The framed piece purchased on a whim was recognized as *Bright Angel Trail*, a prominent 1930 color print numbered 32 in an exclusive edition of 125. The shopper discovered the work's historical significance through her own research after spotting the artist's pencil signature and hand-in-heart ink stamp. Heritage Auctions handled the sale, which reached $17,500 including the buyer’s premium. The final price was achieved despite the piece being rated in fair to good condition due to age-related wear.
Key points
Independent research by the buyer uncovered the artist's signature, title, and distinctiv…: Independent research by the buyer uncovered the artist's signature, title, and distinctive hand-in-heart stamp beneath the glass.
Gustave Baumann created five distinct Grand Canyon color woodcuts while working based out…: Gustave Baumann created five distinct Grand Canyon color woodcuts while working based out of Santa Fe.
Flaws including paper buckling, central toning, scattered foxing spots, and a concealed c…: Flaws including paper buckling, central toning, scattered foxing spots, and a concealed crease left the piece in fair to good condition.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
You never know what you might find at a Goodwill store. Sometimes, an ordinary purchase can turn out to be worth a small fortune. For one Dallas shopper, a routine stop at a thrift store led to an extraordinary discovery. She paid $5.99 for a woodcut. It turned out to be a 1930 Gustave Baumann print,
Bright Angel Trail, which was auctioned at Heritage Auctions for $17,500, including the buyer’s premium, this month.
An ordinary trip to Goodwill
Pic credit: Heritage Auctions
She was not looking for art that day. It was a routine stop for the Dallas resident, who was a longtime Goodwill enthusiast. She was out running an ordinary errand and decided to stop by the thrift store. She spotted the woodcut and thought it was impressive. The price tag was less than $6, so she bought it. “What began as an ordinary shopping trip turned into one of the most exciting and unforgettable experiences of my life,” she said, as quoted in a Heritage Auctions press release.
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