Not Photos Nor Portraits: The Rare Thrift Find That Could Be Worth Thousands

Any trip into a thrift store can go one of three ways. You can come out empty handed, with some cool, but cheap antiques, or with an overlooked valuable collectible that is actually worth a fortune. But it's not vintage cookie jars, photos, or portraits you should be keeping an eye out for. In an exclusive interview with Hunker, professional antiques appraiser Lori Verderame, Ph.D., known simply as Dr. Lori, explains how a rare sailor's valentine could be an outstanding find.

"Sailor's valentines from the 19th century made of various shells in intricate designs—which are some of the most highly sought after—can range in value from hundreds to thousands of dollars," Verderame says. These shell motifs originated from the island of Barbados, a busy commercial trading port in the 1800s. Though they have no connection with the Valentine's Day holiday, sailors would purchase the shell craft from the Barbadian locals to send back home to loved ones.

Now, Verderame explains that "Authentic sailor's valentines are very rare to find in thrift stores because of their age and fragility." However, if you do happen across one, there are some important authentication indicators you need to watch for to determine whether you have a cute shell collectible, or an antique worth $2,000 or more.

Looking for indications of authenticity for a seashell artifact that could be nearly 200 years old is not going to be the same as identifying a rare vintage stained glass masterpiece. According to Verderame, authentic sailor's valentines have specific colors, patterns and designs to look out for. She lists "pink, white, beige, heart designs made of cowrie shells, [and] geometric and concentric patterns" as being the signs of ones that could be worth the most money. But these aren't the only things you need to look for if you think you've come across a genuine piece.

"Look for actual shells, not plastic shell lookalikes. Designs must be intricate and complex. Designs must reference love, including hearts, flowers, and geometric shapes. Complex frames to contain the shells of a sailor's valentines are typically a sign of authenticity too. The bigger the better," Verderame says. The frames Verderame mentions are octagonally shaped to be representative of compasses. They come either as singular frames, or as boxes.

While you're more likely to come across sailor's valentines at auction houses who have teams dedicated specifically to evaluating authenticity, if on the extremely rare chance that you happen to come across one, you know what to look for. Who knows, that cute shell box you bought could turn out to be the find of a lifetime.