Rare U.S. Constitution Copy Up for Auction

A rare signed copy of the U.S. Constitution, one of only eight known surviving ratification copies, will be auctioned by Brunk Auctions in Asheville, North Carolina, on September 28. Discovered in 2022 in an old filing cabinet at the Hayes Farm plantation in Edenton, the document is expected to fetch significantly more than its starting bid of $1 million. This particular copy, signed by Secretary of Congress Charles Thomson, is the only one known to be in private hands, with the last similar sale recorded in 1891. The document was originally printed for distribution to the colonies for ratification and was owned by former North Carolina Governor Samuel Johnston. Public viewing of the document will occur at Federal Hall National Memorial in New York City, where the Confederation Congress met in 1787. Experts suggest the final bid could reach upwards of $20 million, reflecting its historical significance and rarity.