one. Well, that was the big one.

I can only thank Goodwill for that."He said about a year and a half ago he stopped by the Goodwill store on South Main Street in Anderson. While browsing, a framed painting caught his eye."I figured the picture frame was worth about $50 on the Internet (eBay). I figured the oil painting was out of the 1800s because of the frame it was in.

I figured the painting maybe $100 or couple of hundred on the Internet," he said.He bought the oil painting for $3.The former antiques dealer from Massachusetts said he is an avid thrift store shopper. The majority of the items in his home were bought at second-hand stores.

A few weeks ago, his daughter-in-law visited the Antiques Roadshow and got an initial appraisal between $20,000 to $30,000."I might not know exactly what it is worth, I just know whether it's a good piece or it is not a good piece. And that's what happened with the painting, I didn't realize 1650 was the age of it. For that age, great picture. Great picture," Leroy said.On Saturday, at an auction house in Massachusetts, the 362-year-old painting sold for $190,000.

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