Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution was first printed in 1787, and 500 copies of the final text were produced by John Dunlap and David Claypoole, the Constitutional Convention's official printers. Today, only a handful of these original copies have survived, and they are highly sought-after by collectors and enthusiasts alike. The majority of the surviving copies are held in state archives, historical societies, and other official institutions, with a few in private hands. The original copy is housed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The printing of the Constitution was a significant moment in American history, as it followed long and contentious debates over issues such as states' rights, representation, and slavery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of copies printed of the third and final draft | 500 |
| Date of printing | September 15, 1787 |
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
| Official printers | Dunlap & Claypoole |
| Number of original copies known to exist | 13 |
| Number of copies in private collections | 2 |
| Location of an original copy | National Archives in Washington, D.C. |
| Location of another original copy | Library of Congress Manuscript Division |
| Location of another original copy | Historical Society of Pennsylvania Manuscript Department |
| Number of copies sold in auctions | 2 |
| Price of a copy sold in an auction | $43.2 million |
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What You'll Learn
Who printed the US Constitution?
The US Constitution was handwritten by Jacob Shallus on parchment. The document is on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum. The spelling and punctuation of the transcribed copies reflect the original.
The official printing of the Constitution was done by Dunlap and Claypoole, the printers of the weekly Pennsylvania Packet. They produced 500 copies of the proposed Constitution with the names of the signers, two resolutions, and a cover letter signed by the Convention's president, George Washington, addressed to the president of Congress. The printing was ordered by the delegates to the Federal Convention, who were the official printers. The copies were printed on September 15, 1787, and were to be dated September 17, 1787, when the Convention's proceedings and its engrossed Constitution were to be signed.
The printing was a six-page broadside with Caslon small-pica type. It contained a sole typographical error that mistakenly spelled out a number in Article Five, which was corrected in subsequent reprints. The official printing was available by the morning of September 18, and each delegate received several copies.
There are 12 remaining complete final printings (and one incomplete) of the Constitution known to exist. The final printings were rarely auctioned in the 200 years since their printing. The locations of the known surviving copies of the original printing done by Dunlap and Claypoole include the Library of Congress, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania Manuscript Department, and the Gilder Lerhman Collection New-York Historical Society.
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How many copies were printed?
The United States Constitution was first printed in 1787 during the Constitutional Convention. The official printers, John Dunlap and David Claypoole, printed 820 draft copies and 500 final copies at a total cost of $420. The printers had been working for Congress since 1775 and had also printed the first copies of the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation. They were designated as the official printers for Congress in 1778.
On August 4, 1787, John Dunlap received the first draft of the Constitution from the Committee of Detail for printing as a seven-page broadside. It was printed within two days for the Convention's members. The delegates then ordered Dunlap and Claypoole to print 500 copies of the proposed Constitution with the names of the signers, two resolutions, and a cover letter signed by the Convention's president, George Washington, addressed to the president of Congress.
The Constitutional Congress sent the Convention's report for state ratification on September 28. The Congress's records indicate orders of 200 additional copies in close proximity to their resolution. In the final Constitution's printing, Dunlap & Claypoole produced 500 copies of a six-page broadside with Caslon small-pica type. Its sole typographical error mistakenly spelled out a number in Article Five but was corrected in subsequent reprints.
There are 13 known copies of the official printing produced for the delegates, with only two remaining in private collections. There are 12 remaining complete final printings (and one incomplete) of the Constitution known to exist.
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Where are the original copies now?
The United States Constitution was first printed in 1787, and 500 copies of the final text were produced by John Dunlap and David Claypoole, the Constitutional Convention's official printers. Only 13 original copies are known to exist today, with the vast majority held in state archives, historical societies, and other official institutions or their original recipients' designated repositories. For example, one can be found at the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, which was founded by Benjamin Franklin.
The original U.S. Constitution is also on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum. The document on display is the one inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment. The spelling and punctuation reflect the original. The National Archives Museum also holds a transcription of the Constitution.
The location of the original copies is of great interest to collectors, with one of the two known copies of the first printing left in private collections selling for \$43.2 million at auction to billionaire Ken Griffin, who outbid a group of cryptocurrency enthusiasts called ConstitutionDAO. The group had planned to make the document publicly available. Sotheby's senior specialist for books and manuscripts, Selby Kiffer, commented on the universal appeal of the Constitution, noting that bidders during last year's auction were not all collectors of rare books and manuscripts.
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How much are they worth?
The value of the US Constitution copies varies widely. In 1891, a copy of the Constitution sold for $400. In 2021, a copy of the Constitution sold for $43.2 million at a Sotheby's auction, setting a new record for any book, manuscript, or printed text sold at auction. This copy, known as the Goldman Constitution, was purchased by billionaire Ken Griffin, who outbid a group of cryptocurrency enthusiasts called ConstitutionDAO.
The value of the US Constitution copies is influenced by several factors, including their rarity, historical significance, and condition. The copies printed for the delegates of the Constitutional Convention in 1787 are particularly rare and valuable. Of the 500 copies originally printed, only 13 are known to exist today, and only two remain in private collections. The copies held by official institutions or government collections are likely to be highly secured and valued as important historical artifacts.
The copies of the Constitution that were printed for distribution across the country to seek approval from the people are also rare and valuable. Of the approximately 100 copies printed by Charles Thomson, the secretary of Congress, only eight are known to still exist, with seven publicly owned. One of these copies was discovered in a neglected room of a property once owned by Samuel Johnston, the former governor of North Carolina, and was auctioned off in September 2024 with a minimum bid of $1 million.
The demand for US Constitution copies also contributes to their value. There is a prolific market for editions of the US Constitution, with sales surging in recent years, particularly during election cycles. The auction of the Goldman Constitution in 2021 attracted viewers from around the world, indicating a global appeal for these rare documents.
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What was the purpose of the US Constitution?
The US Constitution, written and signed in 1787, was a charter of government that laid out the fundamental framework for the country's system of government. It was the first time in history that a country's citizens were allowed to select their own form of government.
The Constitution's introductory paragraph, known as the Preamble, outlines the purposes of the new government. It begins with the words, "We the People of the United States," signifying that the people, not the states, were the source of the government's legitimacy. The Preamble goes on to list six key goals:
- To form a more perfect Union
- Establish Justice
- Insure domestic Tranquility
- Provide for the common defence
- Promote the general Welfare
- Secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity
The Constitution also separates the powers of the government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It establishes a system of checks and balances to ensure that no single branch holds too much power. It also divides power between the federal government and the states.
The first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were added in 1791. These amendments include guarantees of freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and the right to petition. They also prevent the federal government from establishing an official national church or favouring one set of religious beliefs over another.
In terms of the number of copies of the US Constitution, there were 500 copies of the 1787 printing of its final text produced by the Constitutional Convention's official printers, John Dunlap and David Claypoole. However, only a handful of these have survived to the present day, mostly held in state archives, historical societies, and official institutions. There are only 13 known copies of the official printing produced for the delegates, with 11 held by official institutions and two in private collections. The original signed, handwritten Constitution is housed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
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Frequently asked questions
500 copies of the U.S. Constitution were originally printed and distributed.
There are 13 known copies of the official printing produced for the delegates, with only two remaining in private collections. There are 12 remaining complete final printings (and one incomplete) of the Constitution known to exist.
The U.S. Constitution was first printed by Dunlap & Claypoole in 1787. John Dunlap and David C. Claypoole were designated as Congress's official printer in 1778.
The copies of the U.S. Constitution are kept in state archives, historical societies, and other official institutions. One original copy is housed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
The copies of the U.S. Constitution are considered extremely valuable. One copy sold for \$43.2 million at auction to billionaire Ken Griffin, who outbid a group of cryptocurrency enthusiasts.
