U.S. 'Declaration of Independence' to be auctioned in Britain

[Kshasty]

Source: RIA Novosti

The Declaration of Independence, one of the world's most historic documents, will go on Christie's auction in London on Friday.

The lot is one of the first written copies of the historic declaration, adopted unanimously on July 4, 1776 by all senators of the then existing 13 states.

It is a one page copy made of parchment, which was evaluated over $500,000 for the auction.

Read more: http://en.rian.ru/culture/20091204/157092210.html

[YvonneCa]

1. Is this true? And welcome to DU. n/t

[tomm2thumbs]

2. Christies link

http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?from=salesummary&intObjectID=5273985&sid=9c8ace2f-490c-4c55-865e-99a497a9120a

[snot]

3. There are more than one originals.

Our Founding Fathers had foresight in so many ways.

[No Elephants]

4. $500,000 seems extremely conser vative. The U.S. should buy it.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. This copy was printed in 1823 (from the Christies link in reply #2)

It's "the most accurate of existing facsimiles and the only one officially authorized by Congress"; and was 1 of 200 printed. But it's not actually from the time of independence. $500,000 seems quite a lot for it to me, therefore.

And Christies are auctioning it in New York, not London - RIA Novosti has got that wrong. And Christies estimate it at "$300,000 - $500,000", not "over $500,000" as the story claims. All in all, it's a pretty badly reported story.

[shadowknows69]

10. We're probably the ones actually selling it. Need cash.

[Nihil]

6. Makes sense ...

The contents have been for sale to the highest bidder for a long time now
so it's only reasonable that the paperwork goes the same way ...

[NMDemDist2]

7. .....

:spray:

[zipplewrath]

8. Funny and sad

I know your post was meant as a bit of sad wit. But it is interesting to think in a modern context about the creation of that document. Jefferson originally included an abolition of slavery, but "in the spirit of compromise" it was removed, thereby setting up "four score and seven" years of conflict culminating in the civil war. There are many ways to look at that, not all of them good. One way to look at it is that compromising with evil is to create an imperfect evil.

[closeupready]

13. lol

:D

[shadowknows69]

9. Uh, what?

[Towlie]

11. Does it have the secret map to the treasure?

[Jefferson23]

12. You already know where the treasure is kept.

"Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Walllll Strreeeet!"