The Marshfield Find Winchester 1886 rifle , a newly discovered treasure
UNCOVERED TREASURES AND UNTOLD WEALTH IN FINE ARMS By Joe Engesser
In 1986 , a painting was discovered in the attic of a small rural church in West Newbury , Massachusetts . Appraisers determined the work was a 16th century masterpiece from the Italian Renaissance . In January 2000 , the Andrea del Sarto painting finally hit the auction block , selling at Sotheby ’ s for a staggering $ 1.1 million .
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The story is similar to another Massachusetts attic treasure that garnered worldwide press last August . The Marshfield Find , a nearpristine Winchester Model 1886 rifle preserved in its original shipping crate for nearly 140 years , surpassed its high estimate and realized an impressive $ 352,500 at Rock Island Auction Company , demonstrating the excitement that newto-market items can garner in the high-end collectibles landscape . Like Howard Carter ’ s discovery of King Tut ’ s tomb , the uncovering of such pieces can resonate with an audience far beyond their traditional niche .