A simple trip to the thrift store turned into a life-changing moment for Tracy Donahue, a New Hampshire resident, when she bought a small painting for just $4 in 2017. What seemed like an ordinary find turned out to be an incredibly rare artwork by famed American artist N. C. Wyeth. After discovering its value, Donahue set the piece up for auction, only to have the first sale fall through when the buyer failed to make payment. However, her persistence paid off this week when the painting was finally sold to a private collector for over $100,000.
The story began when Tracy visited a Savers store in New Hampshire in search of a picture frame. While browsing, she stumbled upon a painting that caught her eye, purchasing it for a mere $4. She kept it at her home for years without realizing its significance. In May of this year, while rediscovering the piece, she noticed a signed label on the back. Curious about its potential value, she posted a photo of the painting on a Facebook group called “Things Found in Walls,” where commenters quickly pointed out that it might be worth a lot more than she thought.
Among those who took notice was art conservator Lauren Lewis, who offered to help identify the work. After further examination, it was confirmed that the painting was a frontispiece illustration by N. C. Wyeth for the 1939 edition of Helen Hunt Jackson’s novel Ramona.
Wyeth, a renowned American illustrator of the 20th century, is best known for his iconic depictions of stories such as Robin Hood, Rip Van Winkle, and Robinson Crusoe. His art has been displayed in major collections like the Brandywine River Museum in Maine and the Portland Museum of Art. He is also the father of painter Andrew Wyeth, known for Christina’s World.
In September, the painting was put up for auction at Bonhams Skinner, with an estimated value between $150,000 and $250,000. The bidding started at $150,000, and an Australian bidder placed the first and only bid. With the buyer’s premium included, the final price reached $191,000. However, the deal fell through when the buyer failed to pay, and the sale was canceled, leaving Donahue disappointed.
The Donahue family had hoped to use the proceeds to visit their son in Germany. Tracy called the situation her “biggest disappointment ever,” but she was relieved they hadn’t spent any of the money prematurely.
This month, however, things took a positive turn. Aviva Lehmann, who had seen the news about the canceled sale, reached out to a private collector who might be interested in the painting. The timing seemed almost fated—Lehmann called the collector at 3 a.m., and at the same time, the collector had sent her a message about the work. The sale went through, and this time, Tracy and her family finally received their well-earned windfall. After the money hit their account, they called their son in Germany to let him know their long-awaited visit was finally on the horizon.
