Lost for Centuries: Rare US Constitution Copy Emerges, Set to Ignite a Million-Dollar Auction Frenzy!

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — A rare, privately-owned copy of the U.S. Constitution, nearly 237 years old, is set to go up for auction at Brunk Auctions in Asheville, North Carolina on September 28. The starting bid for this historic document is $1 million, though no minimum price must be met.

This copy, one of only eight known to exist, was printed following the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and was ratified by Congress under the Articles of Confederation. The remaining known copies are all in public collections.

Discovered in a neglected filing cabinet in the former home of Samuel Johnston, North Carolina’s governor during the ratification period, this document includes a letter from George Washington urging states to ratify the Constitution despite necessary compromises.

Seth Kaller, a prominent appraiser of historical documents, underscores the document’s unparalleled importance. Auctioneer Andrew Brunk notes the document’s historical role in linking the government with the people, embodying the preamble’s call: “WE, the People.”

The auction also features a 1776 first draft of the Articles of Confederation and a 1788 Journal from the North Carolina convention that debated the Constitution’s ratification.

Two years prior, a similar copy sold for a record-breaking $43.2 million at Sotheby’s. This particular document, however, was intended for public consumption, seeking the people’s consent for the new government framework.

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Original Story https://www.livemint.com/news/world/a-rare-copy-of-the-us-constitution-went-missing-for-centuries-now-it-s-being-auctioned-for-millions-11725656130851.html
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