Rare 1787 US Constitution copy goes up for auction

Karah Rucker

A RARE PIECE OF AMERICAN HISTORY IS UP FOR AUCTION IN NORTH CAROLINA–A TWO-HUNDRED-37-YEAR OLD COPY OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

BRUNK AUCTIONS IS SELLING A ONE-OF-A-KIND COPY OF THE CONSTITUTION, ORIGINALLY PRINTED IN 17-87. 

THIS PARTICULAR DOCUMENT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE ONLY PRIVATELY-OWNED COPY OF ITS KIND.

BIDDING HAS ALREADY STARTED, WITH A MINIMUM BID OF ONE MILLION DOLLARS ON THE TABLE, AND THERE’S NO SET RESERVE PRICE.

THIS COPY WAS PRINTED AFTER THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION FINISHED DRAFTING THE FRAMEWORK OF THE NATION’S GOVERNMENT.

IT WAS THEN SENT TO CONGRESS UNDER THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION, REQUESTING THAT THE STATES RATIFY IT. 

ONLY ONE-HUNDRED OF THESE COPIES WERE PRINTED BY CHARLES THOMSON, THE SECRETARY OF CONGRESS AT THE TIME, AND JUST EIGHT ARE KNOWN TO STILL EXIST. 

THE OTHER SEVEN COPIES? THEY’RE ALL IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS. 

NOW, THE STORY BEHIND THIS PARTICULAR DOCUMENT IS A BIT OF A MYSTERY. 

WE KNOW THOMSON SIGNED TWO COPIES FOR EACH OF THE ORIGINAL 13 STATES, BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS COPY OVER THE CENTURIES REMAINS UNCLEAR.

IT RESURFACED ONLY TWO YEARS AGO, IN EDENTON, NORTH CAROLINA, WHILE A PROPERTY ONCE OWNED BY SAMUEL JOHNSON–THE STATE’S GOVERNOR IN THE LATE 1780S—WAS BEING CLEARED OUT. 

THE CONSTITUTION WAS FOUND IN AN OLD METAL FILING CABINET IN A NEGLECTED ROOM FILLED WITH DUSTY FURNITURE.

ALONGSIDE IT WAS A LETTER FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON HIMSELF, URGING THE STATES TO RATIFY THE DOCUMENT, NOTING THAT COMPROMISES WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR THE NATION’S FUTURE.

AS FOR ITS VALUE?

THERE’S LITTLE TO COMPARE TO IT, SINCE THE LAST TIME A SIMILAR COPY SOLD WAS IN 1891 FOR JUST FOUR-HUNDRED-DOLLARS. BUT IN 2021, SOTHEBY’S AUCTIONED OFF A DIFFERENT COPY OF THE CONSTITUTION–PRINTED FOR THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS–AND IT FETCHED A STAGGERING 43-POINT-TWO-MILLION-DOLLARS.

OTHER HISTORIC ITEMS UP FOR AUCTION INCLUDE A FIRST DRAFT OF THE 1776 ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION AND A JOURNAL FROM NORTH CAROLINA’S 1788 CONVENTION.

FOR MORE NEWS LIKE THIS, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP

I’M KARAH RUCKER