Robert Besser
25 Nov 2021, 16:15 GMT+10
New York City, New York: Chicago hedge fund manager Kenneth Griffin bought a rare first printing of the U.S. Constitution for $43.2 million, a record price for a document or book sold at auction.
The auction was held at Sotheby's in New York City.
Late last week, Sotheby's announced that the document will be loaned by Griffin to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Griffin, founder and CEO of multinational hedge fund Citadel, outbid a crowdfunded effort by a group of 17,000 cryptocurrency enthusiasts from around the world.
In a statement, Griffin said, "The US Constitution is a sacred document that enshrines the rights of every American and all those who aspire to be. That is why I intend to ensure that this copy of our Constitution will be available for all Americans and visitors to view and appreciate in our museums and other public spaces."
On behalf of the museum, Crystal Bridges board chairperson Olivia Walton said, "We are honored to exhibit one of the most important documents in our nation's history from our location in the heartland of America," as quoted by the Chicago Sun-Times.
The document was one of 13 known copies of the first printing of the Constitution and one of only two owned privately.
Real estate developer and collector S. Howard Goldman bought the printing of this Constitution in 1988, when it was sold at auction for $165,000.
Proceeds from Thursday's sale will be donated to a foundation established by Goldman's widow, Dorothy Tapper Goldman, which aims to promote a better understanding of constitutional principles.
In a statement, Sotheby's senior international specialist for books and manuscripts, Selby Kiffer, said, "Tonight's sale of this exceptionally rare and important printing of the Constitution was a monumental and historic occasion."
The previous auction record for a book or manuscript was set in 1994 when Bill Gates paid $30.8 million for the Codex Leicester by Leonardo da Vinci.
Get a daily dose of Japan Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Japan Herald.
More InformationWASHINGTON D.C.: The U.S. will participate in a joint military exercise in mid-October with India, less than 62 miles from ...
SEOUL, South Korea: South Korea has launched a domestically manufactured lunar orbiter that took off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space ...
YANGON, Myanmar - Honeys Holdings, a Japanese clothing retailer that manufactures much of its product line in Myanmar, has decided ...
SANYA, China: Following a Covid lockdown, some 80,000 tourists cannot leave the southern Chinese beach resort of Sanya. The restrictions ...
SANTA BARBARA, California - Australian singing sensation and actress Olivia Newtown-John has died at the age of 73."Dame Olivia Newton-John ...
SOLOMON ISLANDS: In a move that opponents said is aimed at controlling and censoring the media, the government of the ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The U.S.Department of Justice is reportedly preparing to sue Google as soon as next month, claiming that the ...
SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - Stocks in Japan surged on Friday as investors and traders returned to their desks after a ...
LONDON, England: A survey conducted by YouGov and consultancy Cebr reported that UK consumer confidence slowly rose in July, after ...
DHAKA, Bangladesh - Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has stated that the Switzerland Ambassador to Bangladesh Nathalie Chuard's claims that ...
NEW YORK, New York - Stocks closed mixed the world over Thursday as investors struggled to get a clear picture ...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: In another frustrating day for U.S. travelers, on the morning of August 9, 153 flights ...