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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGeorge Washington's personal copy of Constitution sells for $9.8 million
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-billofrights-auction-idUSBRE85L1AQ20120622NEW YORK (Reuters) - George Washington's personal copy of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights sold for $9.8 million at auction on Friday, setting a record for any American book or historic document.
Bidders at Christie's New York salesroom and others on the telephone competed for the first U.S. president's signed, gold-embossed volume dating to 1789, which had a pre-sale estimate of up to $3 million.
The non-profit Mount Vernon Ladies Association of the Union, which maintains the historic Mount Vernon estate in Virginia that was Washington's home and is now open to the public, was the successful bidder.
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)mahatmakanejeeves
(57,417 posts)David Rubenstein. I would not be surprised in the least.
exboyfil
(17,862 posts)but couldn't the organization that maintains the estate have found a better use for $9.8M. I am spit balling but maybe providing scholarships for African Americans to study Agricultural Engineering for example?
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,417 posts)It's just a guess. He does things like that.
exboyfil
(17,862 posts)I was thinking the funding came from things like admissions and general donations. A directed donation to make such a document on public display is ok. Better than sitting in someone's library to be shown off at cocktail parties of the rich and famous.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,417 posts)the August 2011 earthquake. That copy of Magna Carta in the National Archives? It's his. He just leaves it there so that people can see it.
If I ever run into him, I'd like to shake his hand.