A piece of American history is set to go under the hammer this Thursday evening in Asheville, North Carolina. A rare copy of the US Constitution, printed in 1787 and sent to the states for ratification, will be auctioned off by Brunk Auctions, The Associated Press reports.
This is the only known copy of its type to be in private hands.
The document, printed after the Constitutional Convention and signed by Secretary Charles Thomson, is one of just eight known to exist. The other seven are all publicly owned. The auctioned copy is thought to have been sent to North Carolina, where it was discovered in a long-neglected room of a former governor’s house. It was found alongside a letter from George Washington, urging ratification and acknowledging the necessary compromises.
The document is expected to draw significant interest from collectors and institutions alike, as it is the only copy of this type available for private ownership. While the minimum bid has been set at $1 million, there is no minimum price that must be reached. The auction house is hesitant to predict the final sale price due to the rarity of the item.
This auction follows the record-breaking sale of another Constitution document in 2021, which fetched $43.2 million at Sotheby’s. While the price of the Asheville copy remains uncertain, its historical significance is undeniable.
The auction also features other historical artifacts, including a 1776 draft of the Articles of Confederation and a 1788 journal from the North Carolina convention debating the Constitution.
The auction was originally scheduled for September 28 but was postponed due to Hurricane Helene’s impact on the region.
