Eleanor Finch
The Constitution of the United States was adopted in Philadelphia in 1787, uniting a group of states with different interests, laws, and cultures under one government. Five hundred copies of the final text were originally printed, but only a handful have survived to the present day. One such copy was sold at auction in 2021 for a record $43.2 million to an unknown buyer, with the proceeds going to charity. The document is now the most expensive book, manuscript, historical document, or printed text to be auctioned. The original copy is also on permanent display at the National Archives.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of original copies printed | 500 |
| Number of surviving original copies | 13 |
| Number of copies held by official institutions or government collections | 11 |
| Number of copies in private hands | 2 |
| Date of adoption | 1787 |
| Location of display | National Archives Museum |
| Location of adoption | Philadelphia |
| Auction price | $43.2 million |
| Previous auction price | $165,000 |
| Year of previous auction | 1988 |
| Auction house | Sotheby's |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution's first printing
The US Constitution was first printed by Dunlap & Claypoole in 1787, during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The printers produced 820 draft copies and 500 final copies at a total cost of $420. The first draft of the Constitution was sent to John Dunlap for printing as a seven-page broadside on August 4, 1787, and was completed in two days for the Convention's members. The printers also produced a "special issue" of the Pennsylvania Packet, which was the first public printing of the Constitution. This issue was published on September 19, 1787, two days after the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed the document.
The first printing of the Constitution was a significant event, ushering in a period of intense deliberation and distribution of printed materials. It also marked the beginning of the ratification debates, which ended in 1792 with the adoption of the Bill of Rights. The US Constitution was the first complete written national constitution, and its international influence was far-reaching. It inspired nations worldwide to create their own written constitutions and promoted a new vision of popular sovereignty.
There were 500 original copies of the first printing, and 13 of these are known to exist today. One of these rare copies was sold at a Sotheby's auction in 2021 for a record $43.2 million to an unknown buyer. The document's significance was highlighted by Alice Ma of the crowdfunded project ConstitutionDAO, who stated that:
> "The earliest written copies of the constitution serve as a reminder of where this country came from and where it can go, and that is priceless. What’s more, it illustrates that even in a digitised world, being able to see and hold a real document from the time of the Constitutional Convention is a powerful thing."
The first printing of the US Constitution is, therefore, a highly valued and historic document, with surviving copies being extremely rare and sought-after.
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The document's authentication
The United States Constitution, which was adopted in Philadelphia in 1787, has been amended several times over the past 200+ years. The procedure for amending the Constitution is outlined in Article V. The proposed amendment, along with the method of ratification, is sent to the Office of Federal Register, which copies it in slip law format and submits it to the states. When a state ratifies a proposed amendment, it sends the Archivist an original or certified copy of the state's action. Ratification documents are examined by the Office of the Federal Register for facial legal sufficiency and an authenticating signature.
The earliest written copies of the Constitution are a powerful reminder of the country's history and the possibilities of a digitised world. The original copies of the Constitution are highly sought-after by collectors of rare books and manuscripts, with one of the 13 known copies selling for a record $43.2 million at auction.
The process of authenticating a historical document such as the Constitution involves examining its characteristics and consulting an appraiser. Auction catalogs, databases, collectors' manuals, and price guides on appraisal can be useful resources for this process. Additionally, the National Archives and the Smithsonian Institution provide valuable information and resources for those seeking to authenticate historical documents.
The closing endorsement of the Constitution, known as the eschatocol, serves as an authentication function. It includes a declaration that the delegates' work has been completed and that those who signed it subscribe to the final document. It also contains a statement of adoption by the states present, a formulaic dating of its adoption, and the delegates' signatures. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note to verify four amendments made by hand and signed it to further authenticate its validity.
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The Constitutional Convention
The convention was initially intended to revise the league of states and devise the first system of federal government under the Articles of Confederation. However, leading proponents of the Constitutional Convention, including James Madison of Virginia and Alexander Hamilton of New York, sought to create a new frame of government rather than revise the existing one. Madison, who arrived in Philadelphia eleven days early, had studied republics and confederacies throughout history and drafted a document titled "Vices of the Political System of the United States," which offered solutions for the weaknesses of the American political system.
The delegates to the convention elected George Washington of Virginia, former commanding general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War and a proponent of a stronger national government, to serve as President of the convention. The convention debated and ratified the Constitution of the United States, making it one of the most significant events in American history. The convention took place in the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia.
The convention debated several broad outlines for the new government, notably Madison's Virginia Plan and William Paterson's New Jersey Plan. The Virginia Plan was selected as the basis for the new government, and the delegates quickly reached a consensus on a general blueprint of a federal government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The role of the executive was also hotly debated, including issues such as whether executive power should be divided among three people or vested in a single chief executive, how a president would be elected, the length of a presidential term, and what offenses should be impeachable.
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The auction of a copy for $43 million
In 2021, a rare surviving copy of the US Constitution was sold at Sotheby's in New York for $43.2 million to an unknown buyer. The auction house described the document as an "exceptionally rare and extraordinarily historic first printing of the United States Constitution". The copy was one of 13 original copies dating from 1787, when the Constitution was adopted by America's founding fathers in Philadelphia. It was initially estimated to be worth $15 million to $20 million.
The winning bid of $43.2 million was almost three times the lower estimate and more than 260 times the amount it achieved when it last sold for $165,000 in 1988. The bidding took eight minutes. The identity of the new owner was not disclosed, but they were bidding against "ConstitutionDAO", a cryptocurrency group that had raised more than $47 million in a few days through online crowdfunding. ConstitutionDAO had committed to putting the document on public display "in the hands of the people" and promised to refund its 17,437 contributors after deducting transaction fees.
The copy of the Constitution sold at Sotheby's was one of only 14 remaining copies printed for the Continental Congress and delegates to the Constitutional Convention. It was purchased 33 years ago by Howard Goldman, a collector of historical American books and manuscripts. The proceeds of the sale will benefit a charitable foundation in the name of his wife, Dorothy Tapper Goldman, to promote understanding of democracy.
In addition to the $43.2 million copy, other copies of the US Constitution have also been sold at auction for millions of dollars. In 2024, a rare copy of the US Constitution was sold at Brunk Auctions in North Carolina for $9 million. This copy was discovered two years prior at Hayes Farm, a former slave plantation and the former home of Samuel Johnston, the governor of North Carolina from 1787 to 1789. It was one of about 100 copies printed by Charles Thomson, the secretary of Congress, and one of only eight known surviving signed ratification copies.
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The process of amending the Constitution
The Constitution of the United States was adopted by America's founding fathers in Philadelphia in 1787. Five hundred copies were originally printed, and 13 are known to have survived to the present day. The Constitution has been amended 27 times since it was drafted, including the first 10 amendments, which were adopted in 1791 as the Bill of Rights.
The authority to amend the Constitution comes from Article V of the Constitution. The process of amending the Constitution can begin either by a proposal from Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or by a constitutional convention requested by two-thirds of state legislatures. To date, all 27 amendments have been proposed by Congress, with none proposed by constitutional convention. The President does not have a constitutional role in the amendment process.
Once an amendment is proposed by Congress, it is forwarded to the National Archives and Records Administration's (NARA) Office of the Federal Register (OFR) for processing and publication. The OFR adds legislative history notes to the joint resolution and publishes it in slip law format, as well as assembling an information package for the states.
When the OFR has received the required number of authenticated ratification documents, it drafts a formal proclamation for the Archivist to certify that the amendment is valid and has become part of the Constitution. This certification is published in the Federal Register and U.S. Statutes at Large and serves as official notice to Congress and the nation that the amendment process has been completed. The Archivist's certification has become a ceremonial function in recent times, attended by various dignitaries, including sometimes the President.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution is a document that outlines the fundamental principles and laws of the United States of America. It was adopted in 1787 and has since been amended several times.
500 copies of the Constitution were originally printed in 1787.
Yes, a handful of the original copies are still in existence. In 2021, one of these copies sold at a Sotheby's auction for $43.2 million.
The National Archives Museum in the Rotunda displays the original Constitution. All four pages of the document are on permanent display.
Yes, the National Archives also provides a transcription of the Constitution on its website. Additionally, the Smithsonian Institution Archives offers resources and guidance for those interested in identifying copies of the Constitution.
