A priceless piece of American history was discovered in a New Jersey Goodwill store when an expert later estimated its worth at $18,000. The artifact was a frayed copy of the December 28, 1774, Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser newspaper, found in a store in Woodbury.
The paper, donated in a wood and glass frame, featured notable pre-revolutionary symbols. The ‘Unite or Die’ snake logo adorned the page, along with three posts signed by founding father John Hancock. One article protested the Boston Port Bill, implemented as punishment for the Boston Tea Party.
Heather Randall, E-commerce manager for Goodwill of Southern New Jersey and Greater Philadelphia, spotted the rarity in 2018. Specialists at Cohasco, Inc. appraised the paper, deeming it ‘unquestionably authentic,’ estimating its value at $18,000.
The artifact found a new home at The American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, an institution founded by Benjamin Franklin. Although the purchase price remains undisclosed, the discovery serves as a reminder of the hidden treasures that can be found in unexpected places.
