The 106-page book was once owned by the first U.S.
president and includes his personal copy of the
U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Washington Constitution George Washington's crest is seen as Chris Coover, senior specialist for rare books & manuscripts at Christie's shows President George Washington's personal copy of the Acts of the first Congress (1789), containing the U.S. Constitution and the proposed Bill of Rights, during a media availability, Tuesday, June 12, 2012, in Washington. The book will go on auction June 22nd and is expected to bring between $2-3 million. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Washington Constitution George Washington's signature is seen as Chris
Coover, senior specialist for Rare books &
manuscripts at Christie's shows President George
Washington's personal copy of the Acts of the
first Congress (1789), containing the U.S.
Constitution and the proposed Bill of Rights,
during a media availability, Tuesday, June 12,
2012 in Washington. The book will go on auction
June 22nd and is expected to bring between $2-3
million. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Chris Coover George Washington's signature is seen as Chris
Coover, senior specialist for rare books &
manuscripts at Christie's shows President George
Washington's personal copy of the Acts of the
first Congress (1789), containing the U.S.
Constitution and the proposed Bill of Rights,
during a media availability, Tuesday, June 12,
2012, in Washington. The book will go on auction
June 22nd and is expected to bring between $2-3
million. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Chris Coover George Washington's notes in the margin are seen
as Chris Coover, senior specialist for rare
books & manuscripts at Christie's, shows
President George Washington's personal copy of
the Acts of the first Congress (1789),
containing the U.S. Constitution and the
proposed Bill of Rights, during a media
availability, Tuesday, June 12, 2012, in
Washington. The book will go on auction June
22nd and is expected to bring between $2-3
million. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
WASHINGTON – With a final bid of $8.7 million plus auction fees, the Mount Vernon Ladies Association (MVLA) bought a little book that packs a lot of history.
The 106-page book was once owned by the first U.S. president and includes his personal copy of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
“It’s an absolutely pristine book and we are thrilled to bring home George Washington’s original copy of the Acts of Congress,” says Ann Bookout, regent of MVLA.
“What’s so amazing about this particular book is that it has his personal annotations in the margins … documenting what are the powers of the president,” she says.
Washington received the book in 1789, his first year in office as president, and brought it with him to Mount Vernon upon his retirement from public office in 1797.
The ladies association bought the book with private funds and it will become the centerpiece of the Fred W. Smith National Library of the Study of George Washington, which is currently under construction at Mount Vernon.
