First Printing of the Constitution , Sells at Auction for , Record-Breaking $43.2 Million.<br />At a November 18 auction, a rare first printing of the <br />United States Constitution sold for $43.2 million, a record amount for any document or book sold at auction. .<br />At a November 18 auction, a rare first printing of the <br />United States Constitution sold for $43.2 million, a record amount for any document or book sold at auction. .<br />ABC reports that the historic document was sold at Sotheby's in New York to an anonymous bidder. .<br />The unknown winner of the auction <br />outbid a group of 17,000 people who <br />crowdfunded to buy it over the last week. .<br />According to ABC, the rare document was <br />one of just 13 first printings of the Constitution. .<br />It is also one of only two held by private individuals. .<br />The printing was last sold in 1988 to real estate developer S. Howard Goldman for $165,000. .<br />ABC reports that proceeds from the record-breaking sale will benefit a foundation established to further the understanding of constitutional principles. .<br />The foundation was established by Goldman's widow, Dorothy Tapper Goldman. .<br />Tonight’s sale of this exceptionally <br />rare and important printing of the <br />Constitution was a monumental <br />and historic occasion, Selby Kiffer, Sotheby’s senior international <br />specialist for books and manuscripts, via ABC.<br />The previous record for a book or manuscript <br />sold at auction was set in 1994 by Bill Gates.<br />At a Christie's auction, Gates purchased the 'Codex Leicester' by Leonardo da Vinci for $30.8 million
