First-Edition Copy Of US Constitution To Go On Sale For US$30M

One of only two remaining copies of the US Constitution is going under the gavel at Sotheby’s New York for the first time in 128 years.

On September 17, 1787, the document was first signed by America’s Founding Fathers in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, heralding the beginning of democracy in the US.
 
The US Constitution was written to replace the Articles of Confederation during a series of secret meetings presided over by George Washington. 500 copies were then made and distributed to delegates at the Constitutional Convention. Finally, after most states ratified the work, it was enacted in 1789.
 
Since then, only 13 have survived, 11 of which are now in institutional and government collections. The remaining two have resided in private ownership. This piece will be one of the two going back on sale.

The text resurfaced in 1894 after it was auctioned off by lawyer, politician, and amateur historian Charles Colcok Jones in Philadelphia. It was bought by an unknown buyer who acquired it as a gift for Adrian Van Sinderen, a well-known book collector in the 20th century.
 
After this, the piece has been kept under the cloak of darkness, sitting in private collections for more than a year. This will mark the first time it is appearing in the public eye again to be auctioned off.
 
Sotheby’s notes that this is the first copy recognized by professionals in the historical and collecting circles as an “official edition.”
 
Last year, a separate first edition of the US Constitution sold for US$43.2 million to Citadel CEO Kenneth Griffin after it was believed to be worth between US$15 and US$20 million.
 
The auction house estimates that this current piece could go up to US$30 million, but after the success of its predecessor, it could go for much more.
 
Sotheby’s is also placing the historical text up for viewing at the Sotheby’s York Avenue galleries from November 4 to November 22 and then again from November 30 to December 12.
 
 
 
[via Robb Report and CNN, images via Sotheby’s]