This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/27/2026
The ''Gazette of the United States'' from 13 June 1789 introducing the new amendments to the Constitution that would ultimately become the Bill of Rights. The U.S. Constitution had been in place for just over three months at this point, but was criticized for not providing enough protections for civil liberties. James Madison was tasked with drafting a series of amendments for that purpose, which are here printed by the Gazette just five days after Madison introduced them to Congress, and possibly the first printing thereof. The Gazette was the unofficial printer of the Federalist Society and located only a few blocks from Federal Hall in New York. Printed bi-weekly, it was usually the first to publish news from the First Congress.
Titled ''The following are the Amendments to the New Constitution'' on page 3, article lists 9 new amendments, which readers will recognize as the foundation of the Bill of Rights, although interesting differences exist as to what was ultimately adopted. Article reads in part,
''The government is instituted, and ought to be exercised for the benefit of the people; which consists in the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the right of acquiring and using property, and generally of pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety...
The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext infringed.
The people shall not be deprived or abridged of the right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments; and the freedom of the press, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable.
The people shall not be refrained from peaceably assembling and consulting for their common good; nor from applying to the legislature by petitions, or remonstrances for redress of their grievances.
The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; a well armed and well regulated militia being the best security of a free country; but no person religiously scrupulous of bearing arms, shall be obliged to render military service in person.
No person shall be subject, except in cases of impeachment, to more than one punishment, or one trial for the same offense; nor shall be compelled to be a witness against himself; nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor be obliged to relinquish his property, where it may be necessary for public life, without a just compensation.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
The rights of the people to be secured in their persons, their houses…shall not be violated by warrants issued without probable cause…
The accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial.''
Cited by Jenkins as the "first printing in any form of the Bill of Rights", Early American Imprints, Catalogue 110:158. Swann Auctions sold a copy in its March 2012 sale for $31,200 that had some dampstaining; Bonhams sold one in its April 2014 sale that had more significant dampstaining for $11,250. The copy offered here has minor toning and partial split along center left edge where paper folds, overall very good to near fine condition.