First Edition of the Constitution Sells at Auction for Record-Breaking $43.2 Million

First Printing of the Constitution , Sells at Auction for , Record-Breaking $43.2 Million.

At a November 18 auction, a rare first printing of the United States Constitution sold for $43.2 million, a record amount for any document or book sold at auction.

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At a November 18 auction, a rare first printing of the United States Constitution sold for $43.2 million, a record amount for any document or book sold at auction.

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ABC reports that the historic document was sold at Sotheby's in New York to an anonymous bidder.

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The unknown winner of the auction outbid a group of 17,000 people who crowdfunded to buy it over the last week.

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According to ABC, the rare document was one of just 13 first printings of the Constitution.

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It is also one of only two held by private individuals.

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The printing was last sold in 1988 to real estate developer S.

Howard Goldman for $165,000.

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ABC reports that proceeds from the record-breaking sale will benefit a foundation established to further the understanding of constitutional principles.

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The foundation was established by Goldman's widow, Dorothy Tapper Goldman.

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Tonight’s sale of this exceptionally rare and important printing of the Constitution was a monumental and historic occasion, Selby Kiffer, Sotheby’s senior international specialist for books and manuscripts, via ABC.

The previous record for a book or manuscript sold at auction was set in 1994 by Bill Gates.

At a Christie's auction, Gates purchased the 'Codex Leicester' by Leonardo da Vinci for $30.8 million