NORTH CAROLINA – A rare copy of the US Constitution that was printed shortly after the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and played a role in the document’s adoption by the original 13 states sold for more than US$11 million (S$14.4 million) during a live auction on Oct 17.

       The bid, from a buyer whose identity was not disclosed, was US$9 million. That does not include the buyer’s premium of 23 per cent or the taxes, which were not disclosed.

       The sale was handled by Brunk Auctions, based in Asheville, North Carolina. Bidding began at US$1.1 million but quickly jumped to US$5 million. It took just over seven minutes before the bidding closed at US$9 million, said Ms Nancy Zander, director of external affairs for Brunk Auctions.

       “It was a spectacular price,” she noted in an interview on Oct 18. “It’s really important that important things get strong prices.”

       The copy of the Constitution was found two years ago in a filing cabinet in a house at Hayes, a farm once owned by Mr Samuel Johnston. He served as governor of North Carolina from December 1787 to December 1789.

       After the Constitutional Convention and after Congress added a ratification resolution, copies were sent to the governors of the original 13 states, who then gauged interest among their residents. Among those copies was the one sold on Oct 17.

       The auction was initially scheduled for Sept 28. But Hurricane Helene, which caused immense destruction in Asheville, forced a postponement.

       The auction house and its employees were largely unharmed by the flooding, Ms Zander said. But the gallery remained closed to the public on Oct 17, and bidders called into the auction house. NYTIMES