History is made up of documents, manuscripts, and letters that tell us more about the past. Creations of countries to simple laws that we live by are all written down on paper. So what are some of the rarest historical documents throughout history? From the legendary documents that alter our history like the Declaration of Independence, to poetic and artistic manuscripts from masterminds such as Béla Bartók, these are just a few of the rare documents throughout history that have shaped our world into what it is today.
10. Thomas Jefferson’s First Naturalization Act Signed 1790, $68,750
Sotheby’s auction house is home to several of the rarest historical documents in the world. Almost all documents on the list today was sold through Sotheby’s, with the first one being Thomas Jefferson’s First Naturalization Act signed.
Due to the expected increase in immigration, Congress established this document to create rules for granting foreign-born individuals United States citizenship by naturalization. While the law was very limited, as it specified “any alien, being a free white person”, thus excluding several people, it’s one of the rarest historical documents that has surfaced. The document is so rare that it sold at the auction house for over $68,000.
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9. Autograph Manuscript Collection 1924, $127,093
This collection holds some of the rarest historical documents ever. The collection includes musical quotations signed by Bartók, Bach, and Schoenberg. There are drawings and designs signed by Josef Capek, architectural design from Hoffmann, and even literary tributes by Karel Capek.
The collection comprises 87 items presented to D.J. Bach on his fiftieth birthday including 27 musical manuscripts, 10 watercolors and colored drawings, 2 ink drawings, 6 drawings in pencil or crayon, 1 screen print, and more. It was sold on behalf of the Masters and Fellows of Gonville & Caius College Cambridge, with the winning bid reaching $127,093.
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8. Richard P. Feynman Talk of the Atom Bomb 1944, $156,250
One of the rarest historical documents, along with the most interesting thus far, is the drafts for his talk about the atomic bomb. Feynman was a theoretical physicist and received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965 with two others.
He also assisted in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II and became known to the wider public in the 1980s as a member of the Rogers Commission, which investigated the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
The 1944 documents listed on Sotheby’s are drafts for his lecturers on the atomic bomb with fellow members of the Manhattan Project, covering topics such as design and chemistry. This manuscript is possibly the draft for this famous talk given at Oak Ridge, the top-secret location of the Clinton Engineer Works. That being said, it went for a hefty price of $156,250.
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7. Thomas Lynch Jr Declaration Signer 1775, $212,500
Sometimes it’s not about the historical document itself, but about the signature only. For example, one of the rarest historical documents is this signature from Thomas Lynch Jr. The signer was done on behalf of his father.
Sotheby states that this signature is one of the rarest around, second to Button Gwinnett, who took part in signing the Declaration of Independence, making it worth over $212,000. His father was a South Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress, but once he fell from a stroke, the South Carolina legislature elected his son to serve in Congress as well.
6. Emancipation Proclamation 1864, $2.17 Million
There are several documents throughout history that you might be familiar with. For instance, Sotheby’s was home to one of the most important documents in history, the Emancipation Proclamation, signed by President Abraham Lincoln.
This is just one of 27 surviving editions of the 48 that were printed. The 1864 document was an executive order during the Civil War that freed the millions of African Americans who were enslaved. This incredible document was sold in 2012 to David Rubenstein, managing director of the Carlyle Group investment firm, and will go on public exhibit somewhere in Washington.
5. The Thirteenth Amendment 1865, $2.41 Million
Another one of the rarest historical documents signed by Abraham Lincoln is this copy of the Thirteenth Amendment. Along with the Emancipation Proclamation, the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude.
This amendment was the first substantial change to America’s conception of its liberties since the Bill of Rights in 1791. Both documents from Abraham Lincoln listed were sold at an auction in 2016 along with several other important historical documents through Sotheby’s. This piece sold for a bit higher than the Emancipation Proclamation, reaching a staggering $2.41 million.
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4. Christopher Columbus’ Letters 1492, $3.9 Million
While Christopher Columbus isn’t the true founder of America, his writings and letters are still impressive. In 1493, Columbus wrote a letter that changed the landscape of the modern world. Columbus’ writing helped them grasp the idea of what was out there beyond their homeland, especially since he was one of the first Europeans to reach North America since the Vikings.
The 1493 Latin translation of the letter was auctioned for $3 million at Christie’s, another one of the many great auction houses. Columbus explained his findings and thus helped start the European colonization of the New World.
3. Declaration of Independence 1776, $8.1 Million
There are so many important documents, and one of the rarest historical documents seen at an auction house is the Declaration of Independence. This astounding original copy sold for $8.1 million in 2002 at Sotheby’s.
The winners were TV producer Norman Lear and Critical Path chairman David Hayden, who said they would loan the document to the People for the American Way Foundation, a civil liberties organization founded by Lear that will put the document on display in public libraries, schools, and town halls.
It’s safe to say that document deserves the price, as it’s the founding document of the United States. The declaration explains to the world why the Thirteen Colonies regarded themselves as independent sovereign states no longer subject to British colonial rule.
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2. Magna Carta 1297, $21.3 Million
Another one of the rarest historical documents goes to the Magna Carta, which sold at Sotheby’s for an incredible $21.3 million. The 1215 document was drawn up by English barons and church leaders to limit the kings power during the reign of tyrannical King John.
The 1297 Magna Carta was created to help King Edward I meet his debts and, therefore imposed new and harsher taxes, provoking another confrontation with the barons. This resulted in a reissue of the Magna Carta, but also its first entry into the official Statute Rolls of England.
1. The Official Edition of the United States Constitution 1787, $43.2 Million
One of the most famed documents, as well as the rarest historical documents, belongs to the first-edition copy of the US Constitution, which sold at Sotheby’s for an outrageous amount of $43.2 million in 2021.
The auction house initially expected bids up to $20 million, but a cryptocurrency investor group called Constitution DAO claimed that they raised a whopping $40 million to buy it. Unfortunately, the group wasn’t the winner of the bid, and the true winner was not disclosed by Sotheby’s.
The document is one of 11 surviving copies and the last in private hands. The document was produced for delegates of the 1787 Constitutional Convention and Continental Congress. It was drafted in secret meetings in Philadelphia and was created to lay the foundation for American democracy and guarantee citizen’s basic rights.
