John Holt’s printing of the Declaration of Independence, conceived and executed with an intentionality and understanding of the significance of the moment uncommon in other newspaper printings.

The only copy in private hands of just five recorded copies of one of the earliest printings of the Declaration of Independence: a unique newspaper-broadside hybrid printed within a week of John Dunlap’s first edition broadside.

The Declaration of Independence

The first publication of the United States Constitution, in The Pennsylvania Packet, and Daily Advertiser of 19 September 1787 (no. 2690), the newspaper printed by John Dunlap (who had printed the first edition of the Declaration of Independence) and his partner, David Claypoole, the official printers of the Constitutional Convention.

The first publication of the United States Constitution in The Pennsylvania Packet

The Constitution

An unrecorded and evidently unique handbill printing of the Bill of Rights, the first proposed amendments to the Constitution to be submitted to the states for ratification.

The Bill of Rights: Amending the United States Constitution: “further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added”, an unrecorded handbill.

The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights, and Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, as Agreed to by the Convention of the State of Rhode-Island

The present remarkable and very rare broadside shows Rhode Island suggesting reforms to a Constitution that she had not yet agreed to abide by.

The Rhode Island Bill of Rights

New York

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 <h5>Founding Documents of the United States</h5>

 </div>
 </div> Founding Documents of the United States will be offered alongside Three Poets: William Blake, A. E. Housman, Robert Frost, Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana and The Library of Dr Rodney P Swantko as part of our global auction series, 
 
 <a class="Link" href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/series/book-week">Fine Books and Manuscripts.</a>
 
 These will culminate in a series of auctions on 26 June, commencing with The Library of Dr Rodney P Swantko at 10am. Sale Number: N11585

Global Head of Department | Books & Manuscripts

Richard Austin

Senior Vice President | International Senior Specialist

Selby Kiffer

AVP | Specialist

Ella Hall

VP | Head of Department, New York

Dr. Kalika Sands

Cataloguer

Fenella Theis

Associate, Books & Manuscripts

Isabelle Johnsen

Pre-Sale Coordinator, Books & Manuscripts

Caroline Woodward

Meet Our Team

New York, Paris, London | 12 June–10 July 2024

For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact: +1 212 606 7000 
 
 <a class="Link" href="mailto:enquiries@sothebys.com" target="_blank">ENQUIRIES@SOTHEBYS.COM</a>

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This June, Sotheby’s is thrilled to present Founding Documents of the United States, featuring strictly contemporary printings of all three of America’s founding—and fundamental—documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The live auction will take place on 26 June as part of our 
 
 <a class="Link" href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/series/book-week">Fine Books and Manuscripts sale series</a>
 
 .