This country’s history is replete with important documents. A rare 1787 copy of the United States Constitution is going up for auction. Its origins are even more intriguing than what it represents now. Other rare documents with intrinsic value will also be auctioned.
Discovery of a Historical Treasure
An appraiser discovered an extremely rare signed ratification copy of the United States Constitution in a drawer at Hayes Farm, which was previously owned by North Carolina Governor Samuel Johnston. The document, part of an exclusive print run of only 100 copies, was hidden in a dusty file cabinet until Ken Farmer, an antiques appraiser, discovered it ahead of a planned house sale in 2022.
George Washington wrote the cover letter for the document. In this letter, he discussed the importance of compromise, demonstrating the document’s intrinsic role in shaping the country. Farmer, ecstatic with his discovery, said, “I have never found anything this exciting.” The document’s authenticity and significance are enhanced by the signature of Charles Thomson, secretary of the Confederation Congress.
A 1787 document believed to be one of the first copies made of the Constitution of the United States goes up for auction this week. Found in a dusty file cabinet in an old mansion in North Carolina, its sellers predict that it will be sold for millions. https://t.co/aaHbRsLg4O
— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 24, 2024
Auctioning a Piece of History
Brunk Auctions in Asheville, North Carolina, will auction this historical document on September 28. Given its rarity and significance, experts expect the final sale to exceed $20 million, with a starting bid of $1 million. The discovery of this document, as well as its upcoming auction, highlight the allure and intrigue of early American governance.
“To secure all rights of independent sovereignty to each and yet provide for the interest and safety for all — individuals entering into society must give up a share of liberty to preserve the rest,” wrote the man who would become the first U.S. president.
Other notable items up for auction include a first draft of the 1776 Articles of Confederation and a 1788 Journal of the North Carolina Convention. These documents shed light on the United States’ founding and post-revolutionary journey.
Rare Copy of U.S. Constitution, Found in a File Cabinet, Is Up for Auction
An appraiser discovered the 1787 document before a house sale in North Carolina in 2022. It goes up for auction this week. https://t.co/nq0IO2ii6B via @NYTimes— Serge Kovaleski (@sergenyt) September 25, 2024
Significance of the Constitution’s Content
The United States Constitution marks a watershed moment in American history when the people defined the role of the government. Auctioneer Andrew Brunk described this as “the moment the government is asking the people to empower the government and create, you know, the essential government, but it’s the will of the people that you know they’re waiting for it. That’s what this document captures.”
“There’s been a long period where this house and library have been recognized as a very important repository for history and historic documents and objects,” Brunk said.
The Constitution, signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787 (Constitution Day), laid the groundwork for a nation that valued liberty and the common good. The inclusion of Washington’s letter with this document emphasizes the importance of compromise in the nation’s founding.
Sources:
- Super spectacular’ find: Signed Constitution to hit auction block, could fetch millions
- Rare Copy of U.S. Constitution, Found in a File Cabinet, Is Up for Auction
