In this great big world, it's impossible to know what amazing works of art have yet to be discovered. Whether buried beneath sand, sold at auction, or simply lost to time, who knows what lost treasures are out there.
But sometimes, very lucky people come across these forgotten gems of the past — like when explorers find ancient relics on the bottom of the ocean — and their discoveries change history as we know it.
That's exactly what happened when John Maloof, a young historic preservationist, discovered this seemingly worthless box of unprinted negatives and undeveloped rolls of film.
Little did he know that when he bought this box at auction, he would come to possess the most treasured photos ever taken during mid-century America.
Now, this once-lost artist and her exquisite art are being exhibited around the world, all thanks to one lucky purchase.
Be sure to watch the fascinating video at the end, and please SHARE!

John Maloof was at an auction when he spotted a box of unprinted negatives and undeveloped rolls of film, all dating back to the '50s and '60s. A historical preservationist, John was greatly excited by the discovery and won the box for $380.

But when he began to examine and print the negatives — of which there were nearly 150,000 — he made a shocking discovery: This was no ordinary photography.

Though they were shots taken by an unknown artist, they were striking.

Not only were the shots captivating and well-composed, they seemed to intimately capture the look and feel of 1950s New York.

As John delved deeper and deeper into this unknown artist's work, he became consumed by it.

He began to dig for information about the artist.

Her name was Vivian Maier, and until John's auction discovery, her exquisite work was totally unheard of.

Now, Vivian's work is being hailed and exhibited all around the world.

But many wonder why Vivian's photography had never before been seen.

After much digging, John discovered that Vivian's life was one she closely protected.

An incredibly private and secretive woman, not much was known about Vivian — both during and after her life.

John worked tirelessly to piece her mysterious life together. He discovered that she was born in the United States in 1926, but spent much of her childhood in France.

Sometime during the 1940s, Vivian began to experiment with amateur photography.

To support herself and her art, Vivian worked as a nanny for three small children.

She took thousands of photos during this time, developing the film in her private bathroom. But as she grew older, her finances became more precarious.

Eventually, when she failed to pay her rent, Vivian's many storage units of work were auctioned off — explaining how John would find them many years later. Now, her beautiful work is finally seeing the light of day. People around the world are appreciatin

Be sure to watch the fascinating video below, and please SHARE!
h/t: Upshout