Local treasure hunter buys it at Concord drive-in swap meet, offers it for sale at $4 million

Oakley resident Derek Baker is a part time vintage treasure hunter who frequents garage sales, estate sales and flea markets looking for interesting items he can flip for profit.  He sells on eBay, through his own personal network and at a vintage co-op store in downtown Antioch called the Rivertown Treasure Chest.  Comic books are his focus, but he tries to keep his mind open to anything that comes his way. 

One Sunday morning, Baker was at the West Wind Solano Swap Meet & Public Market at the drive-in in Concord, when he noticed a pile of concert posters on the ground.  The vender was the type of person who cleaned out homes or storage units and likely had no idea of what they really had.  Many of the posters had the kind of art that would be associated with The Grateful Dead or other similar bands, which can fetch a good price. Some of the posters had inscriptions and signatures on them.  So, he grabbed a stack, making sure to include all those with writing and got a bulk deal – 29 posters for $20.

They were almost all good posters that, in turn, can be sold for $10 to $30 each.  One poster was even related to the Grateful Dead as it appears to have a signature from Vince Welnick, who played for the band at one time.  However, the real gem was a pop culture piece of history from 1992.  A poster of “Girl’s Tyme” – later known as Destiny’s Child – from their performance on Star Search.

The poster was printed and displayed for the live studio audience of Star Search to view as they attended the performance.  It is unknown how many of these were actually printed for use inside the theater.  Being that they lost that night, it is likely almost all of them, if not all the rest of them, were thrown in the trash when the theater was being prepared for the next evening’s performances.  This particular copy appears to have been saved by one of the band’s managers at the time, Alonzo ‘Lonnie’ Jackson, who had several of the girls personalize it for him.

Beyoncé Knowles was 11 years old, and she already knew she was going to be a star.  Not only did she sign her name but also added her autograph. Only one other girl even thought to sign her name, Ashley Tamar Davis.  Two others inscribed notes but didn’t even put their names down. But Beyoncé already knew one day she would be the Queen B.

Baker’s poster appears to be the first signature and autograph of Beyoncé on any professional promotional material. Some baseball card collectors have told him that it’s like having the signature on a rookie card of one of the most popular players of all time. 

Baker purchased the poster in April 2025 and since then, he has had James Spence Authentication (JSA) certify that they believe it to be genuine. Star Search has since been rebooted on Netflix, making this a ‘Tymely’ treasure find.  Being a piece of pop culture history for both Star Search and Beyonce, it may be a museum-worthy artifact. Baker thinks the new Hip Hop museum opening in the Bronx this year would be a good home.

The poster may be a ‘unicorn’ with no other piece to compare it to.  How much is it worth?  Is it a $1,000 poster or a $10 million poster? One suggestion is that he travel to Las Vegas to have it valued by Pawn Stars from the famous TV show which Baker said he might do.

The value or rather price he can get for the poster – which is the only true value of such an item – is unknown, for now. But Baker will eventually find out as he has it up for sale, asking $4 million.  Maybe a super-fan from the BeyHive, as Beyoncé’s fanbase is known, or a museum benefactor will let him know.

Interested? Stop by and see Baker and more of his treasures for sale at the Rivertown Treasure Chest in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown at 306 G Street. Or make him an offer on ebay.

Good luck Derek!

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

For more information about the Downtown Antioch Association visit www.downtownantioch.com or www.facebook.com/downtownantioch.

^{Paid advertisement.}

San Francisco, CA – With the Super Bowl less than two weeks away and thousands of fans expected to visit the Bay Area, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is reminding consumers that preparation is just as important as excitement when attending an event of this size.

“Events of this scale bring a lot of excitement, but they also bring higher prices and increased risk for consumers,” said Alma Galvan, spokesperson for the Better Business Bureau. “Planning ahead, buying tickets from trusted sources, and understanding travel and lodging costs can help fans avoid unnecessary stress and financial loss.”

Protect yourself before you buy

Tickets for the Super Bowl are among the most sought-after and most expensive in sports. Unfortunately, that demand also attracts scammers.

The BBB encourages fans to:

• Purchase tickets only from official sources or reputable resale platforms
• Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true, especially those found on social media
• Avoid sellers who request payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or peer-to-peer apps with no buyer protection
• Use a credit card whenever possible, as this can add an extra layer of protection

Consumers should also take time to research sellers, read refund policies carefully, and confirm ticket delivery methods before completing a purchase.

Travel and transportation

The Bay Area is preparing for a significant surge in travel related to this sporting event. Airports, highways, and public transportation systems will all experience increased traffic.

The BBB advises travelers to:

• Arrive early at airports and allow extra time for security and delays
• Consider multiple airport options, including San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland
• Plan transportation to and from the stadium in advance, including public transit and rideshare options

Hotel accommodations

The BBB is also reminding travelers to budget carefully for lodging. Hotel prices across the region have increased dramatically for Super Bowl weekend.

BBB recommends that travelers:

• Book lodging as early as possible to avoid higher prices and limited availability
• Compare pricing across nearby cities
• Review cancellation policies and additional fees carefully before confirming reservations
• Verify websites before making any purchases
• Confirm reservation numbers and confirmation emails before traveling to the Bay Area

A final reminder to fans

The Super Bowl will be an unforgettable moment for all those in attendance. With smart planning, fans can enjoy the event and all that the Bay Area has to offer without unnecessary stress or financial loss.

Consumers who encounter suspicious ticket sellers or misleading travel offers are encouraged to report them to BBB.org/ScamTracker.

ABOUT BBB

The Better Business Bureau has empowered people to find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust for more than 110 years. In 2024, people turned to BBB.org more than 220 million times for BBB Business Profiles on 5.5 million businesses, and 725,000 times for BBB charity reports on 12,000 local and national charities. The International Association of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for the local, independent BBBs in the United States and Canada.

To honor 2025 Business, Citizen, Non-Profit & Youth of the Year

Nomination Deadline: Feb. 13

By Jim Becker, 2026 Board Chair, Antioch Chamber of Commerce

It’s time to celebrate excellence in our community! I invite you to nominate outstanding businesses, individuals, and nonprofits for our Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and Nonprofit of the Year awards. The winners will be honored at the annual Chamber Gala on March 27  at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center.

This year’s theme is, “A New Chapter: Antioch’s Gala for Renewal & Opportunity.” We will also hold the Installation of the 2026 Antioch Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Your nominations help us recognize those who make a real difference in Antioch.

Nominate Now:

Business of the Year Application 

Citizen of the Year Application 

Nonprofit of the Year Application

Youth of the Year Application 

Nomination Deadline: February 13, 2026

Submission Instructions: Return the forms to Antioch Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 1711 Antioch, CA 94509.

Thank you for helping us honor the best in our community. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at (925) 757-1800 or email frontdeskadmin@antiochchamber.com.

Annual Gala

The Annual Gala will include the Awards Ceremony, Silent Auction, Golden Tickets, 50/50 Raffle, No-host bar, Music by DJ GBaby and Dinner Buffet:

• Fresh baked garlic rolls & garlic butter
• Italian green salad with vinaigrette
• Lone Tree Caesar salad with marinated tomatoes, croutons & shaved parmesan cheese
• Antipasto platter
• Sauteed Italian vegetables
• Cheese tortellini with shrimp & alfredo sauce
• Steak marsala
• Chicken piccata
• Penne in house-made marinara sauce
• Dessert
• Tiramisu
• Complimentary beverages included with dinner
• Tea, Coffee, & Water

Tickets are $100 per person and available for purchase at Antioch Chamber of Commerce Gala.

Let’s celebrate those who make Antioch thrive!

Allen D. Payton contributed to this announcement.

Rivertown Treasure Chest is located at 306 G Street in Antioch’s historic downtown. For more information visit www.rivertowntreasurechest.com.

^{Paid advertisement}

For more information about the Downtown Antioch Association visit downtownantioch.com.

^{Paid advertisement}

Join Willow Park Mercantile for our Annual High Tea Party! In The Spirit of Bridgerton we will have lots of fun Bridgerton-themed merchandise! We’ll be serving treats and tea and lots of fun! Dress up if you like and visit the Hen and Drake Tea Room, just across W. 2nd street. Don’t miss this fun event!

“Bridgerton” is a popular Netflix series that follows the romantic escapades of the Bridgerton family in Regency-era London, blending historical drama with modern themes.

Spend an afternoon searching for your next treasure in 4,000 sq. ft. of space featuring an eclectic array or merchandise from a variety of vendors.

The store is located at 205 G Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. For more information visit willowparkmercantile.com.

Paid advertisement

By Allen D. Payton

The City of Antioch is offering an interactive orientation webinar where local, small business owners will learn how to access FREE one-on-one mentorship through Pacific Community Ventures’ Business Advising program.

We’ll walk you through a demo of the platform, highlight key features like the mobile app, and show you how these tools can support your mentorship journey and help grow your business.

Pacific Community Ventures’ BusinessAdvising.org platform connects small business owners across America with free and confidential expert business advising to help them seize opportunities and overcome challenges.

Pacific Community Ventures is a non-profit community investor that unlocks economic opportunity and climate resilience for small business owners and workers. Through access to affordable capital, pro bono business advising, ethical technology and AI, we partner with entrepreneurs to grow, hire, and prosper. For more information visit www.pacificcommunityventures.org.

Register for the webinar here: https://us06web.zoom.us/…/221…/WN_MuWIOAosRQuZifxqY89sGg