Many of us have, at one point or another, dreamt of finding some hidden treasure or long-lost artifact at a flea market.

I know I have, in any case. And my hope is compounded by the fact that there are examples of people doing just that. Many, in fact (don’t try to tell me you’ve never read about someone unwittingly picking up an old painting from a famous artist for pretty much the price of a cup of coffee).

Of course, ‘treasure’ can be defined in many ways. Most will hear the word and think immediately of a pirate horde, a treasure chest brimming with gold coins and jewel-studded goblets, but the truth is that old family photographs and documents can be just as valuable to the right person. If nothing else, such items most always hold interesting stories.