In 2012, an Ohio man, Zachary Bodish who once worked at an arts center had been laid off from his job for a few years.
Zachary frequented a Volunteers of America thrift store near Columbus, Ohio. He noticed a poster at the thrift store.
The poster had been donated by a retired English teacher from Columbus whose friend had gifted him the print in the 1960s. Obviously, the teacher did not think it was worth much so he donated it to the thrift store.
The poster was actually a placard that advertised a 1958 exhibition of ceramics by the world-famous Pablo Picasso.
Pablo Picasso (1881 - 1973) was a Spanish artist widely considered one of the greatest and most influential artists of the 20th century. He is famous for co-founding the Cubist movement and for his groundbreaking contributions to modern art. His innovative techniques and unique style revolutionized the art world and continue to inspire artists today.
Zachary believed that the poster in the thrift store was just a reproduction so he decided to snag it at the thrift store price of $14. After all, who would ever think that an original work by Picasso would end up in a thrift store in America? Definitely not the previous owner, Zachary, or the volunteers at the thrift store.
However, Zachary noticed that there was something else on the Picasso poster that the other posters did not seem to have. There was a faint signature in red pencil which he initially thought was just a careless mark.
He went home and did more research before it dawned on him that the red signature marks might be the writing of Picasso himself.
He got the print authenticated by art experts and then sold the Picasso poster for $7000 in 2012.
Zachary's sharp eye and $14 investment turned out to be a great deal.
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