George Washington's Copy of the Constitution

Fox News released the story:

Book containing George Washington's copy of Constitution fetches nearly $10M

A book originally owned by George Washington that contains his own annotated copy of the Constitution recently sold for close to $10 million dollars at Christie's, this amounted to more than three times the expectations.

After a fierce bidding war between two unidentified parties forced the price to go up, Christie's erupted in applause erupted as the hammer came down for the 223-year-old book which sold for $9,826,500 to The Mount Vernon Ladies Association.

The 106-page leather-bound book has many of Washington’s personal annotations inside noted with care in the book’s margins. Washington’s family crest along with the motto mindexitus acta probat (meaning: the ends justify the means) are printed on the title page. Beside the crest, is the signature "G. Washington".

"There are four bound copies for members of the government, but the George Washington provenance makes this by far the best of all," Michael DiRuggiero co-owner of Manhattan Rare Books Company related to FoxNews.com.

"He clearly read it and annotated it to mark on his power. It's almost as though he used this book as a guide," DiRuggiero added.

The Acts of Congress volume, printed for him in 1789, is in nearly-pristine condition and includes a copy of the Constitution, a draft of the original Bill of Rights, the acts responsible for creating the Executive, State and Treasury departments.

The book was at his Mount Vernon home until 1876, at which time it was sold by George Washington's nephew, Lawrence Washington, at a Philadelphia auction house in 1876 for a mere $13, roughly $277 in today’s value. The newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst came in possession of the book and then it was sold in 1964 to businessman H. Richard Dietrich Jr. for $27,000 or around $200,000 today’s value.

"An item of this quality would attract collectors of Americana and non-collectors because of its rarity. It's extraordinary," DiRuggiero said.

The current owners, The Mount Vernon’s Ladies Association own and maintain Washington's Mount Vernon estate. Their association is noted as the oldest national historic preservation organization in the United States.

Thanks to them, George Washington’s Copy of the Constitution is back home where it belongs…

Where can I see the original copy of the US Constitution

Where can I see the original copy of the US Constitution?

At the U.S. National Archives has the original copy of the US Constitution on display in Washington DC.

Each of the 13 colonies was issued their own copy of the Constitution for ratification as well as Congress. There were on the order of twenty copies claimed to exist.

The thirteen colonies consisted of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

December 7, 1787 - Delaware ratifies 30-0

December 12, 1787 - Pennsylvania ratifies 46-23

December 18, 1787 - New Jersey ratifies 38-0

January 2, 1788 - Georgia ratifies 26-0

January 9, 1788 - Connecticut ratifies 128-40

February 6, 1788 - Massachusetts ratifies 187-168

April 28, 1788 - Maryland ratifies 63-11

May 23, 1788 - South Carolina ratifies 149-73

June 21, 1788 - New Hampshire ratifies 57-47

June 25, 1788 - Virginia ratifies 89-79

July 26, 1788 - New York Ratifies 30-27

November 21, 1789 - North Carolina ratifies 194-77

May 29, 1790 - Rhode Island ratifies 34-32

Total Votes: 1071 for - 577 against

The original hand written and signed copy of the Constitution of the United States is stored at the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C.

The National Archives Building, the original headquarters, opened in 1935 and is informally known as Archives I. It is located north of the National Mall on Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC.

The Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom displays the three main formative documents of the United States and its government, the Constitution of the United States, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. These three documents are collectively known as the Charters of Freedom.

You can also find the original a copy of the 1297 Magna Carta confirmed by Edward I.

All of the documents are stored in cases made of glass and titanium. The air in the cases is replaced with argon and water vapor. The inside of the cases are kept at a relative humidity of 40 percent to prevent drying of the sheepskin parchment that the documents are written on. Argon gas is used to prevent the oxidation damage to the material caused by oxygen in air.

All of these documents are displayed to the public.

There are a few rules though, among them flash photography of the documents is prohibited. The reasoning behind this is because over time flashes can fade the documents.

You won’t stand in lines to see individual documents (there is, however, a line to enter the rotunda) at the National Archives, and visitors can easily walk from document to document.

Other exhibits important American historical documents are also displayed at the National Archives Building such as the Louisiana Purchase and the Emancipation Proclamation. You will also find collections of photography and other historically and culturally significant American artifacts.

Where can I see the original copy of the US Constitution?

The National Archives visitor center entrance is located at:

Constitution Ave. NW {between 7th & 9th St.}

Washington, DC 20408

Admission is free.

Copy of the Constitution