Rare Copy of Declaration of Independence Set to Hit Market This Spring
A priceless piece of American history is about to be put up for sale - a copy of the Declaration of Independence from 1776. The original broadside, considered one of only ten surviving copies, will go under the hammer this spring in a unique auction featuring hundreds of rare artifacts marking the country's 250th anniversary.
The document, which was printed in Exeter, New Hampshire, is remarkably well-preserved given its age and exposure to the elements. According to Ken Goldin, founder and CEO of Goldin Auction House, where it will be sold, "This one is in tremendous condition... The fact that any of them survived is remarkable."
The value of this artifact remains a mystery, but another similar copy sold for nearly $5.7 million at Christie's auction house last year. In 2021, a different copy of the Declaration - an engraving on parchment ordered by John Quincy Adams in 1823 - was bought at auction for $4 million.
This spring's auction will be no ordinary sale. Goldin is expected to unveil over 400 historical artifacts, ranging from the Revolutionary War era to significant figures like Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Babe Ruth. "If you want to buy something for less than millions of dollars, there will definitely be an opportunity," he said.
Jason Kelce, retired Eagles center and friend of Goldin, recently teased the auction on social media, jokingly suggesting that the lucky bidder might stumble upon a secret treasure map - a nod to the fictional "National Treasure" film. The auction is set to start in May and conclude by June.
A priceless piece of American history is about to be put up for sale - a copy of the Declaration of Independence from 1776. The original broadside, considered one of only ten surviving copies, will go under the hammer this spring in a unique auction featuring hundreds of rare artifacts marking the country's 250th anniversary.
The document, which was printed in Exeter, New Hampshire, is remarkably well-preserved given its age and exposure to the elements. According to Ken Goldin, founder and CEO of Goldin Auction House, where it will be sold, "This one is in tremendous condition... The fact that any of them survived is remarkable."
The value of this artifact remains a mystery, but another similar copy sold for nearly $5.7 million at Christie's auction house last year. In 2021, a different copy of the Declaration - an engraving on parchment ordered by John Quincy Adams in 1823 - was bought at auction for $4 million.
This spring's auction will be no ordinary sale. Goldin is expected to unveil over 400 historical artifacts, ranging from the Revolutionary War era to significant figures like Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Babe Ruth. "If you want to buy something for less than millions of dollars, there will definitely be an opportunity," he said.
Jason Kelce, retired Eagles center and friend of Goldin, recently teased the auction on social media, jokingly suggesting that the lucky bidder might stumble upon a secret treasure map - a nod to the fictional "National Treasure" film. The auction is set to start in May and conclude by June.
On one hand, it's incredible that we're getting to see a piece of history like this come up for sale. It's like, you know when you look at old family photos and think "wow, my grandparents were really cool" - this is like having a piece of American history to hang on your wall too! 
But on the other hand, I worry that it's just going to end up in some private collection or museum and not be accessible to the public. Like, wouldn't it be more awesome if we could all see it in person? 
Still, I guess it's also kind of cool that it's being auctioned off as part of this bigger collection of historical artifacts... who knows what other gems are going to come up for sale?! 
A rare copy of the Declaration of Independence is coming up for sale & it's gonna be sold at Goldin Auction House! 
I heard from a "trusted" source (aka my BFF who works in auctions 
) that it's one of only ten surviving copies from 1776 & it's in TERRIBLE condition considering its age lol. Like, who needs that kind of history? 
On the bright side, if u have that kinda cash, u could be owning a piece of history! 
I'd totally love to see what other historical artifacts are being sold - 400 items?! That's like, a whole history lesson in one place 
u never know what kind of secrets or treasures might be hidden among them. and let's be real, who wouldn't want a piece of american history in their collection?! 
. also, 400 historical items? that's like, whoa 
. would love to know what other cool stuff they'll be auctioning off 
. And who knows, maybe someone will come along and find something they're willing to pay top dollar for. That would be pretty cool 
.
"Grandma, this part says 'all men are created equal'... yeah, so we're still working on that one 
".
. Can you imagine owning a piece of that? 
It's crazy to think about how well-preserved the Declaration of Independence is considering its age - 250 years old is still pretty young compared to some other historical artifacts out there! 
It's like stepping into a time capsule, right?
. Can't wait to see what else the auction house has in store for us this spring 
. Maybe we'll even get a glimpse of that secret treasure map 
. Fingers crossed for May and June, can't wait to see what else is being sold! 
. Not to mention the fact that some of these artifacts have been sitting around for centuries, just waiting for someone to break them or damage them in some way... seems like a recipe for disaster 
.
. And what's with the auction house expecting us to believe they've got some hidden gems like secret treasure maps