'Antiques Roadshow:' Gold rush ship's log is worth $50K

We're guessing when the owner of this journal was documenting his journey for the Gold Rush, he didn't know his words would be more valuable than any gold he discovered in San Francisco.

"I believe at retail, this item would bring between $40,000 to $50,000," said appraiser Ken Sanders on "Antiques Roadshow."

"Wow! I had no idea," said the journal's owner.

That staggering "Antiques Roadshow" appraisal almost took our breath away too!

And fans on Twitter were just as shocked. As one user wisely wrote, "And that's why you always leave a note."

The $50,000 journal actually belonged to the lucky owner's great-uncle, who traveled to California from Boston in 1849 for the Gold Rush.

He apparently formed a mining company, leased a ship and set sail to make his fortune.

The journal, also known as a ship log, chronicles his daily log of what happened during the seven-month voyage. And the amazing detail is part of what makes it so valuable.

And the fact that it was well preserved for years inside an envelope in the owner's parents' house makes it worth even more.

Unfortunately, the owner's great-uncle and his crew didn't find any gold in San Francisco.

But at least he left his great-nephew something pretty valuable after all.

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