As the U.S. gears up for its 250th birthday, an upcoming auction in New York will showcase unique items that reflect the nation’s history.
The auction, entitled “We the People: America at 250,” is happening this Friday at Christie’s. It will feature significant political documents, renowned American artworks, and rare historical objects.
A standout item is a rare side print of the Declaration of Independence from 1776, printed by Robert Louis Fowle in New Hampshire, with an estimated value of between $3 million and $5 million.
“This is historically significant because it represents what people would have actually seen during that time,” pointed out Peter Cranett, a senior specialist at Christie’s focusing on books, manuscripts, and Americana.
The first printing of the Declaration was done by John Dunlap on July 4, 1776, resulting in about 200 copies, with just 26 still in existence. However, various other printers soon began creating their own versions.
“Everyday Americans would have encountered the Declaration of Independence this way—whether pinned up on a wall or read aloud in a local church,” Cranett elaborated.
Another interesting piece for sale is a draft of the U.S. Constitution, compiled by Rufus King, also valued between $3 million and $5 million. This document, printed just days before the Constitution was finalized on September 17, 1787, contains some uncompleted sections of the charter.
“You can witness the editing process taking place,” Cranett mentioned, adding that King was a delegate at the Constitutional Convention and part of a small committee that refined the document’s text.
Additionally, the auction will include a signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation. This authorized print was created for the Great Central Fair in 1864, a fundraising event for the Union Army in Philadelphia. It has an estimated value of $3 million to $5 million.
“Lincoln, along with Secretary of State William Seward and Secretary of State John Nicolay, signed 48 copies, which initially sold for $20 each but didn’t garner much interest at the time,” Cranett remarked.
American artwork features prominently as well. A notable piece is Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of George Washington, which is believed to have inspired the image on the U.S. dollar bill, with an estimated value of $500,000 to $1 million. This painting was commissioned by James Madison.
Other artistic highlights include a painting by Jamie Wyeth of John F. Kennedy accepting the 1960 Democratic nomination, estimated at $200,000 to $300,000, and Grant Wood’s original sketch for American Gothic, valued at $70,000 to $100,000.
The auction also includes the only known flag recovered from the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn, expected to sell for between $2 million and $4 million.
Historians emphasize that such auctions illuminate the crucial role private collectors play in safeguarding the country’s cultural heritage. “They rescue and preserve these items for future generations,” said historian Harold Holzer.
For Holzer, these artifacts possess an emotional weight. “You can truly sense the electricity surrounding these items, the influence they had on those who read and fought for these ideals,” he observed.
He referred to these documents as “the great and blood-fought word.”
