Great Discoveries: 500-Year-Old Print Found at Dump Sells for Nearly $45,000 – WorthPoint

One person’s trash is another’s treasure—consider the story of Mat Winter.

As a child, Winter would visit a rubbish dump, hoping to find antiques. When Winter was 11, a woman at the dump was throwing away a black-and-white print. Winter asked the woman if he could have the print, and the woman gave it to him. “She was more than happy to give it to me because she wanted it to go to someone rather than just throwing it away,” Winter told the Manchester Evening News.

Winter kept the print, titled Knight, Death and the Devil, in a cupboard for 13 years.

Recently, Winter had the print appraised by Jim Spencer, Director of Rare Book Auctions at Hanson Auctioneers.

Spencer said he “didn’t have high expectations” when he initially heard about the print. His expectations changed quickly. “I opened the package, removed the bubble wrap, and staggered back in awe,” Spencer noted. “My hands were shaking as I held it up to the light.”

Ultimately, Spencer believed the print was produced by German artist Albrecht Durer, a 16th-century painter and printmaker considered “one of the most gifted artists of all time.” To verify this, Spencer brought the print to the British Museum. From here, museum officials confirmed the print’s authenticity and indicated that the piece dates back to 1513. “This was indeed the real deal,” Spencer said.

Winter put his discovery up for auction. This month, the print sold for £33,390 (approximately $44,784).

The WorthPoint Price Guide contains over 3,400 pieces of artwork by Albrecht Durer.

Dan Kobialka is a self-employed content writer and editor with about a decade of experience. He produces content across a wide range of industries, including antiques, insurance, and real estate. To learn more about Dan, please visit his website. 

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