The Birth Certificate of the Constitution
Live at Sotheby's 6/25
Estimate 200,000-300,000
The rarest of the Constitutional documents, a unique resolution that prepared the way for the ultimate ratification of America’s democratic form of government, has been discovered. Only five others are known to exist.
Sent to the state legislatures along with a copy of the Constitution and a letter from George Washington, this resolution launched a political struggle that would not be officially ended until July 26, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify. The ‘Resolve of Congress’ made possible the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. In the chronology of the Constitution, this ‘Resolve’ of September 28, 1787 serves as the birth of the Constitution; the subsequent ratification process became the infant’s challenge for survival.
Original Broadsides - Declaration of Independence
John James Audubon Originals
Nature's always in style!
Are you looking for Princetons - the world's only direct camera Audubon Havell re-creations? These are said to be the finest Audubon prints ever produced. Please visit our sister site here.
We welcome your offers.
Use the form below to make an offer before we go to auction.
Ben Franklin's Fire Company
UNION FIRE COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA. Significant to both Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the nation - an original, handwritten, manuscript featuring the complete list of members of the nation's first volunteer fire company, The Union. The Union Fire Company was the first volunteer fire company in Philadelphia and more importantly, the first formed in the United States. Founded in 1736 by Benjamin Franklin, members were required to keep and maintain their own buckets and linen salvage bags to help douse flames and carry away the personal items of those exposed to the ravages of fire. Each member was further required to make and keep two lists of the names of each member of the company. One list was to remain posted by his bags and buckets; the other was to be carried and presented at all fire company meetings. This list was one of two lists belonging to Joseph Paschall, a member of Philadelphia's Common Council. At the time this list was made, Paschall was serving as the Union's clerk. The job of clerk rotated monthly between members, as did the position of names on the list. Since Paschall's name headed this list, he was the current clerk of the company. It most certainly was the list he carried with him as is evidenced by the folds in the paper. A lack of holes indicates that it had never been posted. Additionally, the list matches the sequence of members recorded in the manuscript minute book of the Union Fire Company now in possession of the Library Company of Philadelphia signifying that Paschal was the Company's first clerk.
Ben Franklin's Tombstone Receipt
Rarest Declaration Signer
Thomas Lynch, Jr. would become the second-youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence. While Lynch's signature on the Declaration is his most famous, it is even more significant as one of 14 known documents signed by Lynch still in existence today. While most of the Declaration signers were lawyers and clerks, Lynch, a planter by trade, didn't generate much paperwork . Three years later, he and his wife would be lost at sea, thus, not many examples of his signature exist. This extremely rare letter is the only letter, written and signed by Thomas Lynch, Jr., available to the public. Its significance is even more astounding because it includes the date of 1776 and mentions his father.
