Rare 1787 US Constitution Copy to Be Auctioned

A rare 1787 copy of the U.S. Constitution, believed to be the only one in private hands, will be auctioned by Brunk Auctions on September 28 in Asheville, North Carolina. The document, in good condition despite being nearly 237 years old, was found two years ago in a metal filing cabinet during a property clearance in Edenton, North Carolina. The house belonged to Samuel Johnston, North Carolina's governor from 1787 to 1789. This copy is one of about 100 printed by Charles Thomson, the secretary of the Congress under the Articles of Confederation, and only eight are known to exist. The auction has a minimum bid set at $1 million. The document represents a critical historical moment when the government sought empowerment from the people.