For the first time ever, a manuscript copy of the Declaration of Independence written in the hand of a key participant in the nation’s founding is set to appear at auction. This extraordinary document, in the hand of Samuel Jones and the only privately held manuscript of its kind, will be sold at Christie’s on January 24. Its discovery is particularly significant as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, offering an unparalleled connection to the debates that shaped America’s foundational laws. This is particularly timely as the U.S. Constitution and the fundamental freedoms it guarantees, including freedom of speech, dominate public discourse.
Samuel Jones, celebrated as the "Father of the New York Bar," played a crucial role in securing New York’s adoption of the Constitution at its contentious 1788 ratification convention. In one of the most pivotal moments of the convention, Jones proposed replacing the words "on condition that" a Bill of Rights would be added with the words "in full confidence that" such rights would be forthcoming. This subtle yet powerful change signaled trust in the new federal government while still safeguarding individual liberties. Jones’ proposal passed by the razor-thin margin of 31 votes to 29, ensuring New York’s support for the Constitution and setting the stage for the eventual addition of the Bill of Rights.
The manuscript’s connection to New York’s 1777 Constitution further enhances its significance. New York was the only state to include the full text of the Declaration of Independence in its constitution, reflecting its commitment to the revolutionary ideals of liberty and equality. This manuscript is a testament to how the Declaration was actively used not only as an inspirational document but as a practical tool in the construction of state and federal governance.
There are notable comparisons between the Jones manuscript and the now famous Sussex Declaration, another handwritten copy of the Declaration thought to have been produced in the 1780s. The Sussex Declaration may have been used during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, while the Jones manuscript, according to John Kaminski, a distinguished constitutional scholar, was most probably used at the New York convention—the home of the Federalist Papers. Together, these documents illustrate how the Declaration’s principles directly informed the debates that defined America’s early governance.
As the only known manuscript Declaration of Independence written by a key Founding Father in private hands, the Jones manuscript is a truly extraordinary piece of history. Its upcoming auction at Christie’s raises questions about its future: Will it remain accessible to scholars and the public (the Sussex Declaration is currently being studied in-depth by researchers at Harvard University), or will it end up in private hands? There is also the question, as the rare book and manuscript market becomes increasingly global, of whether important documents such as this will stay in the United States, where they continue to shape discussions on constitutional rights and freedoms.
Here's a link: https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-the-jones-declaration-of-independence-6519108/
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