I have a similar story, but it didn't happen to me, but rather a female folk singer, who told me the story, and showed me the find.

She went to a garage sale, to buy a case for her acoustic 'folk' guitar. The sale was being held by an elderly widow, whose husband had passed over twenty-five years prior, and was cleaning out her attic, and garage from myriads of memorabilia, of her younger years, and of he deceased husband, and lo an behold, there was an old, cheap guitar case. It was basically a cardboard case with simulated 'leather' covering. It wasn't really what she was looking for, because it was somewhat of an inexpensive case for an inexpensive guitar, but for a price of $7.00 USD, she thought that it would get her by, until she could afford a 'real' case. She loaded it in her car, drove home, and got her guitar to see if it would fit. She opened it, to see, and found a 1906 000-17 Martin in absolutely flawless condition!
Not a scratch on it. It was darker in colour, than what we are used to, but it sounded great! Now, she's looking for TWO cases!!