An auction in New York is set to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States with a collection of rare items tracing the nation's history. The event, titled "We the People: America at 250," will take place at Christie's on Friday, offering foundational political texts, iconic artworks, and historical artefacts.
Among the highlights is a 1776 broadside printing of the Declaration of Independence, produced in New Hampshire by printer Robert Luist Fowle. Estimated at $3 million to $5 million, the document is one of the earliest versions available to the public, differing from the original Dunlap printing of July 4, 1776. Peter Klarnet, senior specialist at Christie's, noted that such broadsides were how everyday Americans would have encountered the declaration, whether posted on walls or read aloud in congregations.
Another key lot is a draft of the U.S. Constitution bearing edits by Rufus King, a Massachusetts delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention and member of the Committee of Style. Printed just five days before the final version on September 17, 1787, the draft is estimated at $3 million to $5 million, offering a glimpse into the document's final revisions. The auction also includes a signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, one of 48 authorised editions commissioned for the Great Central Fair in Philadelphia in 1864. Signed by Abraham Lincoln, William Seward, and John Nicolay, the copy is valued at $3 million to $5 million.
American art features prominently, led by Gilbert Stuart's portrait of George Washington, which is believed to have inspired the image on the U.S. dollar bill. Commissioned by James Madison, the painting is estimated at $500,000 to $1 million. Other works include Jamie Wyeth's depiction of John F. Kennedy accepting the 1960 Democratic nomination, valued at $200,000 to $300,000, and Grant Wood's original pencil sketch for American Gothic, drawn on an envelope, estimated at $70,000 to $100,000.
Historical objects include the only known flag recovered by U.S. forces from the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn, expected to sell for $2 million to $4 million. Historian Harold Holzer highlighted the importance of private collectors, saying they "save things, preserve things, and ultimately pass on their collections." He added that the items carry an emotional charge, evoking the people who read and fought for the ideals they represent.
