NEW YORK (PIX11) -- You can't judge this book by its cover.
A handwritten manuscript of the Declaration of Independence, worth an estimated 2 to 3 million dollars, was found inside an unassuming blue book of New York Laws printed in 1782. The book was recently purchased by an anonymous collector for about $100.
The manuscript is believed to have been penned in 1788 by Samuel Jones, a New York Attorney who is credited with securing New York's ratification of the United States Constitution by breaking the impasse over the inclusion of a bill of rights.
Peter Klarnet, Vice President and Senior Specialist of Americana Books and Manuscripts at Christie's Auction House tells PIX11 News, "No one realized what they had" at first. That is until the collector called Christie's to authenticate it.
Klarnet said "This is an amazing discovery. This is the only manuscript of the Declaration of Independence, in the hand of a founder in the 18th century, in private hands. More interestingly, it's also the earliest complete manuscript of the New York State constitution of 1777, which happens to be the only state constitution that quotes the text of the declaration in its entirety."
You can view the book and manuscript for free at Christie's Auction House from Friday, January 17th until Thursday, January 23rd. It goes on the auction block on January 24th, along with other items in the Americana collection.
English (US) ·