In Asheville, North Carolina, historical document appraiser Seth Kaller is preparing a rare copy of the U.S. Constitution for auction. This particular document, nearly 237 years old, is one of the few known copies from the period immediately following the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
The document, printed by Charles Thomson, the secretary of Congress, is one of approximately 100 copies made to be sent to the states for ratification. While seven of these copies are held in public collections, this auction item is the only known copy in private hands.
The minimum bid for the auction, scheduled for September 28, is set at $1 million.
The copy was discovered two years ago in a metal filing cabinet in Edenton, North Carolina, during the clearing of a property once owned by former North Carolina Governor Samuel Johnston.
Alongside the Constitution, the auction will feature a letter from George Washington urging ratification, which emphasizes the compromise necessary for the nation’s long-term stability.
The auction’s estimated value is uncertain, given the rarity of such documents; a similar Constitution sold for $43.2 million in 2021. The auction will also include other historic items, such as a 1776 draft of the Articles of Confederation.
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