Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution was first printed in 1787, with 500 copies of the final text produced. Today, only 13 original copies are known to exist, with the vast majority held in state archives, historical societies, and other official institutions. The original copy is housed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The copies have a universal appeal and are popular with bidders and collectors of rare books and manuscripts. Ken Griffin, a billionaire, purchased a copy for $43.2 million at auction. The public can also obtain free pocket-sized copies of the Constitution, which are often provided with no shipping charges.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of first printing | 1787 |
| Number of copies printed in the first run | 500 |
| Number of copies printed in the second run | 200 |
| Number of copies printed in the third run | 500 |
| Official printers | Dunlap & Claypoole |
| Number of original copies known to exist | 13 |
| Number of copies in private collections | 2 |
| Locations of known surviving copies | Library of Congress Manuscript Division, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, American Philosophical Society, etc. |
| Price of a copy | $20-30 million |
| Price paid by Ken Griffin for a copy | $43.2 million |
| Group outbid by Ken Griffin | ConstitutionDAO |
| Group outbid by ConstitutionDAO | Crypto investors |
| Number of pocket constitutions printed per run | 2000 |
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What You'll Learn
The first printing of the US Constitution
The United States Constitution was first printed by Dunlap & Claypoole in 1787, during the Constitutional Convention. John Dunlap and David Claypoole were the official printers of the Convention and proprietors of the Packet, a daily Philadelphia newspaper. They printed 820 draft copies and 500 final copies, for a total cost of $420. The first draft of the Constitution was printed as a seven-page broadside on August 4, 1787, and was completed in two days for the Convention's members.
The official printing of the Constitution was available by the morning of September 18, 1787, just one day after the delegates to the Federal Convention signed the document. Each delegate received several copies. The Pennsylvania Packet, the newspaper owned by Dunlap and Claypoole, published the text of the Constitution on September 19, 1787, placing it before the American public for the first time.
Today, there are only 13 known copies of the official printing produced for the delegates, and only two remain in private collections. The vast majority of surviving copies are held in state archives, historical societies, and other official institutions.
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How many copies survive today?
The United States Constitution was first printed by Dunlap & Claypoole in 1787, during the Constitutional Convention. From the original printing, 13 original copies are known to exist today. The vast majority of these are held in state archives, historical societies, and other official institutions.
The original printers, Dunlap & Claypoole, printed 820 draft copies and 500 final copies. The printers were designated as the official printers for Congress in 1778 and had previously printed the first copies of the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation.
The final copies of the Constitution were printed on September 15, 1787, and were to be signed on September 17, 1787, when the Convention's proceedings were concluded. The Constitutional Congress sent the Convention's report for state ratification on September 28, and their records indicate orders of 200 additional copies.
Today, there are 12 remaining complete final printings (and one incomplete) of the Constitution known to exist. Two of these are in private collections, with one selling for $43.2 million at auction in 2021. The other is expected to sell for between $20 million and $30 million.
It is also possible to obtain free pocket-sized copies of the Constitution, which are available to members of the public and schools.
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Locations of original copies
The original U.S. Constitution was first printed by Dunlap & Claypoole in 1787, during the Constitutional Convention. From the original printing, 13 original copies are known to exist today. The vast majority are held in state archives, historical societies, and other official institutions or their original recipients' designated repositories.
The American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, founded by Benjamin Franklin, is one such example. The National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C., also holds one of the original copies of the U.S. Constitution. This copy is inscribed on parchment by Jacob Shallus and is on display in the Rotunda of the National Archives Museum.
In addition to the copies held by institutions, a few are still in private hands. In 2021, billionaire Ken Griffin purchased one of the two copies of the first printing left in private collections for $43.2 million at auction. The other copy was last sold at auction in 1894 and is expected to be sold again, with Sotheby's estimating its value at $20-30 million.
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Copies in private collections
The United States Constitution was first printed by Dunlap & Claypoole in 1787, during the Constitutional Convention. From the original printing, 13 original copies are known to exist. The vast majority of these are held in state archives, historical societies, and other official institutions. However, a few copies remain in private collections.
In 2022, one of only two known copies of the first printing left in private collections was put up for sale. The copy was expected to sell for between $20 million and $30 million. Ken Griffin, a billionaire, purchased the document for $43.2 million, outbidding a group of cryptocurrency enthusiasts called ConstitutionDAO. Griffin's copy is one of only two remaining in private collections.
The other copy in private hands was purchased by Howard Goldman from Sotheby's in 1988. It was on loan to the Charles Tanenbaum Exhibit "To Frame a Union" at Stanford University Libraries from October 11, 1987, through January 6, 1988.
While the exact number of copies in private collections is unclear, it is known that at least two copies of the first printing are in private hands. Additionally, it is possible that some of the copies held in state archives and historical societies may be considered part of private collections, depending on the specific ownership and accessibility of the documents.
Today, individuals can obtain free pocket-sized copies of the Constitution, which are often provided with no limit on the number of requests. These copies are intended to promote knowledge and awareness of the Constitution among the public.
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The cost of printing the US Constitution
The US Constitution was printed by John Dunlap and David Claypoole, the official printers to the Constitutional Convention. During the 1787 Constitutional Convention, Dunlap & Claypoole printed 820 draft copies and 500 final copies at a total cost of $420.
The first printing of the final text of the Constitution, also known as "The Official Edition", is extremely rare. Only 13 copies are known to exist, with 11 of them held in renowned institutional and government collections. The remaining two copies are in private hands.
The "Official Edition" copies were printed for the delegates of the Constitutional Convention and the Continental Congress. These copies were distributed to the delegates to the Constitutional Convention for their use and discretion.
The value of the US Constitution is not just monetary but also historical and cultural. It is the longest-continuing charter of government in the world, and its printing and distribution marked a significant step in the formation of the United States as a nation. The document continues to generate interest and headlines worldwide, with auctions and sales attracting media attention and bidders from diverse backgrounds.
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Frequently asked questions
500 copies of the U.S. Constitution were originally printed in 1787.
There are 13 known copies of the original printing that still exist.
The majority of the original copies are held in state archives, historical societies, and other official institutions. Some are also held in designated repositories of the original recipients, such as the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia.
The value of the original copies varies. One copy sold for $43.2 million at auction, while another is expected to sell for between $20 million and $30 million.
