A shopper in a thrift store spotted a framed piece of art from across the aisle. She liked it for her home, and the $30 price tag made it even better.

Then she stepped closer and saw two small details that changed how she looked at it.

Newsweek told her story in a report on the thrifted serigraph this month, and it is a handy lesson for anyone who wanders the art aisle.

A Pencil Signature And A Number In The Corner

The shopper goes by Sara and shares her finds on Instagram as @thriftswithsara. She noticed the size of the piece and the professional framing first, and figured it might be worth more than what the store was asking.

Up close, she saw it was signed in pencil and carried an edition number. “That’s where the real value is,” she explained, because it meant this was not just a printed poster.

The artwork is titled Enchanted Forest, and it is a serigraph by John Powell.

What A Serigraph Actually Is

A serigraph is a screen print. The artist pushes ink through a fine mesh screen, and a stencil blocks the ink from certain areas, so the picture builds up in layers.

When an artist signs and numbers each print in pencil, it becomes a limited edition. That is very different from a mass produced reproduction in a gift shop frame.

Copies of Enchanted Forest are described online as limited edition printer’s proofs on paper, numbered and signed by hand by Powell.

The Price Check: $425 To $625 On Comparable Copies

Sara paid $30. In a September 23 Instagram video she said she believes it could be worth close to $1,000.

The comparable sales Newsweek turned up were lower than that guess. An iCollector sale brought $425 in April 2025, and an eBay listing was asking $625.

Even at those numbers, the gap is huge. A thirty dollar shelf find that sits in the hundreds is a very good day at the thrift store.

Who Was John Powell?

Powell was born in Hollywood, California, and began painting at 16, according to his official website. His work is known for precise, detailed compositions that often celebrate color, flowers, gardens and pottery, along with art from around the world.

He held one man shows in the United States and Japan and kept painting until shortly before he died in May 2025 at age 94.

That timing matters to collectors. When a living artist passes away, new work stops, and interest in the existing editions often grows.

She Is Keeping It Anyway

Here is the heart of the story. Sara says she is not a reseller and never planned to sell this piece.

It now hangs in her home, and she says she often looks up at it while reading and thinks about someone choosing to donate it. Her whole page is about the stories behind the objects she brings home.

Checks That Take Two Minutes At The Store

Most people glance at thrift store art and move on, assuming it is all mass produced décor. A few quick checks can change that.

Start with the signature. A signature that sits in the margin in pencil is a different animal from one that is printed as part of the image. If you can, tilt the piece under a light. A pencil mark looks slightly shiny, while a printed signature looks flat and even.

Next, check the condition. Look for fading, yellow stains, wavy paper or tiny brown spots, which collectors call foxing. Sunlight and humidity are the enemies of paper, and heavy damage cuts the value fast.

Finally, look at how it has been framed. A professional frame with a clean mat and a dust cover on the back suggests the previous owner cared about it. Sara pointed to the professional framing as one of the reasons she stopped to look.

How To Shop The Art Aisle Like A Pro

You can use the same sharp eye the next time you are at a thrift store, estate sale or flea market.

• Look at the lower margin. A pencil signature on the right and an edition number on the left, such as 45 over 200, often signal a limited print.
• Run a finger lightly across the surface or tilt it in the light. Real printed ink on a poster looks flat, while a serigraph can show layers of color.
• Check the back for gallery labels, framer stickers and handwritten notes, which can help with the artist’s name and year.
• Search the artist and title together on sold listings and auction records. Asking prices on listings are only hopes.
• Leave the frame and glass alone until you know what you have. Taking it apart can cause damage.

It also helps to love what you buy. Prices change, but a piece you enjoy looking at every day has already paid you back.

So next time you walk into the thrift store, walk the whole art wall, then walk it again. As Sara showed, a thirty dollar surprise may be waiting in a frame nobody else bothered to inspect.

More Stories You May Like

• Someone Furnishing A House From The Thrift Store Found A Vanity For $75 That Goes For About $300 On Facebook And Then Haggled A Pile Of Decor Down To Thirty Dollars
• Thrifting Duo At A Goodwill In Troy New York Spots A Signature Pattern They Have Never Seen And Jadeite And Then Asks If It Is Worth It
• One Thrifted $4 Shelf Becomes A Kids Vanity Bed Canopy Plate Rack And Playroom Cupboard And She Says You Would Never Guess It Was Secondhand