George Washington's Annotated US Constitution Returns to Mount Vernon

Just a quick follow-up to Friday's post about Christie's auction of George Washington's annotated copy of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The auction house's estimated value was between $2M and $3M but it sold for $9,826,500. The new owner is the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association which owns and maintains Washington's Mount Vernon estate. The book will become part of the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington slated to open in 2013. [Press release]

The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association took possession of George Washington's estate in 1860. Whether or not the book was part of the estate at the time is unclear. The BBC reports that the book was sold at auction to a private collection in 1876 and was sold once more in 1964 before Friday's auction. [JH]