THRIFT stores are known to have a lot of junk items, but you might stumble upon a hidden gem if you know where to look.
The US Sun interviewed Peter Lavinger, an avid saver and collector, about his prized discount store find.
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Lavinger, a New Yorker, has thrived for the past 20 years in stores like Goodwill, the Salvation Army and locally owned stores.
He explained how he was shopping at Goodwill when employees brought in a box of books to be sorted and put on the shelves.
The saver pulled out a book with a red and yellow cover and opened it, shocked to see a drawing of a soup can with Andy Warhol’s signature.
It turned out to be an autographed copy of The Philosophy of Andy Warhol, a book written in 1975 by the famous American artist.
“I saw it – I had no idea if it was real or not – but I went straight to the register,” Lavanger said.
“I told my wife, ‘Don’t say a word, just follow me.’ I probably had the book in my hand for 40 seconds and we walked down the block.”
He ended up paying just 33 cents for the signed Warhol book, as Goodwill was having a three-book-for-$1 sale.
Lavanger researched the book and discovered that after writing it, Warhol went on tour and signed several copies.
Although there are several copies, the book still has a high price.
Similar copies sell online for $2,000 to $6,000 — a big prospect for a book for which Lavenger paid just 33 cents.
SAVING TIPS
For those looking to score big at the discount store, Lavinger advised shoppers to do their research.
“Know what’s old and what’s not,” he said.
Many items gain value simply because they are old or considered old.
“There are a lot of things out there today that are made to look old or that are a copy of something whose original is incredibly rare.”
“You need to have that kind of vision to understand what is and what is not,” said the experienced saver.
To identify true antiques, buyers should pay attention to the items’ materials, construction, and manufacturer’s labels for clues about their age and authenticity.
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Over the years, Lavinger has found some valuable antique items, including vintage band t-shirts worth a few hundred dollars.
He also marked up the yearbook of Robert Mapplethorpe, a famous American photographer, for 99 cents.
Igniting a passion
Lavinger’s passion for curating finds began in the 1970s.
As a child, he searched antique stores for baseball cards to collect.
Employees directed him to an obscure corner in the back of the store, where he found a drawer full of cards, including Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth cards for $1 or $2.
“I’ve amassed an incredible collection of baseball cards,” Lavinger said. “Grown men saw it and cried – and I was 12.”
His love of baseball cards sparked his interest in finding old things, which eventually led him to appreciate thrifting.
In related news, a saver was attracted to a $25 “Elvis” print bag while thrifting – it was designed by Andy Warhol and is worth $450,0000.
Additionally, a Goodwill employee said shoppers should head straight to a specific section to get the best deals.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
