United States Constitution | A commemorative copy, signed by President Millard Fillmore

United States Constitution

Constitution of the United States, as Proposed by the Convention held at Philadelphia, September 17, 1787, and since Ratified by the Several States; with the Amendments thereto. … Printed for the Use of the House of Representatives. Washington: Robert Armstrong, 1852

8vo (219 x 140 mm). Text interleaved with blank pages (of which 49 bear signatures); scattered foxing and spotting throughout, heaviest in pp. 103–150, some text and ink offsetting. Contemporary black morocco gilt, brown coated endpapers; extremities rubbed, upper cover partially detached. Linen folding-case, crimson morocco spine lettered gilt.

A commemorative copy, signed by President Millard Fillmore and dated "Washington, Feb'y 26, 1853." Also signed on blank interleaves by six members of Fillmore's cabinet: Thomas Corwin (Secretary of the Treasury); Charles M. Conrad (Secretary of War); Edward Everett (Secretary of State); John P. Kennedy (Secretary of the Navy); Alexander H. H. Stuart (Secretary of the Interior) and S. D. Hubbard (Postmaster General) and 240 members of Congress including Hannibal Hamlin, Charles Sumner, William H. Seward, and David R. Atchison of Missouri (facing p. 10), who was President for one day, 4 March 1849, as President pro tem of the Senate that Sunday, before Zachary Taylor took office on Monday the fifth.

PROVENANCE

John F. Fleming (Christie's New York, 18 November 1988, lot 131)